Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Isma sees two parachutists in her skylight window.

• How do these parachutists represent her and Aneeka? (topic sentence)
• How does this symbol play out throughout the novel? Use examples from the text that detail Isma’s relationship with Aneeka.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, connect your argument back to the theme of Loyalty to the Family Versus Loyalty to the State.

2. Isma and Aneeka have different attitudes toward their hijabs.

• How do Aneeka and Isma view their hijabs? (topic sentence)
• Using at least three examples from the text that show the similarities and differences between Aneeka and Isma when it comes to their religion as manifested by their hijab.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, connect your argument back to the larger role that religion plays in this novel.