Home Is Not a Country

Music, specifically that of Sayed Khalifa, greatly influences Nima. Research songs from Sudan and analyze how multiple songs reinforce one or more of the novel’s themes. Use evidence from the text to support your thinking.

The structure of Elhillo’s verse varies. Examine at least three different poems and explore why the structure fluctuates in those poems. Consider stanza and line length, white space, enjambment, etc. How does the structure reflect and/or reinforce the content of the poems? How does the variation differentiate between moments in Nima’s life?

Researchers have identified patterns among people regarding racial identity development. Explore these findings and analyze how they apply to Nima throughout home is not a country. Keep in mind that the stages of development are not necessarily linear but may be cyclical and revisited at various points in a person’s life. Use evidence from the text to support your thinking.

Consider the first-person perspective of Nima in the novel. How would the narrative shift if told from a different person’s point of view? Choose one of the following characters and examine their voice: Aisha, Haitham, Hala, or Yasmeen. Consider characterization, tone, and theme in your argument.

The concept of home is explored in this novel. Given Nima’s story, how would you define “home”? Why? In what ways is this definition applicable to real people outside the story?

Imagination is a mechanism for Nima to cope with her loneliness and unhappiness. What other methods does she employ for enduring a life she does not enjoy? How do they connect to or conflict with imagination?

Many characters face racism associated with the aftermath of 9/11. Sometimes Islamophobia manifests as vicious attacks, such as the one targeting Haitham, but other times it manifests in microaggressions, such as when a girl in Nima’s school assumes she cannot speak English. Learn about microaggressions and examine the detrimental impact of them on characters in the text. How do microaggressions shape Nima’s sense of self?

Elhillo’s text is rife with symbolism. Keeping in mind that people can be symbolic too, examine at least three different characters and determine what concepts or ideas they each represent.