Summary

In Book Five, “Summer 1989,” “The Strand,” Razia and Angela “became even more inseparable” (231). They “hung out at Angela’s because it was the only place [they] could be all over each other” (231). They cut class often, venturing around the city. Despite their closeness, they kept their relationship secret, afraid of being “treated brutally” for being gay (231). Meanwhile, Razia wrote about Angela in her journal.

One day, the girls visited the Strand bookstore. The bookseller who helped Razia told her about his experience being gay. While walking with Angela afterwards, Razia felt as if she had “become divine” (234).

In “Taibah Aunty,” while riding the train with Angela one day, Taibah Aunty caught the girls touching one another. After Angela got off, Taibah Aunty insisted on accompanying Razia home. She told Razia that in Pakistan the girls all had intimate relationships with other girls before...