“My Favorite Chaperone” follows Maya, an immigrant from Russia, who has just started her freshman year and her mother, father, and little brother as they adjust to the American lifestyle and all the complications while moving. When Maya is offered a permission slip to a school dance she almost declines, she is worried her parents will not let her go because they are very strict. She decides to accept the dance slip because she still has hope as she says most Americans do that her parents will say yes. Later that day Maya’s little brother, Nurzhan, is suspended from school for being involved in a fight with another boy named Ossie Nishizono who regularly teases Nurzhan for mispronunciations of the American language. Maya’s dad must attend a meeting with the principle, Maya, and Nurzhan to discuss the fight. When Maya’s father arrives at the meeting, Maya must translate the principal's words into Russian, but when she does she changes what the principle says so their parents won’t be so hard on him. When they get home Mays’s mother is more mad at Maya than Nurzhan because she feels it is Maya’s responsibility to keep Nurzhan out of trouble. A couple days later Maya’s mother hurts her ankle, so Maya must do…show more content… When he asks his parents if Maya could go to the dance, he says he will not leave her side at any time. They talk about it, but they decide she should be allowed to go if Nurzhan accompanies her. The night of the dance, Maya’s mother gives her a bracelet she wore when she was sixteen, but she said that boys and girls dance much earlier here. Maya is pleased because she thinks her mom is starting to understand her and America. Later at the dance Nurzhan sits in a chair off to the side while Maya dances with a Daniel whom she likes. Maya then hopes her brother will chaperone her to the next
