Chapter 2 Summary and Analysis

This chapter centers on Maha, Sultana's firstborn daughter and middle child. Her other children are firstborn son Abdullah and youngest daughter Amani. At ten, Maha sets fire to Abdullah's robe. Though Abdullah's robe is quickly put out, this disturbs Sultana and Kareem greatly. At age eleven, Maha, jealous of attention being given to Abdullah, issues a string of swear words and curses to her grandfather (Sultana's father). From that point on, Sultana's father denies the existence of either granddaughter, Maha or Amani.

Maha is beautiful and smart, and also keenly aware of her low place in Saudi Arabian society. When the Gulf War comes, Maha is fifteen, and very much a rebellious teen. She falls in with a rebellious teen, Aisha, who comes from a dysfunctional family. Aisha's depraved father exercises a Muslim custom called the mut'a, in which he is...