Summary

In Book One, “Summer 1985,” “Corona,” Razia lived in Corona, Queens with her parents. Because her family was Pakistani and Muslim, Razia was not allowed to do many things her contemporaries did. She knew a boy named Julio who got into trouble and terrorized the neighborhood girls with his friends. One day, the boys tore up the neighbor’s roses. Julio gave one to Razia.

In “Skin,” during the summers, Razia spent time with her friends Saima and Lucy. Saima and Lucy lived in the same building “next to Shahnaaz, the neighborhood bully” (6). The girls hung out in Shahnaaz’s garage eating grapes from the grapevines “rooted in Shahnaaz’s yard” (6). Razia was closest with Saima, because their fathers “had been best friends in Pakistan” (6).

One day, the friends searched for money in Shahnaaz’s garage to buy candy. They found Shahnaaz’s brother...