Point of View

The novel is written in first person from the limited perspective of Shirin. For the most part, Shirin appears to be an honest and reliable narrator. There are several factors that affect Shirin's reliability. One of those is her age. She is only 16 years of age and has not had traditional experiences. She has been subjected to cruelty and ignorance in the past, and she tends to base many of her judgments on those past experiences. She has also chosen to wear a headscarf known as a hajib. She reasons that it is her right to keep her hair hidden from others, keeping this feature only for herself. However, the hajib and her ethnicity set her apart from most of her peers. This prompts more negative reactions. Shirin's parents move often, always seeking a better situation for the family. This means she never has the...