School

The setting of Nishat’s all girls Catholic school in Dublin, Ireland is where the majority of the novel takes place. Most prominently, this setting represents how to overcome both shame and cultural appropriation. School serves as both a refuge and a source of stress for the queer Nishat, Jaigirdar proving how nowhere is totally safe and welcoming for an LGBT teenager. This setting is also relatable for the young adult reader who is likely also going to school full time.

The novel starts with the girls on summer holiday, but Chapter 5 begins with the girls starting school on their first day. Ms. Montgomery, Nishat’s Transition Year business teacher, creates and manages the business competition around which most of the novel is structured. At school, Nishat deals with Chyna’s nasty rumors, Flavia and Chyna’s cultural appropriation, and then being outed. As the pressure and stress...