The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina KhanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Rukhsana is an average American teen with makeup, crop tops, a girlfriend, and a desire to become a scientist, all of which must be hidden from her strict and traditional Muslim parents.
POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT (THOUGH THIS IS ALL IN THE BOOK SUMMARY):
When her mother catches Rukhsana kissing her girlfriend, things go from bad to worse, and her parents pack her up and sweep her away to Bangladesh for what is supposed to be a 2 week visit to her ailing grandmother but instead turns into a 2 month stay in order to force her into an arranged marriage with a proper man.
This is a fascinating and layered read, full of Bengali culture, generational family history, angst, drama, and determination. I liked it a lot.
Pages: 336
