A "touching, furious, sharp, and very funny" novel of an immigrant teenage girl finding her own identity in France ( Booklist). The Paradise projects are only a few metro stops from Paris, but it feels like a different world. Doria's father, aka the Beard, has headed back to their hometown in Morocco, leaving her and her mom to cope with their mektoub, their destiny, alone. They have a little help-from a social worker sent by the city, a psychiatrist sent by the school, and a thug friend who recites Rimbaud. It seems like fate has dealt them an impossible hand, but Doria might still make a new life-"with bravado, humor, and a healthy dose of rage" ( St. Petersburg Times). "[A] sassy, spunky tale... Doria has what it takes to storm any barricade." - The Hartford Courant "[Doria is] as likable as Holden Caulfield or Prep's Lee Fiora. Readers will cheer. Highly recommended." - Library Journal, starred review "A promising addition to the world's literary voices." - The Miami Herald "Moving and irreverent, sad and funny, full of rage and intelligence. Her voice is fresh, and her book a delight." -Laila Lalami, bestselling author of The Moor's Account