This book was frustrating and I don't think that's a bad reflection on the author or the book - on the contrary, it was probably was Jaigirdar was going for. Side characters (and even main characters) are relentlessly racist and homophobic, and while Nishat stands up for herself some of the time, she often holds her tongue and chooses to avoid the fight. It's accurate, to be sure, that when faced with bigotry, people often choose passivity when they don't want a fight or don't want to expend the energy. Some of my frustration, though, came from the way I felt this was approached by the narrative rather than by Nishat as a character. She was treated in racist and homophobic ways by bullies, friends, her love interest, and family members. Often, these characters would come around off-page and arrive at the end with a half-baked apology, where they would be forgiven by Nishat and they all lived happily ever after. I wish Jaigirdar had shown how they realized their errors, or had them earn that forgiveness more thoroughly.