My Favorite Chaperone By Jean Davis Okamoto

Throughout the short story, “My Favorite Chaperone,” written by Jean Davis Okamoto, the siblings Maya and Nurzhan do things to deceive and trick their parents, all in an effort to help one another, as they try to adjust to life in the United States. The story itself is about Maya and her family, who moved to America from Kazakhstan. Together they overcome challenges from others and from themselves, and in the end they are a stronger and more developed family. At the beginning of the story, Maya learns that her brother Nurzhan has gotten into a fight. She is brought to his school to translate for her father, who doesn’t know much English. When she translates, she changes the principal’s words into things that sound a bit better. “‘ We have
At the beginning of the story she makes it clear that she will never be able to go because her parents aren’t used to American customs yet, and they think that it would be a waste of time. This is especially true after her father finds her in the arms of a boy named Daniel. She was really worried about this but then her brother Nurzhan came in and offered to ask for her. “We give permission for this, Maya, because Nurzhan will go, too,’ Mama said, ‘he will be your chaperone.’” (22) This is important to both Maya and Nurzhan because this is what Maya has been wanting to do for a while, though now Nurzhan has to go to the dance with her and that could be quite awkward. But in the end it works out fine and this becomes a great bonding moment for them. In fact it’s so important that the entire story is named after it, Nurzhan is Maya’s favorite chaperone. The relationship between siblings is very important, they’re your first friend, your most hated person, and your most loved person. No story shows this relationship better than any other. Maya and Nurzhan’s interactions in this book is very natural and really demonstrates Maya’s