Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Jot down everything you already know (or think you know) about the term “Islamophobia.” Consider any source or place where you may have heard this term before (family, the news, movies, etc.).

Teaching Suggestion: Maya’s identity as a Muslim girl is at the center of the conflict in this novel. It is important that students be aware that Maya’s experience extends beyond a fictional text. You may want to consider showing a number of different news articles that use this term. It is also important to consider the emotions and experiences of any students in your class who may be Muslim.

• This interactive website from Georgetown University explains what Islamophobia is and where it comes from.
• This news article from 1995 explains how the media jumped to conclusions following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

2. What does it mean when someone describes something as being seen through a “lens” or “filter”? How does that change the viewer’s experience with the subject?

Teaching Suggestion: The title of the novel suggests that, like Maya as a director, we all look at the world through a “filter.