Ben Jelloun, born in Morocco and living in Tangier and Paris, understands the issues faced by the second generation of North African immigrants. His heroine is an Algerian born in Paris. Growing up in the bleak environment of dilapidated suburban ghettos in Paris, her family is weighed down by a rigorous, misogynistic Islamic traditionalism. She decides to fight for emancipation and social recognition. Unabridged and unedited text edition in the original language, with translations of difficult words at the bottom of each page, a postscript, and literary references.