Ask Me No Questions (Module 6)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Budhos, Marina. 2007. Ask Me No Questions. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9781416903512.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh that have been living in New York for years, the Hossain's decide to try to flee to Canada for asylum after 9/11. The father of the feamily is arrested at the border and detained by US immigration. The two daughters, Nadira and Aisha, try to help, but Aisha, who is always put together, starts to fall apart. Nadira has to figure out how to save her father before they are all deported and the life that they have put together falls apart.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The first chapter draws the reader in as Budhos starts in the middle of the tension of the Hossain family fleeing to Canada for asylum. As the story goes on, the reader finds out more of the back story while continuing on with the conflict in the present. The facts that there are no answers to any of the questions, no one that can seemingly help, and the young girls are on their own build the tension and confusion needed for the story.

The culture of immigrants who are walking the line of holding their own culture while adjusting to their new country is well described. The Hossain family has adjusted and allowed their daughters to be American in many ways while still requiring them to hold onto some of their Bangladeshi culture. For example, they allow their daughters to wear American style clothing, but they still expect them to respect their elders and maintain their religion. Very few non-English words are included in the book, but those that are Budhos either explains in the text or the meaning can be easily inferred. The cultural cues mainly come from how they characters interact with each other and the American culture.

Budhos has written an important novel laying out how illegal immigrants are so often hidden people, yet right in front of our eyes, and how those from the Middle East became painfully visible in light of 9/11. The novel also gives insight into some of the problems with immigration system in US. In the midst of all of this, the themes of the importance of family and standing up for what is right are artfully woven into the fabric of this novel.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• Booklist Starred: "Readers will feel the heartbreak, prejudice, kindness, and fear."
• Library Media Connection starred: "This book is a well-written and needed counterpoint in the body of September 11th literature."
• Kirkus Reviews: "A perceptive peek into the lives of foreigners on the fringe."

5. CONNECTIONS

• Marina Budhos' website gives insight to who she is as an author, the books she has written, and a blog for young readers (among other things). It is a great place to start working on an author study. Further information can be found in an author interview on Cynthia Leitich Smith's webpage and the publisher's author page as well.
• There is a Middle East Literature lesson plan on Read Write Think. It modifies literature circles to use a cultural response perspective in collaborative groups. It would be a lesson to use with a class before or after reading Budhos' book.
• Other books about middle eastern teens:

Abdel-fattah, Randa. Does my head look big in this? ISBN: 9780439922333.

Al-Maria, Sophia. The Girl Who Fell to Earth: A Memoir. ISBN: 9780061999758

Abirached, Zeina. A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return. ISBN: 9781575059419.