Character Analysis
Zayneb Malik
Content Warning: This section of the guide refers to chronic illness, violence, death, racism, and Islamophobia.
Zayneb Malik is one of the novel’s protagonists. The chapters marked with Zayneb’s first name are also written from Zayneb’s first-person point of view. These sections therefore present Zayneb’s perspective of the narrative world. Her fierce, passionate, and bold spirit is reflected in the vibrant narrative tone of her portions of the novel. Furthermore, the conflicts that Zayneb faces in her personal life drive the narrative tension in the Zayneb chapters.
Zayneb lives in Indiana with her mother and father. She has two siblings, Sadia and Mansoor Malik. Having grown up in a Muslim family and home, Zayneb’s Muslim faith and culture are key facets of her developing identity. Since she was a little girl, Zayneb has devoted her energies to fighting for the things that she believes in. She particularly stands up for herself, her beliefs, and her people at school with Mr. Fencer. As the only Muslim student in her social science class, Zayneb sees it as her responsibility to push back at Fencer’s often racist and Islamophobic comments. She has little tolerance for Fencer’s microaggressions because she’s learned how “the slow, steady barrage of tiny acts of prejudice” can numb her heart and “peel strips off [her] soul” (13). Therefore, Zayneb’s character is defined by her desperation for justice. She’s an activist at heart and uses her energy in order to stand up for what she believes in and to defend herself and her people.
Zayneb’s experiences and relationships during her spring break trip to Doha, Qatar, gradually alter how she sees herself and understands her Muslim identity. When she first goes to Doha to visit Auntie Nandy, Zayneb feels defeated by the conflicts she’s just faced at home and at school. She’s gotten in trouble with her parents and teachers for speaking her mind and has even made things more difficult for her friend, Ayaan Ahmed. As a result, she begins to wonder if she’ll ever be able to go anywhere where people won’t “look at [her] and think troublemaker” (27). In Doha, she initially feels “free to be away from scrutiny, to be around people who [don’t] look at [her] weird for the way” that she dresses and for “how Muslim [she] look[s]” (46). However, the longer she is there, the more she realizes that her Muslim identity will remain a point of contention no matter where she is. She faces microaggressions at the public pool and in Adam Chen’s friend circle. She also works to balance her spirited energy with her empathetic nature once she and Adam start developing a relationship. Their budding romance and Zayneb’s deepening connection with her aunt ultimately teach her how to fight for justice in more controlled and intentional ways.
Adam Chen
Adam Chen is another of the novel’s protagonists and first-person narrators. The chapters marked with Adam’s first name are written from his first-person point of view and alternate with Zayneb’s first-person chapters. Adam’s sections depict the narrative world according to Adam’s more docile, accepting, and sensitive way of seeing. His perspective offers a contrast to Zayneb’s perspective and balances the novel’s overarching exploration of Muslim Identity in Contemporary Society.
Adam lives in Doha with his dad and younger sister, Hanna. At 18, Adam is attending college in London, England, when he discovers that he has multiple sclerosis, the same chronic illness that his mom died of seven years prior. Afraid of causing his family more pain and grief, Adam hides the diagnosis from his dad and sister and secretly drops out of school. However, this choice effectively alienates Adam. When his illness begins to manifest in bouts of weakness and immobility, Adam starts to feel defeated and alone. He can’t see “the way forward, [or] what to do” because he has no one by his side to support him (135). He eventually realizes that he needs help and begins to rely on his friend Connor, his former fourth-grade teacher, Ms. Raymond, and his new crush, Zayneb Malik, for support. Through these relationships, Adam begins to realize that being vulnerable with his loved ones isn’t a sign of weakness.
Adam is a giving, empathetic, and peaceful character. He’s observant, intuitive, and feels things deeply. He uses his artistic skills to connect with others and to express his love. For example, he redoes his mom’s old room for Hanna’s birthday to give her a place to experience the world’s wonders in safety. Adam’s character is largely defined by his Muslim faith. He converted to Islam shortly after his mom died when he was 11. He admired his dad’s peacefulness and longed for the same internal calm. His faith sustains him even amidst his trying physical and emotional circumstances. Adam’s sensitivity and openness also endear him to Zayneb. Zayneb admires his ability to control his emotions and to listen to and support others. She particularly respects Adam’s devotion to his family. Over time, Adam and Zayneb find new ways of communicating with each other in order to build a sustainable romance. The characters’ contrasting traits complement one another and help them to see the world in new and nuanced ways. Adam learns from Zayneb as much as she learns from him.
