Summary

In Chapter 1, Miss Sadia informs her class that only five students passed a difficult math test. Amal and her younger sister Seema rank among those five passing students. After Miss. Sadia dismisses her class for the day, Amal bemoans her obligation to return home and care for her sisters because she would rather stay at school with Miss. Sadia. Miss Sadia reaffirms that family comes first and invites Amal to help her with an upcoming poetry unit another day. She suggests that Amal generate enthusiasm for poetry-writing amongst her classmates by encouraging her friend Hafsa to give it a chance.

In Chapter 2, Amal races to catch up with Hafsa and Seema, who have already begun walking home. She overhears Hafsa complaining that Miss. Sadia never dismisses class on time. While Hafsa expresses her disinterest in school, Amal contemplates all the things she hopes to...