Away From Innocence: Migration And Cultural Trauma in Sabina Khan's Young Adult Novel Zara Hossain Is Here

Abstract

Depicting characters in a complex liminal space between childhood and adulthood, often lost in the midst of identity transition, Young Adult literature has traditionally focused on individuality and maturity development to the extent that they have become distinctive features of the genre. However, a number of recent writings belonging to the emergent genre of refugee and migration youth literature have been disrupting the traditional coming-of-age story by envisioning alternative means for the young to face the complexities of identity construction in the new land. By drawing on migration studies as well as decolonial theory and culturally sustaining pedagogy, I will examine Sabina Khan’s transcultural novel Zara Hossain is Here (2021) which provides an empowering depiction of a queer Pakistani immigrant teen facing cultural trauma through political activism and community building. First, through an intersectional lens, I will show how Khan’s text unsettles traditional “moves to innocence” by challenging static representations of gender and cultural norms for immigrant youth of color. Second, I will point out how the protagonist, as a determined and self-aware young woman, with an established sexuality, financial security, and familial support, departs from the typical portrayal of the adolescent struggling for identity formation. Finally, I will demonstrate that social awareness and political consciousness are new effective strategies for the young to overcome systemic oppression linked to social, racial, and gender injustice. In conclusion, Khan’s writing unsettles typical categorizations both in terms of genre and content. It reflects the heterogeneity of the youth of color and their varied experiences across cultural and geographic contexts offering an inspiring portrayal of transcultural young generations who develop new forms of recovery from marginalization and envisage subversive kinds of social justice.