Professors often assign the English translation for comparative literature or postcolonial studies courses. A searchable PDF allows students to quickly find quotes about feminism, classism, or the French educational system.

The novel follows Doria, a fifteen-year-old girl of Algerian descent living in a rundown housing project ("la cité") outside Paris. Her father has returned to Morocco, her mother cleans hotel rooms, and her social worker is convinced she needs psychological help. Yet Doria is not a victim. Armed with sharp wit and a cynical humor, she navigates a world of poverty, racism, and bureaucracy, dreaming of a better future.

Check local library catalogs for digital lending via apps like Libby or OverDrive. : You can read free excerpts of the English translation at BookBrowse to get a feel for Sarah Adams' translation. Internet Archive 2. PDF Study Guides & Resources

The novel tells the story of Kara, a young Senegalese-French girl growing up in the banlieues of Paris. Kara's life is marked by difficulties: her father is absent, her mother is struggling to make ends meet, and she faces racism and sexism at school and in her community. Despite these challenges, Kara finds solace in her relationships with her friends and her own imagination.