I wasn't always sure about this book, because Nira's parents came off as rather harsh at times, but as Nira grew, so did they. It was fantastic seeing Nira go from feeling lonely and disconnected, to having an actual circle of friends, who felt like family. I won't lie, I was frustrated with MOST of the adults in this book. The demands of her parents, and the sibling rivalry between Nira's uncle and father, which robbed her of a friendship with her cousin. Had she had Farah on her side, maybe she wouldn't have had to struggle with feeling "other" by herself. A real shining star in this story was grandma. Grandma was always ready with tea to make things better. She was a quiet support system for Nira, and a source of endless unconditional love.
