Salt and Saffron: Kamila Shamsie

This was an original book about a girl growing up with family lore about "half twins" and how they bring heartache to their family. She is living in a time where her family's traditional values of marrying within your class conflict with what her "half twin" did (marrying the family cook) and her desire to be with a boy who was returning from America just like she did. She tries to determine for herself which is more important in a mate, a good family or ambition. The story of the "Half twins" was that she was born on the same day that an unknown family relative, Mariam Apa, showed up at her parent's home to live with them. In essence they were both brought into the family on the same day. While Aliya untangles the importance of class to herself, she also tries to figure out who Mariam Apa was before she came to them. Mariam never spoke except for single words about food and Aliya begins to think she was hiding an accent. In the end she realizes just knowing the people and loving them is enough, social class, the reason why someone does something, or who they really were do not matter, love is enough.