Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
A girl comes with her family from war-torn Syria. She thought she spoke English well, but struggles in Cincinnati. She lives with her relatives who are fully Americanized. These relatives don't know Arabic and don't go to mosque. The girl tries to adjust to life in school and even tries out and makes the school play. She becomes friends with one of the drama weirdos.
Things get worse when terrorist attacks occur on US soil. People shout slurs at her because she was Arab. She also has to defend her desire to wear a head scarf after she reaches womanhood. She is not forced, but does it because she wants to.
It is a short tale of the struggles of adapting to a new culture and seeing the difference in perception and skills.
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