Chapter 9 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 9, "Abeh" ends Part I of the book, starting in April 1991, when Abeh, her father, returns to Nairobi. The house becomes more orderly out of respect for him being back home, but although both Ayaan and Haweya are pleased he has returned, her mother is not so forgiving. She does not speak to him.

The refugees begin to find their own places to live and make decisions about what to do next with their lives. As her mother's silent treatment toward her father continues, he again marries his first wife, Maryan Farah and moves with his other two daughters.

In January 1992, after mosque, her father came excitedly to see her, as he had met a man, Osman Moussa, a distant relative living in Canada who she would marry. He was very pleased, as this man was well-off and looking for a...