BIBLIOGRAPHY
Budhos, Marina. 2006.
ASK ME NO QUESTIONS. New York: Antheneum
Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781416903512
PLOT SUMMARY
Years after immigrating from Bangladesh to the United
States, Nadira and her family find themselves seeking asylum in Canada after
their visas have expired; they had been living illegally in the United States
for several years. However, after being
denied admittance into the Canadian country, Nadira's life falls to pieces when
she sees her father arrested and taken into custody. ASK ME NO QUESTIONS documents Nadira and her
family's experience while they await for her father's fate at his immigration
hearing.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This powerful novel allows young readers a glimpse of the
immigrant experience living in America.
Set in New York City, ASK ME NO QUESTIONS chronicles the events and feelings of fourteen year old, Nadira, whose
family has migrated from Bangladesh and has made life for themselves in the
United States. Nadira describes herself
as being chubby and ordinary, eating Sugar Babies and SweeTarts, and enjoying
contemporary artists such as Britney Spears.
Her sister, Aisha, is known as the smart one, always saying the right thing, and is in the
running to be chosen as the school valedictorian. Her mother is limited in her English-speaking
ability, but is relaxed in observing
Muslim traditions such as fasting for Ramadan or praying the required
five times day. Nadira's father, known
as Abba, is described as being grateful for the opportunity the United States provides
for the family: "Abba loves this country in his own way; it's like this
bowl he carries in his hear- so full, so ready to trust."
Life seems ordinary for the family until the events of
September 11th, in which society begins to view her and her Muslim community as
outsiders. She describes an incident in
which bullying and harassment occurs: "a man who had one side of his face
bashed in, and another who was run off the road in his taxi and called bad names." Nadira also describes a time her older
sister, Aisha, comes home crying because of the school kids make fun of her hijab head scarf; and how "some
Pakistani kids walking down Northern Boulevard" were called "dirty
Arabs" because of the way she looked.
In a powerful statement, Aisha tells the audience, "Overnight, we,
the invisible people, became visible. We
became dangerous. We became terrorists,
people with bombs in our luggage, poison in our homes." Nadira echoes these thoughts as she says
"We watched the news of the war and saw ourselves as others saw us: dark,
flitting shadows, grenades blooming in our fists. Dangerous." These honest revelations about the harassment
and prejudice experienced within the Muslim community impacts all readers as
they begin to develop an understanding of those whose life experience is
different from their own.
Nadira also describes how law enforcement and the enactment
of laws by the federal government post 9/11 have impacted the Muslim community. In a significant statement, Nadira describes
to young readers, "We began to feel as if the air had frozen around us,
trapping us between two jagged ice floes.
Each bit of news was like a pieces of hail flung at us, stinging our
skin." This is noticeably evident
when people within the Muslim community begin to suddenly disappear without any
notice. Nadira and her family soon
discover that many individuals have been detained for questioning, and have
often been deported to Bangladesh. The
fear of her own family disappearing is brought to light when Nadira's sister,
Aisha, confides in her, her own fear of being arrested and sent back to
Bangladesh. She describes a frightening nightmare
in which "policemen come and tell me, 'You don't belong here.' Then they
take me and lock me up in a cell with no light."
Her family's fears are worsened when Nadira's own father is
arrested and detained for having an expired visa while in the United
States. Young readers truly see how this
immigration issue effects children when Nadira and Aisha describe their worries
and fears over their father's detainment: "Aisha is finally saying what
we're both afraid to imagine: Abba crouched in a cold dark cell. Abba sitting
at some table with a ceiling lamp glaring down on his face. Are they badgering him with questions? Letting him sleep and bathe and pray? Beating him with a stick until the bruises
show like flowers?" These very real
worries bring to light the fears that many immigrant children may have when
their own families are in jeopardy of being deported. The stable and calm life they once had is now
gone and fear and worry have taken its place instead.
Mixed into this story are cultural markers of the Muslim and
Bengali community which add credibility to Budhos' novel. The names are authentic (Aisha, Nadira,
Taslima, Tareq) as are the details included about the Muslim culture (praying
five times a day, fasting for Ramadan, and discussing the Koran). As an added touch, Budhos weaves into the
text authentic Bengali words and phrases to ensure readers are fully immersed
in Nadira's world.
This powerful and moving story sheds light on the immigrant
experience many share in the United States.
For some readers, they may see themselves reflected in this story while
others may begin to finally understand and empathize with those whose life
experiences are different from their own.
This compelling story will cause readers to reflect on their own attitudes
and prejudices and instill in them a hope that things can be different.
REVIEWS
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "Inspiring and timely, this
novel explores one of the most difficult issues facing the United States today
in a compelling and highly readable way."
KLIATT REVIEW: "This is a powerful story, especially
for those YAs who know something themselves about the immigration situation.
Budhos doesn't make heroes of the illegal immigrants, but she illuminates the
reasons why families stay here, and she focuses on the children who have grown
up in America but who are threatened with deportation because of the mistakes
of their parents."
THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS: "Budhos
has composed a compelling and thought-provoking contemporary examination of the
human side of the law; further, in illustrating the secret burden that Nadira
and Aisha carry with them to school each day as they pretend that nothing is
the matter, she reminds readers to think differently about the people around
them. Sure to elicit discussion, this novel would work very well for a teen
book club selection."
CONNECTIONS
Have students listen to an interview the author, Marina
Budhos, gives detailing how she brought this book to life. This can be found at http://ia902302.us.archive.org/12/items/InterviewWithAuthorMarinaBudhos/Marina_Budhos_If_Youre_Just_Joining_Us.mp3
Hold a discussion with your class addressing immigration
issues students hear in the news. You
can use reflective questions found in a reading guide located at http://iss.schoolwires.com/cms/lib4/NC01000579/Centricity/Domain/632/lg_amnq%20reading%20guide_0020.pdf
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