chapter 17-18 3/26

"We push forward, into the unknown. Go." -page 159

I liked this quote for many reasons :). One, i like how the family is now not scared or afraid of the future. Before they were scared every single minute of every single day of what was going to happen, and now they are (i guess) more ready for "the unknown". Two, i also like this quote because it is a very powerful and good sentence for the last one in the book. books with bad ending sentences feel like a waste to me. 

chapter 16 3/24

' "But Abba and Ma will never let us- (Aisha)"
"Sometimes we have to do the right thing. In our own way (Nadira)" -page 148

In this quote, it is talking about how Nadira and Aisha are going to go see Mr. Friedlander, the math teacher and tell him everything about their family situation (the whole truth). Abba and Ma do not want the girls to tell anyone anything, though. The parents don't want the risk of the math teacher telling the colleges that they are illegal, and spoiling Aisha chance to go to college. But Nadira thinks differently. She thinks that if they tell Mr. Friedlander what is happening, it will explain better why Aisha has been missing school, and it will give her a better chance at becoming valedictorian. I agree with Nadira. She knows the math teacher better than her parents do and trusts that he would not "tell" on the family. Nadira and Aisha are getting old enough and reponsible enough to make good dessions by them selves. Nadira wants Aisha do be the best that she can be in life and she is helping her because she cares a lot about her sister.

chapter 15 3/22/09

"When the hearing begins, I can't concentrate. Voices float towards me in snatches as if underwater." - page 131

I really like this quote. I totally understand how Nadira is feeling at this point. It's like she is so nervous she can't concentrate, even though she probably wishes she could. 

I thought that this quote was a great metaphor ("voices float towards me in snatches as if underwater"). When you are underwater you can't hear people very clearly and that's how Nadira is feeling now. 

chapters 13-14 3/19

" ' You don't know me, you don't know where I'm taking you. And no names. No shooting your mouth off to your little friends. Get it?' " - page 120

When i heard Tareq say this (quote), i thought that Nadira was making a bad chose. when someone tells you something like this, i think that the situation is going to be bad. it's like your not telling the truth to people, which is really horrible. nadira should have recognized that this was going to be dangerous before they drove off. when she got to the dangerous house i think it was too late to make the decision not to get a fake passport. she didn't know where she was and it was late at night. it would have been better to make the decision when she was talking to tareq in the car because she knew where she was and it was still day time. the night is more dangerous and nadira is only in 9th grade.

chapter 12 3/17

"Nadira, I've always been like these guys out here, running. You know me. I'll run in any weather. You give me a test, I'll do ten times better then you expect. I'll do anything" - page 112

I thought that this quote was a really good metaphor for the way that Aisha explained her efforts in life by using the words "running in any weather". It's like she will do anything to be the best and will not give up. But, it seems like now that she wants to start "walking" because of all the stress on her shoulders. It seems like now Aisha wants to just give up because she can't handle her life outside of school. Her efforts to change everything and make it right and perfect are not working. 

chapter 11 3/15

"Aisha stares down at her hands, her expression suddenly sad. Since we're illegal we never get to go back to Bangladesh." -page 90

This quote makes me feel so sad. Hearing Aisha's friend talk about going to India would be so hard for me to listen to if I were in their situation. I would feel bad enough knowing that I would never see part of my family ever again. Hearing that someone else gets to go where I desire most to be, would be the toughest thing ever. Hopefully in the end of the book the family will get legalization and be able to go to Bangladesh. That would be a great happy ending. 

chapter 10 3/12/09

' "Sir, if you please. Can you leave my home?" The way he says the word home has a certain tinge; it's the way he would say it in Bangla, that means this place that is my family's, that only invited guests may enter." - page 82

I thought that this part of the chapter was really scary for the family. They didn't know what the police were going to do or make them do next. I liked that they didn't just give up and let the police take them and leave right away. They tried to talk them out of taking them to the "big house"/police station first. Also in this quote I like how Nadira talks about how her uncle said the word "home". From the powerful description, I could hear the way Uncle said "home" in my head when I was reading.