What was the Islamic Revolution? What were its effects on the culture and on the personal lives of individuals in Iran?

As a ten-year old girl, the author is forced to wear a veil to school by those that called for a cultural revolution in Iran. There are many protests both for and against this cultural revolution. Her French non-religious school is abolished and boys and girls are separated for education. Her mother protests against the changes and her picture appears in newspapers across Europe. She is afraid after that. The Islamic-Revolution, like the Chinese Cutural revolution, was a push to rid Islamic countries of any western influence. During the war, food and rations are low in the country and tensions run high amongst the people. A bombing on the border town of Abadan sends Marjane's friend Mali and her family to stay with them. Mali had been wealthy and her family must sell their expensive jewels, the one salvaged item from the bombing, in order to survive. One day, while shopping in the grocery store, a group of women sees Mali and calls her, and all refugee women, whores. Marjane is ashamed for herself and for Mali.

Young male children are each given keys by their schools. The keys, they are told, represent their ticket into heaven once they are martyred during the war.They would be sent to mine fields and be killed.