Ask Me No Questions is a novel by Marina Budhos, published by Scholastic in 2007. It covers the trials and turmoil a family of Bangladeshi immigrants face after the September 11th attacks.
Marina Budhos is an award winning author for early learning and women's struggles.[1]
[edit] Plot introduction
Nadira, the protagonist, and Aisha are sisters who are total opposites: Nadira is lazy, plump, and an average kid while Aisha is skinny, active, popular, and smart. The family are from Bangladesh and are illegal immigrants in the United States. They have been living for years in New York City on expired visas. With the changed atmosphere after the September 11th attacks, they try to move to Canada but are stopped at the border. Abba (their father) has been sent to INS Detention Center. Their mother, who they call Ma, has been put into a shelter until their father gets out of detention. The girls have to live with relatives in Queens, while waiting for the situation to be resolved.
[edit] Characters
- Aisha: She wants to be a doctor. She also believes that everybody should be treated equally. When problems arise in her life usually Aisha has the answers, until the problem comes down to her family.
- Nadira: She is a child who wants to stay a child. In the beginning of the story, she believes that she is not smart enough to go to college, but once she solves the family problem, she believes she can accomplish any and everything.
- Abba: He is Nadira and Aisha's father. He gets sent to a detention center because his family is illegal. He is a kind and smart man.
- Ma: She is the root of the family. She is quiet. She does not say much because she does not like trouble. She also wants her kids to keep their old life because she does not like new things. When she finally understands that her kids need to be active and not closed in, she lets go of being afraid of the world outside.
- Lily: Nadira's best friend. She is an immigrant. She does not understand Nadira when she talks about her problems at home. Her mother and father are divorced.
- Naseem: He is Abba’s deceased brother.
- Taslima: She is Nadira and Aisha’s cousin, and she is a bad influence on them.
- Uncle: He is Taslima’s father, and he loves his nieces, and he wants to help their family out.
- Auntie: She is Taslima’s mother and she wants to be the girls' mother until their mother comes home from the shelter.
- Risa, Rose, and Kavita: Aisha’s best friends.
- Tareq: He is one of the guys that all the girls admire.
[edit] Awards
[edit] References
[edit] External links
