Throughout the novel, the protagonist, Janna Yusuf, undergoes a powerful transformation as she struggles to shed the shame she feels as a survivor of assault and works to reclaim her voice and autonomy. The narrative explores Janna’s journey as she navigates the complex dynamics of her community, confronts her fears, and finds the strength to challenge societal norms.

At the outset of Saints and Misfits, Janna experiences a sense of shame and powerlessness as a result of being sexually assaulted. Every time she is near Farooq, she relives her traumatic experience and fights the urge to hide or run away. This dynamic has a negative impact on her life and increasingly affects her social interactions. In her fear of Farooq, she leaves parties earlier, avoids certain social situations, and even loses the quiz bowl due to her panic when she senses his presence in the audience. Her ongoing silence is the result of her internal struggle with the dual weight of social pressures and traumatized shame; she feels that she will be judged if she comes forward, and she also carries internalized guilt over the experience.