Unsettled

Dedication

For Amma and Abba . . . and Nana, of course

In memory of Nana Abu, Pyarijan, Dada, and Dulhan Chachi

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Dedication

Part One

Escape

Best Friends

Beach Food

Teatime

The Perfect Day

Home

The Worst Day

Tangle

Math Class

My Family’s Outsides

Visiting Grandmothers

Dadi

Seeds of Hope

Nana

Nana

Nana

My Grandmother Nana’s Hands

Blue Cocoon

Motia and Mehndi

Part Two

On Land

Settle

Nurah Haqq

My Mother

Language Barrier

Language

Which Land Is Mine?

Hotel

Little

Stop

My Family

Ammi Says

Where?

Part Three

The Rec Center

Warm Welcome

Blue Cocoon

Trophy Case

TV

School Morning

The First Day of School

Language Arts

Science Class

Hands

Math Class Decisions

Coloring 101

Lunchtime

Second Day of School

Aidan

Lab Partner

Clothes

Autumn

Sweet in Comfort Suites

Comfort in Comfort Suites

The Ways of Rice

House Hunting

A New House

Lunchtime

Skype Calls

Walking to the Rec Center

Rec Center

Cold

Karachi

American Winter

Baba’s Patience

Birds

After School

Bright-Yellow Flyer

Teatime

Skin

Dollop of Hope

Pep Talk

Stahr

Camouflage

Imagine

Difference

Swim Tryouts

Strokes

Alyson

Owais

Masjid

Junaid

Hair

School

Stand Out

Fall Parent Conferences

Amphibian

On the Way Home

Swim Team

Part Four

My Mother’s Belly

Back Home

Doubts

Before Bed

My Father’s Answer

Anger

Swimming

The Moment

Teatime

Part Five

The House

Raspberry

Google

Baby Sizes

Nurah Haqq

Skype

Fajr Prayer Before Sunrise

Nana’s Worries

Swim Meets

Where Is My Mother?

Almost Neighbors

The Next Day

Teatime

Plans of Penelope

Staying Together

The Surprise

Leftover Paint

Art Class

My Art Teacher

The Words of Ms. White

Swim Meets

Swim Meet

Extra Sleep

Afternoons

Help

Delayed Teatime

Getting Better

Part Six

Bullied

The Bus

Jay

Did You Know?

The Incident

I Wish

Sunday School

Pep Talk

Courage

Time

Temper

Inside

The Incident

Tomorrow

Aftermath

Terrorist Attack

Knock on the Door

Facts

Art Class

After the Terrorist Attack

Part Seven

Looks

Jealousy

Owais’s Room

Extra Practice

Star Athlete

Instead of Pointers

False Promises

Before the Locker Rooms

Locker Rooms

Girls’ Locker Room

Waiting

Probably

Lifeguard

Stretcher

Hospital

Sorry

Fighter

Home Visit

For My Brother

Later

Part Eight

In America

Dadi

Airport

Babysitting

Hardware Store—$14.99

Garden

Deadheading

Chess

Junaid

Conspirator

The Walk Home

Weighing Down of Words

Aidan

Decision

The Mirror

No Longer

Lab

Trying Again

Melty Circles of Joy

Unwanted

Practice

Spring Conferences

Part Nine

Owais’s Room

Without Owais

Offerings

Returning

My Father

Thirsty

Friends

Hobbies of My Brother

Who Do We Have?

Stamina

Sunday School

Masjid Lobby

Final Art Project

Final Swim Meet

Coach Kelly’s Warm-Up

Diving Block

50 Yards

Final Swim Meet

Owais’s Turn

Medal

Newspaper

Summer

Visitor

Teatime

For My Mother

So

Windy Day

Author’s Note

Glossary

Nurah’s Aloo Kabab Lunch Recipe

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Copyright

About the Publisher

Part One