This section presents terms and phrases that are central to understanding the text and may present a challenge to the reader. Use this list to create a vocabulary quiz or worksheet, to prepare flashcards for a standardized test, or to inspire classroom word games and other group activities.

1. collective (adjective):

people acting together as a group

“The class let out a collective groan.” (Chapter 1, Page 1)

2. rallies (present tense verb):

brings together for a common cause

“You know how she rallies the others to her side.” (Chapter 1, Page 3)

3. prosperous (adjective):

successful, wealthy

“I was lucky to belong to one of the more prosperous families in our Punjabi village, but it didn’t change the fact that I lived in a village so tiny, it didn’t even register as a dot on a map.” (Chapter 1, Page 4)

4. chador (noun):

a large cloth cloak worn primarily by Muslim women that wraps around the head and upper body, serving as a head covering, veil, and shawl, leaving only the face exposed

“The sun blazed overhead, warming my chador and my hair beneath it.” (Chapter 2, Page 5)

5. mosque (noun):

a Muslim place of worship

“She pointed to the building that had appeared next to our village mosque.