Point of View

The novel’s narration is written in the past tense and the first person. The two point-of-view/narrator characters are Anvar and Azza. There are many similarities and differences in their perspectives and experiences. For example, they have both immigrated to San Francisco from foreign countries. However, while Anvar’s family immigrated through sanctioned legal channels, Azza is an undocumented refugee. Thus, while Anvar’s life is defined by a struggle to fit in with Muslim and American society, Azza’s problems are related primarily to the fear of being deported. Their perspectives intersect and occasionally clash after they become acquainted with each other in San Francisco.

Much of the novel’s drama and tension comes from the perspectives of these two characters being challenged, especially that of Anvar. As the novel progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Anvar struggles with fear and passivity. These...