The New Ma

"Ma is most definitely not the same. She insists on wearing that purple coat everywhere, even though it's warm out. And she doesn't walk behind Abba as in the old days, but gently leads him along while he gets his strength back."

Ch. 16 pg. 142

I am happy that Ma has finally gotten adjusted to life in America. I think it helped that her husband was taken away and she had to think for herself more. It helped both Ma and Nadira, actually. I think that the purple coat was the thing that started Ma's new independence, and that's why she doesn't want to take it off. I think that she feels that she won't be strong enough if she takes it off, even though I'm pretty sure she will be. In the beginning, the coat was like a personality that she was hiding behind, and pretending she had, but now she actually has that personality, and she can take the coat off. She has also probably become very attached to it, because it was the one person belonging she had to take comfort in while her family was away from her. 

Goofy Abba

"'Nadira," he whispers. "You're here." He drops down in a chair opposite us. He's got this goofy smile on his face, sort of sloppy and tilted. One of his teeth bites on his lower lip, which makes him look silly. 

Abba, I want to say. Please sit up."

I think that Abba's time in the detainment facility has addled his brain a tiny bit. But I also think it's sweet that he's so happy to see Nadira. I am also kind of embarrassed for him, because he looks silly, and it probably would have mattered to him to look his best before he went to jail. I am kind of mad at Nadira for thinking this way about her father. She should be happy to see him, not be worrying about what he looks like. I can understand that she wants him to look professional, though.

"Strong lungs, they would say of Abba. Strong lungs give him staying power. He's the one who always lasts."

Ch. 13 pg. 114

When I read this quote I was very hopeful. Maybe because he's the one who always lasts, he will stay strong throughout his detainment. I really hope that he gets out soon so that they can reunite their family and solve some of their problems.

"I always thought of college as a place for stars like Aisha, who does everything that her teachers expect from  her... But for the first time I start to actually imagine me sitting on concrete steps like this, or reading lots of fat books and saying what I think."

Ch. 11 pg. 107

Yay, Nadira! I love this quote because I think that it is the first time that Nadira believes that she can have the same things that her sister has. She can go to college even though she's "not as smart" as Aisha. 

"...I'm sick of knowing too much about the adults. It's not such a great talent, I think, this putting things together. Not if it makes people so sad."

Ch. 11 pg. 99

It is a good talent, though. She can always know what is going on. I can see how that could be really hard, though. Sometimes its really hard to know everything, because then you worry about it. I think that Nadira wants "blissful ignorance".

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

Ch. 10 pg. 86

I chose this quote because I thought it was really sad. Aisha is used to being able to fix things, and when she can't, she constantly beats herself up about it. Very sad.

Word Gardens

"And if I say something good, then it is like watching my own garden grow, and that is the greatest pleasure ever. That's what Aisha and I are doing. We're planting a garden with our words. Our future. Everything careful and chosen well so the shoots come up strong and straight."

Chapter 9 page 79

I liked this paragraph because I thought that the idea of planting a garden with your words is really cool. It makes me imagine all the different gardens you could grow. Someone who was really mean and cursed a lot might have a garden full of weeds and bristles, and someone with a large, colorful vocabulary would have a large, colorful garden, with big, bright flowers.