Angie
Proceed With Caution:
This book contains racism, assault, bullying, and a shooting.
The Basics:
Zara Hossain Is Here is narrated by seventeen-year-old Zara Hossain (duh) whose family immigrated from Pakistan to the US fourteen years ago. They're still waiting on their green cards to be approved, but it should be happening soon. At least until a racist classmate goes too far, resulting is Zara's father getting shot and arrested for trespassing, putting a black mark against them.
My Thoughts:
I finished Zara Hossain Is Here in one afternoon. I didn't want to put it down! I read it soon after I had read The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali, which I also enjoyed, but made me furious. This one is more tame. It still deals with tough subjects and it made me mad in places, but it wasn't at the level of the author's debut novel.
Zara Hossain Is Here is all about bullying, racism, immigration, and feeling safe in your home. Zara is constantly harassed by a boy at school and one night it just goes too far. Her family has gone through the appropriate channels to deal with this boy at school, but now he's brought his hate to their home. Zara's father wants to speak with Tyler's father at his home, but winds up getting shot for "trespassing and threats." Of course, we know this is all racist bullcrap!
What follows is pretty intense. Will Zara's father survive? Will he get arrested if he does pull through the emergency surgery? What does this mean for Zara's family's immigration status?! Are they going to be forced to leave the country because of some racist jerk? Well, things definitely take a different direction than I expected. I was a little iffy at first, because it seemed like there was just going to be a magic wand waved and everything was okay. Nope. There is a happy ending, but it took a turn I didn't see coming.
I liked how Zara Hossain Is Here goes pretty deep into immigration status, green cards, visas, and all their requirements. Zara's family is close to obtaining their green card after years and years in the country, with her father working in a hospital that sponsors them. However, criminal charges threaten that. Additionally, her parents just don't feel safe in this country and maybe it is best to return to Pakistan. But what are Zara's options? She's close to graduation and starting college, has great friends and doesn't want to leave.
Zara Hossain Is Here provides a new perspective and it's one that I really enjoyed. Actions have consequences, as we already know. But actions from ignorance can really ruin someone's life.