82 pages • 2 hours read
Abdi Nor IftinCall Me American
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
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How does Abdi’s idea of America differ from reality?
Abdi’s mother goes to extreme lengths to keep her children safe. In what ways does her upbringing as a nomadic farmer influence her actions in later life?
Somalia’s harsh climate leads to drought on numerous occasions. How does this tough environment reflect the country’s recent outbreak of violence?
For much of his childhood, Abdi loathes and fears his teacher, Macalin Basbaas. Ultimately, he forgives the man who beat him. How does Abdi’s growth as a character influence his decision to forgive?
Kenya is a difficult place for Somali refugees to live. How does Abdi’s time in Little Mogadishu influence his view of the world?
How does the death of Abdi’s baby sister affect Abdi and his siblings? How does it affect his mother?
There are parallels between the fates of Omar and Abdi’s father. What do their similar plights say about the way in which war affects conceptions of masculinity?
If Abdi is a hopeful vision of success, what kind of vision is Hassan?
Discuss individualism and interconnectedness in Abdi’s story. To what extent did Abdi achieve his remarkable success on his own? How much help was the assistance of others? What does Abdi’s story say about the American myth of “pulling oneself up by one’s bootstraps”?
