It is a very readable story, maintaining good pace throughout. I would recommend this book for readers over the age of 14. The story keeps a good pace, but contains some repetitive language and the author overuses certain phrases. The reader doesn’t get to know Arianna, Rukhsana’s girlfriend, to any depth, as well as other peripheral characters. One issue I found with the novel, is that the author doesn’t develop all the characters. It highlights the difficulties of trying to live in two cultures, straddling the fence of being both American and Bangladeshi. The novel gives the reader insight into the life of a teenager living in American society, whilst her homelife is based on a different culture. Then Rukhsana’s life gets turned upside down when her parents discover she is gay. Rukhsana struggles with the necessity of straddling two cultures – her American life, with its associated freedoms, and her family’s Muslim background and the familial and cultural expectations that come with that. With a welcome mix of humor, heart, and high-stakes drama, Sabina Khan provides a timely and honest portrait of what its like to grow up feeling unwelcome. She loves schoolwork, excels at physics, and has dreams of a career that would’ve once been dominated by men. A timely and honest coming-of-age story that explores the complicated relationship between identity, culture, family, and love. Rukhsana is a strong female character for readers to identify with. Seventeen-year-old Rukhsana Ali has always been fascinated by the universe around her and the laws of physics that keep everything in order.
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