Love, Hate and Other Filters

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Jot down everything you already know (or think you know) about the term “Islamophobia.” Consider any source or place where you may have heard this term before (family, the news, movies, etc.).

Teaching Suggestion: Maya’s identity as a Muslim girl is at the center of the conflict in this novel. It is important that students be aware that Maya’s experience extends beyond a fictional text. You may want to consider showing a number of different news articles that use this term. It is also important to consider the emotions and experiences of any students in your class who may be Muslim.

• This interactive website from Georgetown University explains what Islamophobia is and where it comes from.
• This news article from 1995 explains how the media jumped to conclusions following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

2. What does it mean when someone describes something as being seen through a “lens” or “filter”? How does that change the viewer’s experience with the subject?

Teaching Suggestion: The title of the novel suggests that, like Maya as a director, we all look at the world through a “filter.” These filters or “lenses” are often used as a way to analyze literature as well. Consider tying the idea of literary lenses to the filters that students use on social media throughout the discussion.

• This article from the National Council of Teachers of English discusses how to introduce literary lenses and critical reading to a high school classroom. Note: This is a teacher-facing resource.
• This 7-minute video from Global News explains how social media filters are impacting beauty standards and mental health.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

How important is it to you that your parents approve of your decisions? Does their approval/opinion impact how you make decisions?

Teaching Suggestion: Being a teenager means trying to find a balance between what your parents believe and what you believe. Many students may pretend not to care about their parents’ opinion, when in reality, it does matter to them. Consider pushing students to move beyond their initial response. You may want to provide scenarios at different levels of importance to help students tackle this idea.

This article from Psychology Today explains the complex relationship between teenage behavior and parental approval.