Watched

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 14, 2016

Review

Eighteen-year-old Naeem's father emigrated to New York City from Bangladesh soon after his mother died when Naeem was five. Though he intended to send for Naeem as soon as he was settled, a new marriage and baby and setting up of a new business meant that it was years before Naeem finally rejoined his family. Though Naeem adores his new brother and cares deeply about his much younger step-mother, he struggles with feeling as if he never quite measures up to be the son his father wants. These feelings push him to act up at school and in his neighborhood and to find solace in a peer named Ibrahim, who he knows is not really to be trusted, but whose friendship buoys him up and provides distraction from his failing grades and unhappy relationship with his dad. When a shoplifting attempt that Ibrahim orchestrates and for which he frames Naeem lands Naeem in hot water with the police, Naeem is offered an out if he engages in surveillance in his predominantly Muslim community for the authorities. This nuanced novel is both suspenseful and thought-provoking. Naeem is a sympathetic and flawed narrator and his internal monologues are multi-layered as he tries to make difficult decisions. Evocative writing brings his neighborhood to vivid life and juxtaposes well against the tension of Naeem's first person narrative. An intelligent and engaging thriller that recognizes there are no easy answers.

Overall Book Score: excellent