"I know because Aisha wouldn't give her speech unless I sat with the graduates. This is yours too, she said."-page 149
Seriously, I smiled when I read this. I was so happy that Aisha was sharing the pride with her sister. Aisha had never been the type to share things with Nadira, but now that their family is back together and has been changed so much because of everything that they have gone through, Aisha has learned to respect Nadira. I agree with Aisha that the speech is for Nadira, too. Nadira worked so hard to get their family out of trouble, and she did. I was so happy for them.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Be Yourself (Notes from Chapter 16)
"But sometimes... sometimes you have to tell them who you are. What you really think. You have to make them see us."
I really liked this quote. Nadira was explaining to Aisha that she doesn't have to pretend to be someone she's not. The only thing that matters to everyone is that Aisha is real. She doesn't ave to look like everyone else. It's actually better to be smart and independant, rather than smart and the same as everyone else. I really respected Nadira for seriously talking with her sister. It takes a lot of gut to talk to an older sibling like that, and I think that it got through to Aisha. I hope that Aisha will listen to Nadira, because she had really good ideas.
I really liked this quote. Nadira was explaining to Aisha that she doesn't have to pretend to be someone she's not. The only thing that matters to everyone is that Aisha is real. She doesn't ave to look like everyone else. It's actually better to be smart and independant, rather than smart and the same as everyone else. I really respected Nadira for seriously talking with her sister. It takes a lot of gut to talk to an older sibling like that, and I think that it got through to Aisha. I hope that Aisha will listen to Nadira, because she had really good ideas.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
You Made It. (Notes from Chapter 15)
‘"You folks make a simple mistake and this-" He turns his head to me, grinning. “What grade are you in, dear?”
“Ninth.” I answer.
“This ninth grader can straighten it out in five minutes!”’
Chapter fifteen was by far the most important chapter in the book. Nadira left the house of the family with the green card, and she got on a bus, and went to Vermont. She found her mother at the Salvation Army Shelter, and comforted her when she found out Nadira was okay. Nadira went into that room headstrong and with a purpose. Although seeing Abba so uncoordinated and distressed when he walked into the room may have thrown her a little bit, She didn’t let the lawyer shut her up. She showed the judge that her father’s name was spelled with an ‘a’ not an ‘e’, and that was enough to get the judge’s attention. Then she showed him that the money they thought was going to be used in a harmful way was really money he was saving for Aisha and Nadira’s college tuition. I think Nadira really pulled through. She has become the strong girl I had hoped she would become, and I hope that now they can pick up the pieces and bring their family back together.
“Ninth.” I answer.
“This ninth grader can straighten it out in five minutes!”’
Chapter fifteen was by far the most important chapter in the book. Nadira left the house of the family with the green card, and she got on a bus, and went to Vermont. She found her mother at the Salvation Army Shelter, and comforted her when she found out Nadira was okay. Nadira went into that room headstrong and with a purpose. Although seeing Abba so uncoordinated and distressed when he walked into the room may have thrown her a little bit, She didn’t let the lawyer shut her up. She showed the judge that her father’s name was spelled with an ‘a’ not an ‘e’, and that was enough to get the judge’s attention. Then she showed him that the money they thought was going to be used in a harmful way was really money he was saving for Aisha and Nadira’s college tuition. I think Nadira really pulled through. She has become the strong girl I had hoped she would become, and I hope that now they can pick up the pieces and bring their family back together.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Becoming Someone New (Notes from Chapter 14)
“Suddenly I can feel it, his words of patience telling me to choose right, even when the storms come.”
I was really proud of Nadira at the end of this chapter. She really stood up and made the right decision, even though she was under pressure. Tareq is bad news. I had a feeling that he would be. I was proud of her for calling him and asking for help, because it’s good to ask for help when you need it, but Tareq just wasn’t the right person to ask. I was really happy when she ran out the door of the family with the green cards house. She thought about the consequences, and then evaluated the situation in a very responsible way, and made the right decision.
I was upset when Nadira took the money from Ali-Uncle. That money doesn’t only belong to Nadira, it belongs to Aisha and Ma and Abba. Even though there were good intentions behind her taking the money, it wasn’t hers to take. I’m glad that she didn’t give it to a complete stranger. She really used her head in a tough situation, which was very mature and a step up for her.
I think that Nadira and Aisha are going to break through. I think that Nadira is going to become a lot smarter, in more ways than one; I’m hoping that Aisha will learn that the world doesn’t revolve around her and she’ll learn to be respectful and supportive of her sister. I really think that the two girls are going to learn that it’s okay to depend on each other. That’s what siblings are for. Even though we don’t always get along, you’re stuck together through sickness and through health, just like marriage, and it’s better to embrace that then neglect the relationship.
