A.B.C.D.s (American Born Confused Desis)

This novel is about the "melting pot" phenomenon of America. It tells the stories of American children born to Pakistani parents: the children are a part of the flashy, materialistic and fun new life in America , while the parents hear the persistent calling of the old country. The main characters--all teenagers--get embroiled in an adventure in the grasslands of East Africa, and each character learns an important lesson about self discovery. The characters include Omar, who is obsessed with sports, Baywatch, Puff Daddy and junk food; Sherazad from New York, the quintessential Valley Girl and label-spewing shopaholic; Yasmeen, every God-fearing Pakistani parent's worst nightmare--a Muslim girl modeling Victoria's Secrets underwear; and Narmeen, a girl who has begun to embrace an Afghani Taliban style of militant Islam.