Drawing Deena

Pakistani American seventh grader Deena enjoys art and wants further training, but she knows her family is under financial strain. Her mother sells desi clothing from home, and Deena uses her design skills to create a logo and website for the business, with her cousin Parisa modeling the clothes. Parisa also encourages Deena to share her artwork on social media and pay more attention to her appearance. These pressures, together with worries about her parents’ relationship, intensify Deena’s anxiety. After a panic attack at school, she speaks up for the therapy she needs, and her parents reconsider their initial resistance.