44 pages • 1 hour read
Marina BudhosAsk Me No Questions
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2006A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 5-7Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 5 Summary
By Tuesday, Nadira and Aisha return to high school. There, they are among several undocumented students, though this is a closely guarded secret. The childhood chant “ask me no questions, tell me no lies” has become an unspoken policy at school, reflecting the need for discretion about the Hossains’ and other students’ legal status. At school, Aisha’s college counselor approaches her and mentions that Barnard College is interested in her application and wants to set up an interview. Aisha’s achievements as the star of the math team and a skilled debater make her an excellent candidate, but her teachers do not know her family’s immigration status.
After school, Nadira visits Ali-Uncle, a close family friend, at his magazine shop. There, she encounters Tareq, a young man who dropped out of school and is known by Ma as “bagh’a,” or “tiger.” Tareq suggests he could help Nadira obtain a fake green card, a proposal Ali-Uncle disapproves of, warning against Tareq’s recklessness.
Back at the Hossains’ apartment, tension surrounds Taslima, the daughter of Nadira’s aunt (“Auntie”) and uncle (“Uncle”). Taslima attends Queens College and is dating a white law student named Tim. A few weeks prior to Abba’s detainment, Tim’s explanation of the special registration law led to a heated debate between Abba and Uncle. Abba wanted to register, but Uncle prefers to stay under the radar, even considering a return to Bangladesh. Taslima, eager to finish her education, resists the idea of moving back to Bangladesh.
Chapter 6 Summary
Nadira’s day begins with a startling encounter at the dining room table, as Uncle abruptly asks if she’s ready to live in Canada. Uncle expresses skepticism about life in the West and mentions disturbing news from Ali-Uncle about the disappearance of four men from their community. When Nadira explains that her father believes crossing the border would help, Uncle gets angry, grabbing Nadira by the arm and telling a traumatic family story about his grandmother, who was murdered while fleeing West Bengal.
Nadira spends time with her only trusted friend, Lily Yee, but she feels unable to share her family’s troubles with Lily. Lily has her own secrets, like dealing with her father’s infidelity. Meanwhile, Aisha faces her own challenges; her friends question her interest in university in Canada, leaving her feeling humiliated but unwilling to explain the legal challenges her family faces in the US.
When Aisha shares her nomination for valedictorian, Nadira reacts negatively, belittling Aisha’s achievements and prospects for college. This confrontation leaves Aisha in tears and gives Nadira a sense of power.
Back at the apartment, Auntie and Tim inform the sisters that Abba’s bond has been denied. Moreover, the fact that Abba lied about his residence on his application has led to an investigation into his political affiliations. As Aisha leaves the room upset, Auntie urges Nadira to console her. However, Nadira feels isolated and unable to reach out.
Chapter 7 Summary
Nadira recounts that during Ma and Abba’s youth in Bangladesh, there was a strong desire to redefine the newly established borders. Her Uncle Naseem, Abba’s older brother, joined the Mukti Bahini, a guerrilla group in the Bangladesh Liberation War. Naseem died in this fight and was buried in a mustard field.
Nadira narrates how her parents met and married. Abba, captivated by Ma at a fair, chose her as his future wife, leading to a traditionally arranged marriage. Abba, a man of principles, faces a dilemma in America. The unfamiliar cultural and legal landscape in the US presents complexities, leaving Abba uncertain about the “right thing” to do.
Chapters 5-7 Analysis
Chapter 5 introduces Tareq, a character whose “tiger” moniker signifies his recklessness. Tareq exemplifies the risky and morally ambiguous paths some immigrants take when facing legal and existential challenges. His offer to help Nadira obtain a counterfeit green card is an example of such desperate measures. Ali-Uncle’s disapproval serves as a cautionary note, emphasizing the precariousness of such choices.
Nadira and Aisha’s school experiences illuminate The Resilience and Adaptability of Young Immigrants. Aisha’s accomplishments attract institutional praise in the form of the college counselor, yet her undocumented status overshadows her achievements. The motif of secrecy, which arises explicitly during Nadira’s discussion with Lily Yee, underscores this tension, contrasting with the public face of achievement and normalcy that Aisha portrays at school. This duality in Aisha’s school life reflects what the novel suggests is a core aspect of the immigrant experience: the balance between striving for success and the constant fear caused by one’s private struggles. The childhood chant “ask me no questions” emerges as a symbol of the family’s reliance on secrecy to survive. This chant is an unspoken policy among them. Nevertheless, the fact that Aisha pursues success while grappling with feelings of fear and alienation exemplifies her resilience and the various ways in which young immigrants adapt to the complexities of balancing personal aspirations, societal pressures, and the realities of their undocumented status.
The chapters delving into Bangladesh’s history develop the theme of The Struggle for Identity and Belonging in a New Country. Abba’s unwavering commitment to his principles, which served him well in Bangladesh (e.g., by bringing about his marriage), becomes a source of conflict in a foreign land with markedly different rules and norms. Uncle criticizes Abba’s dreamy aspirations, offering a contrasting perspective. In Chapter 6, Nadira and Uncle’s discussion centers on the concept of borders, whether physical or metaphorical. These borders symbolize the divisions and differences between nations and cultures, shedding light on the challenges the family faces in the United States. Uncle challenges Nadira’s understanding of borders as easy to cross, dismissing Abbas’s belief that life will be better in Canada. His bitterness stems from tragic family history; his grandmother’s murder during her escape from West Bengal epitomizes the trauma associated with border crossings and displacement. The reminder that both national and cultural borders can be dangerous to cross is particularly ominous in light of the news that Abba’s political affiliations are under investigation.
The opening of the investigation also captures the mounting pressure within the family due to US immigration policies, underscoring the theme of The Impact of Immigration Policies on Families. The tensions surrounding Taslima are a byproduct of those same policies; her assimilation into American society (e.g., dating a white man) might spark controversy anyway, but in the context of hostility from both the US state and much of its population, it strikes Uncle as a betrayal. This narrative arc reflects the broader immigrant experience, where individuals must navigate a complex web of new social, legal, and moral landscapes while reconciling their past with their present.
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By Marina Budhos
