Summary

Chapter 3 begins at sunrise as Omar stretches outside his tent and Arabic music plays in a stream above. Every morning he hears the call to prayer and today he prays that he is making the right decision about school. There is a single image of just Omar’s hands holding his notebook and pencil. He eats breakfast then says goodbye to Hassan who cries hard as he leaves. He feels guilty but also happy, as he runs to meet Jeri, Tall Ali, and other friends who are going to school. Tall Ali gives him a hard time about already having a notebook and pencil.

On the walk he runs into his friends Nimo and Maryam - two teenage girls who are best friends. Omar has known Nimo his whole life. Maryam is a little older - almost 15 and he thinks he is 11 but...