I was really proud of Nadira at the end of this chapter. She really stood up and made the right decision, even though she was under pressure. Tareq is bad news. I had a feeling that he would be. I was proud of her for calling him and asking for help, because it’s good to ask for help when you need it, but Tareq just wasn’t the right person to ask. I was really happy when she ran out the door of the family with the green cards house. She thought about the consequences, and then evaluated the situation in a very responsible way, and made the right decision.
I was upset when Nadira took the money from Ali-Uncle. That money doesn’t only belong to Nadira, it belongs to Aisha and Ma and Abba. Even though there were good intentions behind her taking the money, it wasn’t hers to take. I’m glad that she didn’t give it to a complete stranger. She really used her head in a tough situation, which was very mature and a step up for her.
I think that Nadira and Aisha are going to break through. I think that Nadira is going to become a lot smarter, in more ways than one; I’m hoping that Aisha will learn that the world doesn’t revolve around her and she’ll learn to be respectful and supportive of her sister. I really think that the two girls are going to learn that it’s okay to depend on each other. That’s what siblings are for. Even though we don’t always get along, you’re stuck together through sickness and through health, just like marriage, and it’s better to embrace that then neglect the relationship.
FIghter (Notes from Chapter 13)
"For the first time I feel like I can run, fast."
I really like this quote. It made me feel like Nadira is really finding the courage within herself to protect and defend her family. Even though Aisha is slowly becoming less and less helpful, she still needs the support of her sister to keep her going. Nadira is really impressing me. She seems stronger. That all of these horrible things that are happening to her are pushing her so hard that she’s starting to fight back. She’s fighting her inner demons that are telling her she can’t do things, she’s fighting the people who give her a hard time about herself, and she’s fighting the people who are tearing her family apart. I have faith that she will be able to overpower these problems, and slowly put the pieces of her life back together.
I really like this quote. It made me feel like Nadira is really finding the courage within herself to protect and defend her family. Even though Aisha is slowly becoming less and less helpful, she still needs the support of her sister to keep her going. Nadira is really impressing me. She seems stronger. That all of these horrible things that are happening to her are pushing her so hard that she’s starting to fight back. She’s fighting her inner demons that are telling her she can’t do things, she’s fighting the people who give her a hard time about herself, and she’s fighting the people who are tearing her family apart. I have faith that she will be able to overpower these problems, and slowly put the pieces of her life back together.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Don't Give Up (Notes from Chapter 12)
'"But what if I put myself forward, and then they take everything away?" She shakes her head once more. "And then I realized. I can't do this anymore. It's too hard. Too big. Nothings working. Not the letters. Nothing. Maybe if I just stop wanting so much, they can't hurt me. I don't want to stand out anymore, Nadira. It hurts too much. I don't want to stand out. Not anymore."'
I felt really bad for Aisha at this point in the book. Aisha was getting to her breaking point. Her teachers and sister were disappointed in her, she missed a college interview, she can't get her father out of jail the way she planned, and she can't handle all of that at once. Aisha's giving up on herself, and giving up on others. She fees like there's nothing more she can do, or anything more she wants to do. I hope that Aisha learns that she can't be perfect, but she still needs to try. Even if she can't be perfect, or go to college right out of high school, she can still go, no matter how old she is, or if she's valedictorian.
I felt really bad for Aisha at this point in the book. Aisha was getting to her breaking point. Her teachers and sister were disappointed in her, she missed a college interview, she can't get her father out of jail the way she planned, and she can't handle all of that at once. Aisha's giving up on herself, and giving up on others. She fees like there's nothing more she can do, or anything more she wants to do. I hope that Aisha learns that she can't be perfect, but she still needs to try. Even if she can't be perfect, or go to college right out of high school, she can still go, no matter how old she is, or if she's valedictorian.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Unfaithful Much? (Notes from Chapter 11)
"It's then I notice the photographs propped up on the shelf: her and Lily's dad holding hands in front of a restaurant; Lily's dad and the baby, sitting on a futon couch-..."
I felt so bad for Nadira and Lily in this part of the book. I guess that it was for the better that Lily found out her father is living a double life, but it's still horrible that someone would do that to their wife and child. I felt really bad for Nadira, because she had to go to the manicurist's house and figure out the story for herself. I think that seeing the pictures of Lily's father and the baby made Nadira feel really bad. I don't know if I would be able to handle that. I think it would break me to either find out my father has another family, or having to tell my friend that her father is living a double-life.
I felt so bad for Nadira and Lily in this part of the book. I guess that it was for the better that Lily found out her father is living a double life, but it's still horrible that someone would do that to their wife and child. I felt really bad for Nadira, because she had to go to the manicurist's house and figure out the story for herself. I think that seeing the pictures of Lily's father and the baby made Nadira feel really bad. I don't know if I would be able to handle that. I think it would break me to either find out my father has another family, or having to tell my friend that her father is living a double-life.
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