Nour

Nour is the narrator of the present day story. The reader knows she is around 12 years old because Zahra says that Nour does not “remember [their] house before [they] moved to the states” (23) 12 years ago. Nour also has synesthesia which causes her to see colors in everything, including sounds and smells. Both of these factors makes Nour’s narrator unique, as she does not have the same life experiences as her older family members. Furthermore, she describes everything using her synesthesia, which allows the author to describe the pain and suffering they face without graphic detail. Nour is also very creative, and developed a love of stories from her Baba before he died. Throughout the novel, Nour develops a love for maps and even begins painting one at the end of the novel.

Nour’s closest and most difficult relationships are with the members of her family. Her...