Chapters 17, 18 & Endnote: Bit By Bit

And we do as he taught us. We hold our breaths, then let them out, bit by bit.

I think this says a lot about the whole process of immigration. “...bit by bit.” That really jumps at me because it feels like Abba is almost saying immigration is hard, but wait it out, and you will be rewarded. Nadira did breathe, she did wait it out, and she got through it. She held her breath until there was room on the surface, and she emerged, shining rays of light upon herself and her family. Aisha, who didn’t breathe, stayed home and didn’t take action. She was scared, and didn’t hold her breath. She let it all out, and drowned in her fears the moment things stopped being easy for her. I think that the family will feel safe again... Bit by bit...

Chapter 16: Courage The Cowardly Dog

"I always thought you were the brave one. But now I think you're a coward, Aisha"

BAM! You tell her Nadira! I think this sentence is going to change the book completely. This is a real wake up slap in the face for Aisha. She definitely needed it! I think this part is so significant because Nadira is really taking charge of the situation, and Aisha is kind of helplessly sitting back being pessimistic. It's kind of sad how Nadira and Ma are the ones trying to get things done, while Aisha and Abba are both saying that it's no use. I was sad to see Taslma go, I really liked her! She brightened up the book, made things interesting. No offense to Uncle, but I don't really think his presence would've helped get Abba up and moving, so I think his move is a good one, even though it is kind of depressing. What REALLY got me sad was Ali-Uncle's departure. I wonder what he is up to. The guys description made it seem like he was going on some sort of business trip, but I don't know! What do you guys think?

Chapter 15: Nadira's Pride

"All I keep thinking is I can't wait to tell Aisha."

Why does Nadira care what Aisha thinks so much? To a certain extent, I can empathize though. Everyone wants to impress their siblings, especially if the siblings are older, and are always outshining you. But why is that all Nadira can think about? Shouldn't she be happy that she just got Abba out of jail? I am very VERY impressed with Nadira! But I am thoroughly disappointed in everyone else, it is his name for crying out loud! Nadira's power of will was astonishing in itself, but her courage was even more astonishing.


sorry it isn't longer but i am in a hotel room at the moment :'( bad timing!

Chapters 13&14: Mapped Out Minds

"Then my eyes light up on Abba's name at the top of Ma's fax. I read it again. A cold sensation tingles through my body to the tips of my fingers. It's like a map that suddenly becomes clear-lines that start feeding into each other, connecting the parts. I pull out the new fax, look again. I've got it, i think. I've got a way to get Abba out."

Hooray for Nadira! The part that really stuck out to me wasn't the "I've got a way to get Abba out." It was the "Then my eyes light up on Abba's name..." I am thrilled that Nadira has salvaged such a brilliant plan to get Abba out, but what about his name triggered that last puzzle piece. Nadira's 'map' has had the scenic rout missing ever since Abba was taken, and what effect does his name have to change that? The rout that has all of the trees and lakes, the beauty, has just fallen into place in Nadira's head, and I am burning to learn what devised the final and much awaited construction of hope for Nadira and family. I am wondering that maybe something in Abba's name suggests that he is American born, and moved when he was a baby. Being too young to remember his history, Nadira may just be the first one to discover what Abba's name truly means.
Sidenote: Nadira just discovered a way to free her father, and yet after the "I've got a way to get Abba out." part, there isn't an exclamation point. It's just a simple statement. Does anyone else find that weird?

Chapter 12: Bed Of Lies

"There's so many lies in my life right now, I can't keep track of which one is worse."

I would hate to feel like this. I feel like Nadira has so much to cope with that she is going to drown in lies. I feel like she is going to be so overwhelmed with her and Aisha's life, that she is going to start lying to make everything 'less' complicated. In this case 'less' means more. I think she is going to start to lie because she can't keep up with what is going on. But lying will only complicate things more.
It also feels like this quote is summing up the book so far. Nadira and her family are living in their lies right now. They aren't supposed to be in America, but they are. They aren't supposed to go to school but they do. Girls aren't supposed to be educated in Bangladesh, but they are. To me, this sentence is almost a warning. "I can't keep track of which one is worse." To me that means something like: The lies are only going to get deeper, and get you into more trouble.

Chapter 11: Strong At Heart

"'Thanks, Nadira. You're the only one I know who could have done what you did. Figured all that out.'"

Well if that doesn't give Nadira a confidence boost what will? I really like this sentence though, because it felt like Nadira was finally being acknowledged for what she can do. Lily didn't say "Thanks, Nadira. I thought only your sister was that smart." She actually game Nadira credit for what she is capable of. I think that is going to come into play later, big time. Even though Nadira hates lying, she can do it when necessary. Aisha may be the debater, but I have a feeling that Nadira may turn out to be the main argument in chapters to follow.
For some reason Nadira can't seem to see the bright side of things. Lily tells Nadira that she is the only one who could've done that for her, and her first thought is "do I want to be a good argument if I'm going to hurt people?" Hellooooooo, you complain all book that you are invisible, then mope when someone thanks you and tell you that you are good at something. What do you think about Nadira's pessimism?

Chapter 10: Knock on Wood

People please don't comment on this blog i don't like it
"I'm dreaming about sitting by a river and a boat knocking against wood"

WATER! There we go again. More water. The theme is growing more and more prominent as the book goes on, and I like it! I think this is a foreshadow. I have a strong feeling that Aisha and Nadira will be forced to go somewhere via water transportation soon.
WOW bad blog super tired

Chapter 9: Nadira Needs A Reality Check!

