AMNQ-Blog #13 (LAST BLOG!)

"Then Abba looks at us all. 'Ready to go home?"' (page 159)


The reason why I chose these sentences is because they made me so happy. When remembering the beginning of the book and reading how far Nadira and her family has come is so amazing. I really liked how Aisha ended up telling Mr. Friedlander what was going on with her family. I think it was the right thing to do because, there was a point for having Aisha as the valedictorian, not just because she has good grades but because she has a story to tell. I am glad that the judge gave them residency because it lets Abba and his family know that someone really cares and wants them to stop having to worry so much. I really liked the ending of the book A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AMNQ-Blog #12

"It's not just about breathing. It's about making yourself clear as water, honest and calm." (page 147)

Water has become such a big part in this book! The first sentence makes me thing about the time when Abba stuck Nadira's head underwater so that she would learn how to breathe underwater. When I was reading the second sentence it really stood out, it seemed like what ever her father taught her about breathing does not matter at all. The thing that does matter to her is being honest and calm when she tries to get her family a residency. Now that Nadira is taking more action then Aisha in their family I think if something goes wrong Nadira is going to think that it is all her fault. Kind of like when Aisha said it was all her fault when Uncle went to jail. I hope everything goes okay with Nadira and Aisha and their family (and Ali-Uncle!!!)

AMNQ-Blog #11

"I didn't save Abba. Or maybe I did, in a small way. I made them stop and see me–see us." (page 136)

I really really like these sentences. When I was reading the sentences I felt like Nadira was positive and negative. I was really shocked when I read the first sentence because it sounds like Nadira is not proud of herself. My favorite part of this quote that I picked out was "I made them stop and see me–see us." The first half of the sentence sounds like she made her parents stop and see her and the second half sounds like she made the judge and everyone else to stop and see her family. I can't wait to see what happens next!

AMNQ-Blog #10

"A cold sensation tingles through my body to the tips of my fingers. It's like a map that suddenly becomes clear-lines 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." (page 117)

Reading this part in the book I was sitting on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. I love the description in the beginning of the sentence when she is talking about the cold tingle through her body to the tips of her fingers. When I get that feeling it is usually when something sharp scratches a chalk board and makes a screeching sound. I really like how this quote relates to a map. In the beginning of the book a theme that I noticed was a map and I like how the author, Marina Budhos refers to a map again.
I was very excited when I read "I've got it, I think." because Aisha has always been the one to fix the loose ends but this time it is Nadira. I was not really shocked when Nadira called Tareq for help. In the beginning of the book I always had a feeling Tareq would play a bigger role later on. Do you guys think Nadira did the right thing by leaving that building where she could get the green cards and social security numbers or should she have stayed and gone along with it to try to save her father?

AMNQ-Blog #9

"She's American-born. I can tell by her accent and the way she holds herself." (page 106)

These two sentences made me remember the part in the book when Aisha would practice how she looked and held herself in the mirror before school every night. This sentence made it seem like it doesn't matter how much practice you get you will never get perfect at looking American-born. It surprises me how the way you hold herself tells a lot about who you really are. I never notice how I hold myself but know that I have read these two sentences I want to be more aware.

AMNQ-Blog #8

"One day Lily finds me at my new secret exit door. 'Nadira, why are you avoiding me?"' (page 96)

I want to know why Nadira is avoiding Lily too. I understand that Nadira can't talk about her personal life with anyone except for family and Aisha but that doesn't mean that her and Lily can't hang out. In chapter 11 it became clear to me that both of the girls need each other. Without Nadira as Lily's friend she could have never known the truth about her father. I don't think that Nadira need to ignore Lily, just be more cautious on what she says around her.

AMNQ-Blog #7

"Aisha shoves her plate aide and starts to cry. 'It's all my fault. I should have been able to convince them to let Uncle out.'" (page 86)

These sentences make me feel like Aisha has a lot of pressure on herself. I think that Aisha feels like because she might be "the smartest" she has to be in charge and if something goes wrong it is her fault. She thinks that if she tried harder she could have made a difference. The way I look at it is that there is only so much she can do and she did as much as she thought she could do at the time. I wish that Aisha let Nadira have more responsibilities and not just look at her as a younger sister because some of the time in the book Nadira acts like the older sibling. I am glad that Auntie reassured that it was not Aisha's fault. I think when Uncle and Auntie came to the United States they should have been ready to face the consequences even though they might not be fair.

