Silk Tether

Gr 8 Up—A coming-of-age story set in Pakistan, this work begins with wealthy and naive Ayla's last days of high school. Talented in science and the arts, she plans to attend an American university. The summer after graduation, she meets Shahaan, a thoughtful photographer who keeps pot in his car's glove compartment, and Tanzeela, a recently married girl who seems to be hiding signs of abuse. Ayla's oldest friend, Alia, has secrets, too. Ayla views Shahaan, Tanzeela, and Alia with interest and puzzlement, focusing very little on her own future, continuing to suppress a past trauma, and not telling her parents when she's threatened sexually in her own home. The protagonist is passive, nearly failing to take action when she should. Khan writes for a Western audience, explaining terms like Shariah and biryani; unfortunately the tone of the narration skews too far toward the explanatory. An excess of metaphors, repetitive language, needless details, and slow pacing make for a difficult read; Ayla as a character may be relatable only to teens with similar life experiences or an extremely analytical perspective.