Towelhead: A NovelThe year is 1991. When Jasira's mother finds out what has been going on between her boyfriend and her thirteen-year-old daughter, she has to make a choice -- and chooses to send Jasira off to Houston’ Texas, to live with her father. A remote disciplinarian prone to explosive rages, Jasira's father is unable to show his daughter the love she craves -- and far less able to handle her feelings about her changing body. Bewildered by extremes of parental scrutiny and neglect, Jasira begins to look elsewhere for affection. Saddam Hussein has invaded Kuwait, and high school has become a lonely place for a "towelhead." When her father meets, and forbids her to see, her boyfriend, it becomes lonelier still. But there is always Mr. Vuoso -- a neighboring army reservist whose son Jasira babysits. Mr. Vuoso, as Jasira discovers, has an extensive collection of Playboy magazines. And he doesn't seem to think there's anything wrong with Jasira's body at all. Painfully funny, tender, and sexually charged, Towelhead is that rare thing: a gloriously readable novel unafraid to take risks. The story of a girl failed by her parents and by a conflicted America, Towelhead is an ultimately redemptive and moving work that none of us can afford to ignore. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
answer anymore asked Zack badminton baklava Barry bathroom Bradley C'mon called Christiane Amanpour Colin Powell condom couch Daddy asked Daddy's Denise dinner doorbell rang Dorrie driveway father feel felt finished girl golf cart guess hair hand happened heard hurt inside interview Jasira Jimi Hendrix kind kitchen knew laughed legs living room magazine Melina asked mother moved Mr.Vuoso never nice night Ninfa's nodded Okay opened orgasm pay stubs penis picked picture Playboy pubic hair pulled Rifat Saddam seemed shave shook my head shrugged shut Snowball someone sorry started stay stood stopped sure talk tampons tape tell Thank Thena things Thomas's thought toilet took touched towelhead tried trying turned upstairs Vuoso wait walked watched wearing What's worried would've yeah yelled Yemen Zack