For teens grappling with displacement and the challenges of cultural identity, this book offers a poignant look at a family seeking asylum in post-9/11 America.
A parent might reach for this book when their teen is exploring the complexities of immigration, cultural identity, or the feeling of being an outsider in their own country. This story introduces Nadira and Aisha, sisters in a Bangladeshi family living in New York City with expired visas. In the heightened suspicion of a post-9/11 America, their attempt to seek asylum in Canada fails, and their father is taken to a detention center. The novel follows the two sisters as they navigate this terrifying reality, each coping in her own way while trying to bring their father home. For teens 13 and up, "Ask Me No Questions" is a powerful tool for building empathy and starting conversations about justice, resilience, and the true meaning of belonging.
The family faces xenophobia and prejudice rooted in the post-9/11 fear of immigrants and Muslims.
Sensitive Topics
The book's approach to immigration, detention, and post-9/11 xenophobia is direct and realistic. It grounds a complex political issue in the emotional reality of one family. The family is culturally Muslim, which is presented as part of their identity but the approach is secular, focusing on cultural and political persecution rather than religious practice. The resolution is hopeful, emphasizing the family's resilience, but it remains realistic about the long, arduous journey they still face. It doesn't offer an easy or complete solution, acknowledging the systemic nature of the problem.
Ideal Reader
A teen, 13-16, who is part of an immigrant family or is beginning to engage with social justice issues. It's particularly resonant for a quiet teen who feels overshadowed by a sibling or struggles with self-confidence, as it models the journey of finding one's own unique form of strength.
Parent Prep
No specific pages require previewing, but parents should be prepared to discuss the historical context of the post-9/11 era, including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the rise in anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment. A conversation about the different types of visas and the complexities of the asylum process would be beneficial. A parent has heard their teen express anxiety about their family's legal status, or ask difficult questions about news stories involving deportation or discrimination. The teen might also be feeling frustrated or inadequate compared to a high-achieving sibling.
Age Experience
A younger teen (13-14) will connect strongly with Nadira’s personal struggles: her crush on a boy, her school anxieties, and her complicated relationship with her sister. They will experience it as a story about finding your voice. An older teen (15-18) will better appreciate the political and social commentary on U.S. immigration policy, racial profiling, and the legal challenges the family faces.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many immigration stories that focus on the border crossing itself, this novel explores the precariousness of life for those already in the U.S. Its specific setting in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 provides a unique and crucial historical lens on the intersection of immigration and national security. The powerful, nuanced depiction of the sisterly relationship is also a standout feature.
Read plot summary
Fourteen-year-old Nadira and her family are undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh living in Queens, New York. In the fearful climate after 9/11, they decide to flee to Canada to seek asylum. They are turned away at the border, and their father, Abba, is arrested and sent to a detention center. The story follows Nadira and her older, academically gifted sister, Aisha, as they struggle to navigate high school and American bureaucracy while their mother works to free their father. Nadira, long in her sister's shadow, must find her own strength and voice to help save her family.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The title of the book is 'Ask Me No Questions'. How does the theme of secrets and silence affect Nadira, Aisha, and their parents differently throughout the story?
2
Nadira and Aisha have very different ways of dealing with their family's crisis. Aisha focuses on school and rules, while Nadira is more emotional. Which approach did you find more effective, and why do you think they chose such different paths?
3
How does Nadira's relationship with her classmate, Taslima, help her to find her own voice and stand up for her father?
4
Abba tells Nadira a story about a tiger and a goat. What do you think this story meant, and how does it relate to Nadira's decision at the immigration hearing near the end of the book?
