Unit Guide

We Are Not So Different After All: An Insight into the Novel, Ask Me No Questions

Barbara A. Prillaman

In this unit, the teaching of the aspects of Islamic culture will be infused throughout our reading of the Young Adolescent (YA) novel, Ask Me No Questions, as the information comes up in the different chapters. In this way, my Hispanic, middle-school English Language Learners( ELLs), who have no prior knowledge regarding Islam will be able to categorize what they learn and connect it to something that they already know. Ultimately, to develop their writing skills in English, students will focus on the overarching theme, Home, heritage, and experience influence our personal growth and sense of belonging, and apply what they have learned by (1) comparing and contrasting their immigration stories and lives with those of the main character’s (Nadira) family, (2) creating a diary from her perspective to include the information about the Islamic culture that we have showcased, and (3) identifying how the setting and mood affect the actions and nature of the characters in Ask Me No Questions. This unit can be used with any group of middle/high school students reading this book. It could also be used in both English language Arts and social studies classes.