Watched

Naeem is a major disappointment to his father who emigrated from Bangladesh. When Naeem tells his father he will not be graduating due to his failing two classes, his father will not even speak to him. When Naeem’s best friend shoplifts expensive clothing and frames Naeem, the cops tell Naeem he can avoid jail by spying on other Muslims and reporting suspicious behavior to them. Additionally, they will pay him much needed money to help his family whose business is failing. Naeem agrees to help, but when he realizes that the tactics the cops are using are a form of entrapment, Naeem must decide whether to remain an informant or go to jail. Although the book is a work of fiction, Marina Budhos bases the book on real life events as explained in the author’s note. The novel is not only evenly-paced but the descriptions are so well-rendered that, at times, the reader may feel he is standing in the mosque hearing the call to prayer, eating Bengali food, and experiencing the sights and sounds of New York. Furthermore, this is a timely novel that explores issues such as Islamophobia, civil liberties, and homeland security.