Barakah Beats

Nimra has been friends with Jenna Birdie since she was a little girl. How does the length of their friendship affect how Nimra sees Jenna? How does their bond change over time, and how does this impact Nimra’s sense of self?

When Nimra finishes her Hifz program at Guided Light Academy, she starts attending public school. How does she imagine attending public school will differ from attending her private Islamic school? What excites her about this transition, and what does she fear about it? How do her expectations foreshadow what she experiences at Farmwell?

Compare and contrast Guided Light and Farmwell. What does Guided Light offer Nimra during her time there? What does Farmwell offer Nimra when she first starts seventh grade? In what ways do each of the schools act as symbols? What do they represent and why? Identify specific examples from the text.

Nimra’s parents and grandparents often disagree. What sorts of issues do they argue about? How does Nimra interpret their disagreements and how do their fights impact her emotionally? How do their fights shape Nimra’s narrative and character arc?

Nimra has loved to draw since she was a little girl. How do images and scenes of her drawing provide insight into Nimra’s true character? How does Nimra’s relationship to art compare with her relationship to religion, and how does it differ?

Nimra decides to join Barakah Beats even though she’s unsure about performing live music. Why does writing and playing music compromise Nimra’s beliefs? Why does Nimra stay in the band anyway? In what ways does the band challenge her to rethink her faith and her identity?

Nimra originally gets involved with Waleed, Balil, Matthew, and Khadijah to make Jenna jealous. How do her relationships with the Barakah Beats band members change over time? What does she have in common with her new bandmates? How do her new friends help her redefine friendship, acceptance, and belonging?

Nimra often feels caught between making people happy and being true to herself. What events and experiences make Nimra feel internally conflicted? Why does she make decisions that go against her wants and needs? Why does she tell lies when her dishonesty makes her feel guilty and upset?