AMNQ-Blog #6

" That's what Aisha and I are doing. We're planting a garden with our words. Our future." (page 79)

I really like these three sentences because the author uses a good job of having a connection. When I think about the second sentence "We're planting a garden with our words." it makes sense because it is telling you that your life is like a garden. You first buy the seeds and that is like buying or renting a house. Then you plant your seeds and that is like putting your own furniture inside to make it more cozy and homey feeling. This sentence is also saying how Aisha and Nadira first have to speak how their feeling or their words and then they are going to plant there future here. The reason why I also included the first sentence in the quote is because I like how Aisha and Nadira are doing it together and Aisha is not just taking over (so far in the book).

AMNQ-Blog #5

'"I'm scared.' she whispers.' I'm scared for Abba." (page 66)

I really like these sentences because it shows that Aisha is not perfect under all of her fashionable clothes. In this part of the book when Nadira asks Aisha if something is wrong they both sound like sisters who care about each others feeling. It shows that even though Aisha is mean to Nadira and calls her names Nadira still takes time in her day to make sure that Aisha is okay. At the end of the chapter 8, that is one of my favorite scenes from the book so far when they are on the 7 train and Nadira inches a little closet to Aisha.

Wetback (the movie)

I really like this movie so far. It really makes me appreciate living in the U.S. because people struggle to get here. In the movie Wetback the borders to each country were very simple. Some borders just looked like a hike Another border was just a simple fence, that had a whole in it. In AMNQ there is a sentence on page 10 which is "After I laid the map open on the dining table, Abba showed us the thick arteries of highways, the spidery blue line of the border." On a map the borders are different colors are usually blue or red. I think it is so interesting how you can easily run your fingers around a border but some borders in life are really hard to cross.

AMNQ-Blog #4

A couple of sentences from chapter 6:
"'When I get my residency, will the man on the street look at me any different? Will I get a better job?' He leans over and stares at me, hard. 'Look around you, Nadira. What do you see? Everyone is going home." (page 44)

I really liked this because it was very descriptive and serious, I felt like I was a fly on the wall and I could hear and see everything that was going on in the room. I liked how the author did not answer the questions Uncle asked Nadira because it gave me a chance to answer the questions and not let me just go along with what Nadira would say. When Uncle asked Nadira the question "When I get my residency will the man on the street look at me any different?" I don't think that people will look at him any different. The reason why I don't think that anyone will treat him or anyone differently is because of his race, culture and what he looks like. I think that this stereotype should be "banished" because it is not nice and I think that some people are are being stereotyped get hurt.

Words That Are Mentioned That I Am Not Familiar With

In Ask Me No Questions they have mentioned some words that I have not heard of. Some of the words are...

Kameez: A traditional dress worn my both women and men. A kameez is a long tunic or shirt.

Sitar: It is a long hollow neck instrument played with a wire wick.

Kurta: A traditional item of clothing worn by some Bangladesh.  It is a loose shirt which lays above or near your knees. 

Ramadan: It is an Islamic religious holiday that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.  The people who participate in this holiday fast, they do not eat or drink until sunset.

AMNQ-Blog #3

"Taslima's not American born, but it's like almost like she is.  She goes to Queens College, and Ma's always clucking over the way Taslima dressed in low-low hip-hugger jeans and tight black T-shirts."   (page 39)

These two sentences really stood out to me because if I saw someone dressed like Taslima I probably wouldn't say anything, unless her jeans were REALLY low.  It is interesting how from other people's eyes they see things a lot differently then I do.  I am sure that if I went to Bangladesh I would not see people dressing the same way here and the people their would wonder why I am dressed so weird.  I wonder how Aisha and Nadira's family responded to people's clothes when they first came to the United States?

Sarah made a good point!

Sarah, I totally agree with what you on your blog. You said how it doesn't matter how hard we fight at the end of the day we are still one planet and that will never change.  I think this is a really good point to make because right now we are having a war.  Good point to make and thanks for making that sentence a little more understandable for me. 

AMNQ-Blog #2

"Look at those people.  They're all overweight and from their skin color you know they've got diabetes and high blood pressure and God knows what else."    (page 26)

While I was reading chapter 4 this sentence stood out to me a lot.  I think Aisha made a really rude comment about the people around her at the all you can eat buffet.  I found this really rude because she is judging people by their outside and not their inner beauty.  When I was reading the next few paragraphs in the book it started to talk about how Nadira is a little overweight too.  I don't think that Aisha should have made this comment in the first place knowing that her sister is overweight too. Besides the point of Aisha talking about the overweight people I thought that Marina Budhos did a really good job of describing the scene in the book.