Saint Chola By Kvashay-Boyle Summary

“Saint Chola” written by K. Kvashay-Boyle is a coming of age short story that is told through the eyes of twelve-year-old Muslim American, Shala. Using the literary elements of setting and characters, Kvashay-Boyle emphasizes through the character, Shala, that when faced with injustice, prejudice, and intolerance, one must show strength and hold true to one’s beliefs.
The story’s setting contributes to Shala’s emotional battle. During the early 1990s, America entered into the Gulf War. The Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, was Muslim, and he made decisions that the western powers condemned. He lead a radical “holy war” to gain Muslim support, which as a result, made American Muslims targets for torment and abuse. Saddam Hussein’s direct violation of the United Nations Security Council led to the American offensive, Operation Desert Storm, which introduced American troops into the fighting. “On television every night Bush says Sad-dum instead of Suhdom and your dad says it’s a slap in the face” (Kvashay Boyle 161). President Bush was the leader of America, and

Shala is fighting her own personal war, and she’s going to win. She is dynamic and experiences growth during this story, and transforms from a young girl trying to find where she fits in the world to being unapologetic and confident in her identity. “I am Muslim, you think, I am Muslim, hear me roar” (Kvashay-Boyle 171). She refuses to hide her beliefs and submit to others false opinions. “You try to gauge how much this straggly woman sees. Can she tell? Muslim? Mexican? Does she know that your clothes are Trendy, that your grades are Dweeby, that your heart is Goody-goodie?” (Kvashay-Boyle 169). People can look at outward appearances, but that doesn’t determine character. What is in the heart and one’s values are what makes the person, and getting to know someone is not based on looks, but on learning their