Plot Summary: Nina Khan lives in the tiny town of Deer Hook with her Pakistani Muslim family. Her older sister has set the bar pretty high, what with being valedictorian and going to Harvard and all, and Nina's parents won't let her forget it. She's got two best friends that keep her sane and fill her in on all of the details of the parties she can't go to and she can't even wear shorts on the hottest day of the year. But Nina's got her eye on Asher, a kid who used to live in Italy and could have anyone he wants. Of course, Nina wouldn't be allowed to date him, even if he did like her back, but a girls got to have something to day dream about, right?
Critical Evaluation: Sheba Karim shows off the intelligence that made her a Fulbright scholar in this debut novel. She creates a beautiful protaganist in Nina Khan, not so perfect to be annoying and not so lame to be depressing, Nina's just trying to make her way through life as a Muslim in a tiny town, and Karim's novel offers teen readers a perspective that's not usually seen in this type of novel. Well written, funny, poignet with plenty of food for thought, I for one will be anxious to read Karim's future works.
Reader's Annotation: As if it's not hard enough to be a muslim teen in Deer Hook, now she's got a patch of hair that runs down the length of her back. Nina Khan - world's luckiest teen.
About the Author: Sheba Karim grew up in Catskill, NY and is a graduate of NYU School of Law and the Iowa Writers' Workshop. She has written one novel, Skunk Girl, and contributed fiction to many many magazines.
She's was a 2009-2010 recipient of Fullbright-Nehru and is currently based in New Dehli. She also blogs about cheap eats in New York, NY and is working on her next book, a historical fiction novel based in 13th century India.
Information retreived from http://www.shebakarim.com/
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Curriculum Ties: First generation american literature
Booktalking Ideas: Can you imagine not being able to show your legs? Can you think of other cultures that have restrictions on their teens actions/wardrobes?
Reading Level: 12+
Interest Age: 14+
Challenge Issues: N/A
Why is This Included: A muslim perspective not often seen
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