Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow

Being Muslim seems to mean different things to different characters. What role does religion play in the lives of character such as Yasmina, Doria’s father, Lila, Youssef, or Doria herself?

Doria uses pop culture as the basis for her daydreams, but also uses it to understand more about herself and the world around her. In what ways does pop culture serve Doria as escapism, and in what ways does she use it more constructively?

Gender roles play a significant part in shaping characters’ expectations and experiences. Choose a character and examine the ways in which her (or his) life has been shaped by gender expectations.

Doria feels isolated and marginalized, but there also seem to be many programs in place to help her and Yasmina. Discuss the ways in which French society supports Doria and Yasmina, and how these might differ in an American context.

Doria notes that Mme. Burlaud seems to know more about her than she knows about herself.  What insights does Mme. Burlaud help Doria achieve, and how does she help her do so?

Doria frequently creates vivid fantasy scenarios that illustrate her hopes and fears or present theories about the lives and motivations of others. Choose one or more especially-detailed examples and analyze what the fantasy represents, along with the motifs that it contains.

Discuss the significance of names and naming in the book, including given names, surnames, and nicknames.

The French authority figures in Doria’s life seem protective of traditional French culture and have high expectations of those they hope will assimilate. In what ways is French culture exclusionary and in what ways does it offer the possibility of inclusion?