Skunk Girl

Skunk Girl
Author(s)
Age Range
14+
Release Date
March 31, 2009
ISBN
9780374370114
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If Nina Khan were to rate herself on the unofficial Pakistani prestige point system – the one she’s sure all the aunties and uncles use to determine the most attractive marriage prospects for their children – her scoring might go something like this: 

+2 points for getting excellent grades 

–3 points for failing to live up to expectations set by genius older sister 

+4 points for dutifully obeying parents and never, ever going to parties, no matter how antisocial that makes her seem to everyone at Deer Hook High 

–1 point for harboring secret jealousy of her best friends, who are allowed to date like normal teenagers 

+2 points for never drinking an alcoholic beverage 

–10 points for obsessing about Asher Richelli, who talks to Nina like she’s not a freak at all, even though he knows that she has a disturbing line of hair running down her back

In this wryly funny debut novel, the smart, sassy, and utterly lovable Nina Khan tackles friends, family, and love, and learns that it’s possible to embrace two very different cultures – even if things can get a little bit, well, hairy.

If Nina Khan were to rate herself on the unofficial Pakistani prestige point system – the one she’s sure all the aunties and uncles use to determine the most attractive marriage prospects for their children – her scoring might go something like this: 

+2 points for getting excellent grades 

–3 points for failing to live up to expectations set by genius older sister 

+4 points for dutifully obeying parents and never, ever going to parties, no matter how antisocial that makes her seem to everyone at Deer Hook High 

–1 point for harboring secret jealousy of her best friends, who are allowed to date like normal teenagers 

+2 points for never drinking an alcoholic beverage 

–10 points for obsessing about Asher Richelli, who talks to Nina like she’s not a freak at all, even though he knows that she has a disturbing line of hair running down her back

In this wryly funny debut novel, the smart, sassy, and utterly lovable Nina Khan tackles friends, family, and love, and learns that it’s possible to embrace two very different cultures – even if things can get a little bit, well, hairy.

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OMG! I'm a skunk girl!
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Nina Khan, a high schooler in small town Deer Hook, NY, has a lot of pressures in her life. She is the only Asian student at her school. Her older sister is a "supernerd" at Harvard, her parents are super strict about her social life, and her friends just want her to be able to do what they do. Oh yeah, she has also inherited the "Pakistani hairy gene" which causes her to go to great lengths to make it all go away, especailly the long stripe of dark hair running down her back. Nina has to come to terms with falling in love with a boy she knows she can never realistically date because of her family's traditional Muslim values. How can Nina fit in and make everyone happy, including herself? By being Nina Khan, that's how.

Sheba Karim knows how to write teens. Nina is a realistic, loveable, self-depracating, respectable, struggling teen. You will find yourself cheering her on at every turn. It's a quick read, and a fun one. You'll love it.
Good Points
Funny! Likeable characters. Fast read. Realistic. Respect for cultural differences.
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