Auntie Nandy
Auntie Nandy is a primary, static character. She is Zayneb’s aunt, and she lives in Doha, Qatar. Auntie Nandy invites Zayneb to come and stay with her over her spring break. She tells Zayneb’s parents that Zayneb is welcome to come a week early when she hears about Zayneb’s suspension from school. In this way, she offers Zayneb a safe space to be herself amidst personal and societal challenges.
Although Auntie Nandy isn’t Muslim, she supports Zayneb’s Muslim identity and helps Zayneb understand herself better. Zayneb first begins to realize how much Auntie Nandy wants her to be true to herself when she stands up for Zayneb at the pool. She gives Zayneb her mother’s old burkini and encourages her to return to the pool without fear or shame. Zayneb in turn realizes that Auntie Nandy “want[s] [her] to fight” and doesn’t think that Zayneb should cater her self-expression to the opinions and expectations of others (130). Auntie Nandy also acts as a support system and archetypal guide for Zayneb as she faces other personal and societal conflicts. When Zayneb gets upset about Daadi’s death and feels confused about her relationship with Adam, Auntie Nandy assures her, “You’re not crazy; you’re in pain. You have a right to feel pain” (260). Furthermore, Auntie Nandy reminds her that she should listen to her activist inclinations and that she shouldn’t dismiss her beliefs if she feels an “itch in [her] heart for justice” (261). In these ways, Auntie Nandy guides Zayneb through significant coming-of-age experiences. She never judges Zayneb or undermines her experience. She authenticates what Zayneb feels while simultaneously challenging her to rethink her opinions and to take care of herself. Auntie Nandy therefore plays a crucial role in Zayneb’s evolution and growth over the course of the novel.
Kavi Srinivasan
Kavi Srinivasan is Zayneb’s best friend in Indiana. She is a secondary, static character by whom Zayneb defines herself. Kavi and Zayneb met in eighth grade. Zayneb immediately jumped to Kavi’s defense when she overheard another classmate calling her a racial slur. Although the teacher didn’t handle the situation how Zayneb wanted, she “got a true friend for life” out of the incident (159). Throughout the narrative present, Kavi and Zayneb remain close. They communicate consistently even after Zayneb leaves Indiana for Doha on spring break. Kavi keeps Zayneb up to date on what’s happening at school and the theories she and their mutual friends have developed about their Islamophobic teacher, Mr. Fencer.
Zayneb becomes afraid of losing Kavi when she discovers that Kavi has made friends with their classmate Noemi in her absence. She and Kavi have grown up together and therefore developed a sense of self in the context of their friendship. Zayneb hopes that Kavi isn’t replacing her with Noemi and sometimes lies awake in Doha missing her friend. Ultimately, Zayneb realizes that Noemi isn’t a threat to her friendship with Kavi and that Kavi has remained loyal to her. Indeed, Kavi offers Zayneb consistent support throughout the novel. They share their happy and sorrowful experiences when they’re together and apart and offer one another a reliable, safe space to be themselves.
Mr. Fencer
Mr. Fencer is a secondary character. He fulfills the role of the stereotypical antagonist throughout the novel. He is Zayneb’s social science teacher, and his racist and Islamophobic beliefs consistently disrupt Zayneb’s sense of peace and safety. Over time, Zayneb grows increasingly intolerant of Fencer’s microaggressions and becomes determined to “[g]et his racist ass fired” (217). She, Kavi, and Ayaan develop a secret campaign to uncover Fencer’s illicit activities online and report him to the school board. Together, they discover that Fencer is posting Islamophobic content on various forums using the handle @StoneWraith14. Fencer’s online activity verifies his intolerance for the Muslim faith, culture, and people. Fencer is therefore a narrative device used to spur the novel’s explorations of the Effects of Racism and Islamophobia on Personal Development. Indeed, even when Zayneb isn’t in school, Fencer’s intolerance perpetually unsettles her heart and mind. Therefore, in resisting Fencer, Zayneb is resisting injustice. Ultimately, she and her friends stage a walkout in Fencer’s class when they return to school from spring break. They’re tired of allowing powerful men like Fencer to preach dangerously prejudiced ideas and intimidate minority students without punishment. They use their online discoveries about Fencer to incite a school board investigation into him, which eventually leads to his dismissal from the school.
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