If "every story is the sound of a storyteller begging to stay alive..." as Daniel says, then he and his family deserve to live forever--purely off the crackling energy of these tales and the way they will echo in your mind long after the words have been read. Part musings on truth and memory, part memoir of a young immigrant trying to find his place in midwest America, this book will captivate and resonate with a wide variety of readers.
To anyone who has ever wondered about their history, struggled to understand their family, or been a victim of bureaucracy; to the children of strong mothers, the parents of observant children, and the family members of angry adults that should know better; to lovers of poetry and folklore and far off places; to anyone (so everyone!) with flaws--you will find a kindred spirit here.
— From KatelynnWINNER, MICHAEL L. PRINTZ AWARD
WINNER, CHRISTOPHER AWARD
WINNER, MIDDLE EAST BOOK AWARD
WALTER AWARD HONOR
National Bestseller
NPR Best of the Year
New York Times Best of the Year
Amazon Best of the Year
Booklist Editors’ Choice
BookPage Best of the Year
Publishers Weekly Best of the Year
Wall Street Journal Best of the Year
Today.com Best of the Year
NECBA Windows & Mirrors Selection
“A modern masterpiece.”—New York Times
“Supple, sparkling and original.”—Wall Street Journal
“Mesmerizing.”—TODAY.com
“This book could change the world.”—BookPage
“Like nothing else you've read or ever will read.”—Linda Sue Park
“It hooks you right from the opening line.”–NPR
★ “A modern epic.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “A rare treasure of a book.” —Publishers Weekly (starred)
★ “A story that soars.”—The Bulletin (starred)
★ “At once beautiful and painful.”—School Library Journal (starred)
★ “Raises the literary bar in children’s lit.” —Booklist (starred)
★ “Poignant and powerful.” —Foreword Reviews (starred)
★ “One of the most extraordinary books of the year.” —BookPage (starred)
A sprawling, evocative, and groundbreaking autobiographical novel told in the unforgettable and hilarious voice of a young Iranian refugee. It is a powerfully layered novel that poses the questions: Who owns the truth? Who speaks it? Who believes it?
“A patchwork story is the shame of the refugee,” Nayeri writes early in the novel. In an Oklahoman middle school, Khosrou (whom everyone calls Daniel) stands in front of a skeptical audience of classmates, telling the tales of his family’s history, stretching back years, decades, and centuries. At the core is Daniel’s story of how they became refugees—starting with his mother’s vocal embrace of Christianity in a country that made such a thing a capital offense, and continuing through their midnight flight from the secret police, bribing their way onto a plane-to-anywhere. Anywhere becomes the sad, cement refugee camps of Italy, and then finally asylum in the U.S.
Implementing a distinct literary style and challenging western narrative structures, Nayeri deftly weaves through stories of the long and beautiful history of his family in Iran, adding a richness of ancient tales and Persian folklore. Like Scheherazade of One Thousand and One Nights, Daniel spins a tale to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth.
A tale of heartbreak and resilience and urges readers to speak their truth and be heard.
