Shah-jan or Jason D. is a young boy trying to figure out what he is and how he belongs in the large city of New York. His mom is from Afghanistan and risks being deported back to her home country because of paper complications. When Jason sees his mom being taken away, he finds himself on an adventure across the city to notify his Aunt Sheema. Along the way, he meets some interesting people who begin to shape who he is as a person.
Evaluation
I absolutely loved this book. The author did a brilliant job of getting inside the head of a young immigrant boy who undoubtedly constantly worries about his mother's safety and his own safety. He talks about the struggles of coming from an immigrant family, of being treated like an outcast and of course, the constant, intense fear of being taken away from America's freedom. With recent talk about immigrants and refugees and various policies, it is refreshing to read a novel that brings all of this to life for elementary and middle-aged children.
