Consider the role of education in the novel. How do the academic aspirations of characters like Aisha and Nadira reflect broader ideas of opportunity and self-realization in the traditional immigrant narrative?

How does the cultural and historical context of Bangladesh, particularly its tumultuous history, influence the perspectives and actions of characters like Uncle in the novel?

How does the novel address the concept of the American Dream? Consider the differences between characters’ expectations and the realities they face.