"Finding Hayat" is a lighthearted coming-of-age story of a young girl who transitions from childhood to adolescence in an American society. This story tells a story of Hayat, a seven-yearold girl, who immigrates from her native country to New Jersey with her family. Her American dream begins simply with wanting an American doll to fit in with her friends at school; however, as she grows older, her faith in everything around her becomes vague as she begins to find herself. As this character begins to grow, her struggles become more complex, and her attachment to with society, herself, her parents, and God are questioned. She goes back and forth from her native country and back to America always feeling the urge to fit in. This movement plays a big role on the development of Hayat because she is seen in her native country as the American girl, and in America, she is seen as the Muslim girl. When she reaches her teens, her parents become stricter, and her struggles with faith, religion, culture, and society begin to shift.