Silk Tether

July 1, 2016

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. VERDICT Despite exploring potentially interesting themes of class and patriarchal violence in Karachi, this will be a hard sell for most teens.-Miriam DesHarnais, Towson University, MD

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2016
The title is the right-on perfect summary for this story about the tight emotional bonds in a sweet, loving familybonds that nurture a young woman, pamper her, and lock her up. Growing up in privileged families in modern Karachi, Pakistan, Ayla and Alia, 17, have been best friends since third grade, their similar names a wry connection; and as they help each other fight for attention and respect at home, they also dare to confront their long-term goals: to break free from their arranged-marriage future. Ayla is a gifted student caught in a cold, entrapping cage: Can she get away and attend college in the U.S.? Another friend locked in an ugly forced marriage helps Ayla escape. Never simplistic, the close-up personal stories show that the issues are not just about tradition versus freedom or men versus women. Class is always there, too, driving expectations and behavior. With a blend of wry humor and anguish, author Khan shows that the two-edged sword of family bonds (or silk tethers) is a theme that stretches across cultures.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)