"The both of us? I think"

Of course the both of you! The thing that bothers me is that even though all of the academic focus is on Aisha, does Nadira really think that her parents think she cant go to college? I mean, who does that?!? Is her self esteem really that low? This sentence popped out of the page for me, it is as if Ali Uncle is the only person who thinks of them as equals. He sees no difference between Aisha and Nadira. To him, they are merely two smart sisters who are scared for their parents, parents who set money aside for BOTH of their college education.

Chapter 7 & 8: Fear Is In The Air

"'I'm scared,' she whispers. 'I'm scared for Abba.' "
"It's as if Aisha is finally saying what we're both afraid to imagine:... Everything looks different to us now: the streets, the tar roofs, the park. I inch a little closer to Aisha. None of this is ours anymore, we realize, and for the rest of the ride we say nothing."

I chose these excerpts because they are almost summarizing the entire book so far. They are both terrified, but Aisha holds in in, while Nadira doesn't try as hard to hide it. Then it all becomes so real that Aisha has to face the facts of reality: she is scared.

I think that Aisha saying I'm scared has a much deeper meaning too though. To me she isn't just saying I'm scared, Aisha is telling Nadira that she can't be strong forever. I think it is almost a cry for help. It feels like Aisha is becoming overwhelmed with pressure and stress, and her admitting that she is scared to Nadira is like telling her that they have to work together, that Aisha knows Nadira can help.

Chapter 6: Ring of Fire

"The whole way to school I keep thinking about what Auntie said about Uncle and Taslima. Ma has always told me that uncle has a sour nature because he's borne too many losses. There was Partition, when half his family was killed, and then his twin sons who died of a fever back in Dhaka. And then there's Taslima, who's done all kinds of crazy things. One time she came home with two silver studs in her ear; another time she called Auntie up and said she and some friends had driven upstate to some college, and they were spending the weekend there. Nobody we know would ever to such a thing, much less talk to there parents that way. But that's Taslima-it's like she's got this ring of angry flames around her, daring you to touch her and be burned."

This paragraph really jumped out at me because of the severity of its content. When I read this paragraph, I mainly focused on the parts about Taslima. She is unafraid of being found out, and of the culture made her and her family outcasts; that I think one of the reasons her and her father are always at ends with each other, is because her father is slightly in aw of her boldness. I personally don't know what drives Tasmila to do such things, and neither, I think, does Nadira. I think she is so confused and awed by her cousins actions, that she doesn't stop to think about them. Nadira's little outburst gave her a taste of what she has been suffering through all of these years, and now that she has tasted power, I am afraid she will not be able to resist it. I think that Nadira wants to see herslelf in Taslima's light; burning bright with a sharp tongue and wild ideas.

Free Blog: What to do... What to do...

I'm not quite sure where the book is going character wise. I think that Nadira needs to break out of her comfort zone, and let her ideas fly. If she hides in her shell for much longer Aisha will take over her life. I think that Nadira is thinking of breaking out soon, because of her thoughts about her sister I don't think she can live much longer.

Chapter 5: FINALLY

"'In a couple of years,' he says, wagging is finger, 'we're going to start on you.'"

I really liked this quote because it shows that at least SOMEBODY believes that Nadira has the potential to go to college. To me, it seems like everybody is so focused on Aisha, that nobody even thinks Nadira will make it that far. I believe that Nadira has the same, if not more, potential and promise than Aisha. I feel like Aisha's skills are more practical, and so what if she aces every test, I bet half of it is memorizing. I think Nadira has more life skills, she is observant and perceptive, rather than school smart and good at kissing up to her parents.
Personally, I would rather be street smart than book smart; plus, just because Aisha is more book smart than Nadira doesn't mean that Nadira isn't book smart. I feel like thats what is wrong with this family. Aisha is more, so Nadira isn't at all. I don't like the way that works at all.

Response Post: Lyndsay

I really liked what Lyndsay said in her blog. I appreciate that she is trying to see everything from Nadira's point of view. She made a really good comment about what she thinks is going through Aisha's head. Lyndsay's post made me think about how Aisha has all of her success and Nadira's failures to boost her self esteem, and with that, she can push Nadira down even further. Personally I think Nadira should put her foot down and tell Aisha that she has had enough. The problem is that Nadira's self confidence is so low that she thinks that she should aspire to become more like Aisha. In my opinion Nadira is a much, much better person that Aisha in general. She might not have the same amount of brains, but she has so much more heart.

Blog Post # Two: The Story

"Every family has a story. Ours begins with water. My family lived in the part of the world where there is no difference between land and sea."

I chose this sentence because in a sense, it relates a lot to my life and in a sense, I wish my life related more to the sentence. I grew up on the water and can't live without it. My life has become so fused with the ocean that I can't imagine living in a world where water isn't always close by.
The other reason I chose this sentence was because of the depth of it. I have never thought about the world as a place with no boundaries. Never thought of it as a place where anything can come from anywhere.

The Sentence I Chose: Chapter One

"A little burn of envy seeps through me. I don't know how Aisha does it, but she always cheers up my parents."

I chose this quote because I think it lays out the fact that Nadira and her family think she will never be as good as Aisha. "A little burn of envy seeps through me." I don't think the envy is just because Aisha can cheer her mom up and she can't (or at least at the moment). I think there is much, much more behind the envy. Aisha knows what it's like to be close, to be the center of attention, to be loved. I don't think Nadira has ever known true, deep, love, love that goes to the core. Personally, I think the only love Nadira has ever felt is the love of a family that has to love her because she is family.