* 2010年YALSA 最佳青少年圖書獎初選提名小說
妮娜的父親是巴基斯坦人,信奉伊斯蘭教,舉家搬到美國後,嚴格要求她在開放紐約社會下墨守伊斯蘭文化,不准跟男生約會、不准夜歸、不准喝酒、不准許多同齡美國女孩都能做的事情,讓她在奉守伊斯蘭教傳統與紐約文明現實生活下矛盾成長。
青少年小說《Skunk Girl》以第一人稱詼諧描述妮娜自己的成長故事,幽默逗趣,教人讀了都會喜歡上妮娜這位長相跟電視影集「醜女貝蒂」裡的貝蒂一樣,留有一頭濃密捲髮的樂觀、粗枝大葉的青春期女孩。是一部關於生活、愛、與自信的故事。
If Nina Khan were to rate herself on the unofficial Pakistani prestige point system – the one she’s sure all the aunties and uncles use to determine the most attractive marriage prospects for their children – her scoring might go something like this:
+2 points for getting excellent grades
–3 points for failing to live up to expectations set by genius older sister
+4 points for dutifully obeying parents and never, ever going to parties, no matter how antisocial that makes her seem to everyone at Deer Hook High
–1 point for harboring secret jealousy of her best friends, who are allowed to date like normal teenagers
+2 points for never drinking an alcoholic beverage
–10 points for obsessing about Asher Richelli, who talks to Nina like she’s not a freak at all, even though he knows that she has a disturbing line of hair running down her back
In this wryly funny debut novel, the smart, sassy, and utterly lovable Nina Khan tackles friends, family, and love, and learns that it’s possible to embrace two very different cultures – even if things can get a little bit, well, hairy.