fullpaccopper

Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow is the story of a girl named Doria who starts a new life right after her father abandons her and her mom. During the course of one year, Doria changes from a hopeless closed off girl to a girl who goes beyond her own insecurities and becomes more caring of others. It is not exactly easy for her to overcome her insecurities and finally learn to accept herself.
In the beginning, Doria is shut off from everyone around her. She is not really talking to anyone except her mom because her mom is the only person Doria can hold onto after her father leaves. For a period of time, Doria becomes less trusting of people and talks negatively about herself and others. She believes it is her fault that her father has left saying, “But he only got a kid and it was a girl. Me. You could say I didn’t exactly meet customer specifications.” and Doria continues to beat herself up about it. She is very hostile whenever she interacts with people which leads her to always proclaim “I don’t give a shit” whenever it comes to things that actually matter to her. Doria gets so down on herself sometimes that she thinks that no one important cares about her, and even thinks about dying. In the book she said, “Sometimes I think about death. I even dream about it. One night I was at my own funeral. Hardly anyone there.”
One of the people who influence Doria to try and better her situation is her mom. Trying to help out her mom with their debt, Doria starts making money babysitting Sarah for Lila. Doria is also starting to get away from that “I don’t give a shit” attitude. For example, in another meeting with Nabil the subject of voting comes up and Doria thinks, “Me, when I’m eighteen, I’ll go vote. Here, a person never gets a chance to be heard. So when we get the chance, we have to take it.” Even though Doria is doing a lot better for herself she still has some trouble letting go of her father. For instance, she says, “It’s hard being separated from people who matter to you…I’m thinking of Aunt Zohra and Yousseff and some other people too…” On the bright side, Doria wants her mom to find a “new man” so that her mom can be happy.
One of the biggest changes in Doria is when she realizes that she wants to be useful and help people. He exact words are, “Knowing there are people who need you and you can be useful to them, it’s really too cool. But, still, I wouldn’t just do it for a clear conscience or so I could look at myself in the mirror when I’m taking off my makeup after work, but because I really wanted to do it.” This statement shows that she is now going beyond her needs and considering others. Doria is also starting to censor herself which is another sign of maturing since she is choosing her words carefully not to offend anyone. Towards the end of the book a lot of good things happen in Doria’s world. Doria’s mom gets a better job and Doria is doing better in school. Doria says, “With all the events year, I was thinking that, frankly, lie’s too unfair. But now just recently, I’ve changed my mind a bit…Lots of things have happened that have changed my point of view…the way Mom’s changed in a year. Seeing her getting better every day, fighting for both of us to live, has started me thinking it’ll all work out and maybe I’ll be lucky and be like her.” Also, Doria’s view of the people around her is not as negative as it has been. During the last session with Mme. Burlaud, Doria is very appreciative of her help and gives her a “real thank you”. What Doria means by a “real thank you” is like the kind she gives to Sarah for giving her the baby sitting job in the beginning of the story. “And it was a real thank you, the kind you say when you really mean it, when you’re happy and you practically have tears stinging at the corners of your eyes.”
From the beginning to the end of the story, there is a psychological change within Doria’s mind. Getting over the loss of a parent is never easy, especially right after it happens, but as time goes on Doria uses her mom as a shoulder to lean on as she walks through her new life without a father. Like any other teenager who has had someone leave them in their lives, Doria tends to find herself asking what is wrong with herself that has lead to her father leaving. That question develops a lot of insecurities for Doria and so she becomes closed off from the world around her. With her mom to look up to and good things happening around her, Doria slowly regains hope that everything will be alright and the story ends on a good note with the change of her phrase to kiffe kiffe tomorrow.