When Khosrou was just a child he had to flee his home in Iran with his older sister and mother. After spending years as a refugee, he finally finds a new home in America. But Oklahoma isn't the paradise he dreamed of. His days of wealth and privilege were left behind in Iran, and in America his family struggles to get by. He even loses his name, changing it to Daniel. But he is determined not to lose his memories and stories from home. So he tells his patchwork story like Scheherazade with one tale leading into another. It's a story of heart and humor and, much like the fabled King, you'll always be left eager for another.
I absolutely adored this story. I went through a whole pack of post-its marking my favorite passages. The story is based on the author's own experiences and his family history which ranges from the verifiable to the legends of his great-great-great-great grandparents. My heart occasionally broke at the great injustices he faced, but ultimately the thing that came through most was Nayeri's wonderful sense of humor. The style is unique with the Scheherazade-style tangents and his habit of addressing the reader directly. It is a story you won't soon forget.
Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
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5th - 8th grade
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