Chapter 98: Desperate Measures – Detailed Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
After witnessing her mother’s arrest by CBSA officers at the SkyTrain station, Sahaara posts a black image with a long caption on Instagram revealing that her mother is an undocumented immigrant. She shares that her mom has lived in Canada for nineteen years, fifteen of them undocumented, and is now being held at the Immigration Detention Center. Maasi (Joti Thind) arrives, and together they call a lawyer’s office, reaching only an answering machine. While waiting to drive to the detention center, Sahaara receives support through Instagram: comments from classmates, and a direct message from Marisol, who connects Sahaara to her cousin Valeria, an intern at All Humans Are Legal. Valeria offers to help and promises to contact her senior organizer.
Key Events
- Sahaara posts a public Instagram confession about her mother’s undocumented status and detention.
- Maasi meets Sahaara in the parking lot; they share a desperate embrace.
- Maasi calls Sajjan Law Office but only reaches an answering machine.
- Sahaara checks Instagram notifications: Rhea Gill and Roop respond, Marisol connects her to Valeria.
- Valeria messages Sahaara, offering to loop in an experienced organizer from All Humans Are Legal.
- Sahaara confirms the detention center is at the airport, feeling horrified.
Character Development
- Sahaara: Takes a drastic, public step that contradicts her mother’s lifelong policy of silence. Her willingness to break the family’s secret shows she is driven by love and desperation, not recklessness. She also shows resourcefulness by accepting help from a near-stranger.
- Maasi (Joti Thind): Remains a pillar of calm action despite her own fear. She swiftly takes charge, calls a lawyer, and plans to drive to the detention center. Her regret (“Maybe I should’ve tried harder”) reveals her guilt over not pushing for earlier legal action.
- Marisol: Demonstrates genuine friendship by immediately using her network to find help for Sahaara.
- Valeria: Introduced as an intern at All Humans Are Legal; her warm, proactive response signals that institutional support may finally be within reach.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Silence vs. Visibility: Sahaara’s Instagram post shatters the “barbed-wire walls” of secrecy her mother maintained. The chapter asks whether exposure can be a form of defense.
- Community and Solidarity: The online responses (Roop, Marisol, Valeria) illustrate how digital networks can mobilize real-world aid. All Humans Are Legal represents organized resistance to deportation.
- Fear and Urgency: The parking lot is described as a “tumbling Ferris wheel” of panic; the unanswered lawyer’s answering machine underscores the scarcity of immediate legal resources.
- Parental Sacrifice: Sahaara’s caption highlights her mother’s two decades of hard work and her pursuit of citizenship, framing the mother as deserving of safety.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 98 marks a turning point in the novel. Sahaara moves from passive worry to active, public action. The Instagram post is irreversible—it changes the family’s relationship with the world. The chapter also introduces the possibility of organized legal help through Valeria and All Humans Are Legal. The unanswered lawyer call and the cold reality of the Immigration Detention Center heighten the stakes. This chapter sets up the climax of the deportation threat and tests the limits of individual courage and community support.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Sahaara decide to post about her mother’s status on Instagram?
Sahaara believes she has “already lost everything” and that breaking the silence can’t make things worse. She is desperate for any help or information about immigration and border security.
2. How does Maasi react to the news, and what does her reaction reveal about their relationship?
Maasi immediately arrives, embraces Sahaara, and moves into problem-solving mode (calling a lawyer, driving to the center). Her guilt about not pushing for legal help sooner shows she deeply cares but also carries regret.
3. What role does Marisol play in this chapter?
Marisol acts as a bridge—she sees the post, checks her DMs, and connects Sahaara to her cousin Valeria, who volunteers at an immigrant rights organization. This shows how peer networks can translate online support into tangible assistance.