1. What are some of the tenets of Islam?

What is Ramadan? What is Eid? How important is prayer and the practice of religion to the characters?

2. Describe the desert culture. What is its significance to this novel? How would this novel be different if it were set in another culture or country such as the United States?

3. Discuss Shabanu as a bildungsroman, an autobiographical coming-of-age novel.

How does Shabanu change as she matures? What are some of the defining moments in her maturation?

4. Discuss the marriage customs of the area, including the importance of a dowry, the bride price, and the mahendi.

Does Shabanu have to marry so young?

Does she have to marry at all? What other options does Shabanu have if she decides not to marry?

5. Discuss the theme of revenge or retaliation in the novel. What does shutr keena, or camel...