Genre
The young adult modern novel
Setting and Context
Set in Melbourne, Australia
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Tense and suspicious
Protagonist and Antagonist
The central character is Amal Mohamed Nasrullah Abdel-Hakim.
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that Amal is at crossroads of confusion due to her complex cultural dynamics. Amal is a Muslim by religion, and she is living in Australia. Therefore, deciding to wear a hijab and dress as a Muslim woman is a conflicting dilemma that she faces in her life.
Climax
The climax comes when Amal refuses to kiss her boyfriend, Adam, at a party. Amal sticks to her strict religious upbringing that prohibits romance before marriage.
Foreshadowing
Her strict Muslim upbringing foreshadows Amal's complex situation in Australia.
Understatement
The Muslim religion is understated. States that are not Muslim do not understand fully what that religion entails. For instance, women must wear a hijab and strictly observe the roles of womanhood.
Allusions
The story alludes to conflicting religious and cultural beliefs that Amal has to face with confidence.
Imagery
The imagery of the Islamic religion is evident throughout the text. For instance, Through Amal’s conduct, readers can see the expectations of the Islamic religion and what women are required to do.
Paradox
The main paradox is that Amal rejects a kiss requested by her crush, Adam, at a party.
Parallelism
Islamic religion parallels Catholicism and Christianity in terms of assumptions and expectations.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Religion is incarnated as a moral character.
