Like Scheherazade of One Thousand and One Nights in a hostile classroom, Daniel spins a tale to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth. 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. Anywhere becomes the sad, cement refugee camps of Italy, and then finally asylum in the U.S. 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. 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. 'A patchwork story is the shame of the refugee,' Nayeri writes early in the novel. It is a powerfully layered novel that poses the questions: Who owns the truth? Who speaks it? Who believes it?

★ 'One of the most extraordinary books of the year.' -BookPage, starred reviewĪ sprawling, evocative, and groundbreaking autobiographical novel told in the unforgettable and hilarious voice of a young Iranian refugee. ★ 'Poignant and powerful.' -Foreword Reviews, starred review ★ 'Raises the literary bar in children's lit.' -Booklist, starred review ★ 'At once beautiful and painful.' -School Library Journal, starred review ★ 'A story that soars.' -The Bulletin, starred review ★ 'A rare treasure of a book.' -Publishers Weekly, starred review ★ 'A modern epic.' -Kirkus Reviews, starred review 'It hooks you right from the opening line.' -NPR 'Like nothing else you've read or ever will read.' -Linda Sue Park 'This book could change the world.' -BookPage 'Supple, sparkling and original.' -The Wall Street Journal 'A modern masterpiece.' -The New York Times Book Review A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the YearĪ Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year

Everything sad is untrue review