Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos unexpectedly answered questions I did not really know to ask.
It is the story of a family of immigrants from Bangladesh. They have been living, illegally, in New York for eight years; and the two teenage daughters see themselves as Americans.The family dreams and plans to become legal citizens, and the high-achieving eldest daughter dreams of becoming valedictorian and entering a good university. The story is told by the younger daughter, and like many young adult novels we see the main character find a purpose and her inner strength in order to guidse the family through adversity. The problems arise when the immigration policies change after September 11, 2001 . The family, like other illegal immigrant Muslim families they know, faces possible incarceration and deportation.
I have to admit that I did not know that the pursuit of illegal Muslim citizens was taking this form, so much of the reason I appreciate this book is that I learned about this piece of our current politics. More importantly for me, right now, this book reveals the story of my own community in a small northern California town. My students are not Bangladeshi nor Muslim, but many of them are illegal immigrants or have family members who are illegal. I know that many of them feel limited by their status or unwanted by their community. I have had students who lose their will to achieve or pursue their dreams, the way the older sister does in Ask Me No Questions. I have had a vague awareness of this part of their lives, and I have seen students and parents respond the way the girls do in this story. I now understand better their perspective. I also think that this would be a good choice for a classroom book in my middle school or anywhere there are students struggling with this dual-identity.
This story can open a conversation about the lives of teenagers who see themselves as part of a community, but know that the community can change its mind at any time and force them out.
By Lauren, a secondary English teacher
