Love From A to Z

Zayneb thinks about Muslim women, Ayaan, the prophet Muhammad, and Adam while touring the museum with Adam and his family. She realizes how much he loves his sister and dad and can’t stop thinking about being closer with him.

In one room, Adam and Hanna tell Zayneb how much Adam likes to make things with his hands. Adam explains that he started making things after he got sick and dropped out of school. He’s still trying to decide what to do next but has considered traveling in his free time. Then, he and Zayneb encounter The Marvels of Creation and Oddities of Existence in another exhibit hall. Zayneb is thrilled to see the work that inspired her journal.

The narrator says that Adam and Zayneb have different interpretations of what happens next and decides to present their interpretations together.

Zayneb’s phone buzzes while she and Adam are looking at The Marvels of Creation and Oddities of Existence. She curses when she sees that Fencer gave her a D on her project. She tries to explain the situation with Fencer to Adam, but he doesn’t seem to understand. Zayneb gets offended when he suggests that Fencer might not have meant some of the things he said in class the way that Zayneb thinks he meant them. They start arguing about their beliefs and what they want. Zayneb wants justice, while Adam wants peace. Zayneb angrily tells Adam that they don’t have the same beliefs and accuses him of being a coward for hiding his illness from his family. After she storms off, Adam sits down, feeling sad that their relationship ended before it began.

Adam reflects on what happened at the museum. He realizes that Zayneb isn’t who he thought she was. He fell for her before he knew anything about her. However, he also realizes that he has to talk to his family. He sits with his dad and explains everything. His dad already knows but starts crying. He then assures Adam that he doesn’t have to go through his illness alone. He goes on to tell Adam more about his mom’s illness and death and how he handled it. Adam is thankful that Ms. Raymond talked to his dad first because the conversation was easier than expected.

Zayneb can’t stop thinking about Adam and what happened at the museum. She messages Kavi to talk about it and sits in Adam’s old treatment chair. On the phone, Kavi tells Zayneb about her school acceptances and all the fun she’s been having with Ayaan and Noemi. Zayneb doesn’t say anything about Adam because she doesn’t want to ruin Kavi’s excitement.

Zayneb scrolls through some photos Hanna sent of her from their time at the museum together. She realizes how happy she looks in the images. She still doesn’t know what to think about what happened with Adam. She goes to Auntie Nandy to vent, but she is on the phone with Zayneb’s mom. Auntie Nandy tells Zayneb what’s happening with her family once she hangs up. Zayneb’s mom is unable to come to Doha on the days she planned. Instead, she’s going to Pakistan with Zayneb’s dad. The family discovered that Daadi was in fact killed in a drone strike and not a car accident. Zayneb’s parents are visiting Pakistan to collect all of the information on the incident. Zayneb and Auntie Nandy hold each other and cry for Daadi.

Zayneb talks to her siblings and then to her mom about what’s happening. Her mom explains that an organization that collects civilian drone death records will help them understand everything about Daadi’s death. She then promises to come and see Zayneb in Doha on her way back from Pakistan. Zayneb hangs up and discovers a rejection letter from the University of Chicago in the mail. She doesn’t let herself get upset and focuses on researching drone strikes instead.

Adam’s friends Connor, Jacob, Madison, Isaac, Emma P., and Emma Z. come over to see Adam after hearing about his diagnosis. They want to support him no matter what. They thank him for his friendship with them, too. After the others leave, Emma P. asks Adam if he has feelings for her, and he admits that he likes someone else. He then references Zayneb and the news about her grandmother. Emma P. insists that they should do something for her in her time of need, too.

Adam returns to working on his room project after his friends leave. He focuses on filling the space with reminders “of the good things in life” (244).

Hanna interrupts Adam to ask him about Zayneb. She noticed that he deleted the photos of them together at the museum from his phone. Adam can’t explain why he hid the photos. He thinks about Zayneb and realizes that he really likes her. She is different than expected, but he likes that she feels things deeply. He starts sending her apology texts afterward.

The Emmas come over to see Zayneb after Auntie Nandy leaves for the gym. They tell her how sorry they are to hear about her grandmother. Zayneb digs out some junk food for them, and they talk openly. The Emmas say that they want to know more about Zayneb’s experience. Zayneb realizes that they’re not as bad as she thought. Then, the friends ask Zayneb about Adam and how they met. Zayneb starts to wonder if Adam still likes her. She receives several messages from him after the Emmas leave but doesn’t immediately respond. Instead, she does more research on Islamophobia, drone strikes, and Fencer.

Zayneb vents to Auntie Nandy when she gets home. Auntie Nandy comforts and encourages her. She insists that Zayneb has to stand up for what she believes in no matter what her parents say. Afterward, Zayneb starts writing poems in her journal. Then she calls Kavi to tell her about Daadi, and they cry on the phone together. Zayneb receives more texts from Adam that evening and wonders if they can fix what happened between them.