Growing Up & Facts of Life
![Daniel Nayeri - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_daniel_nayeri.jpg)
Everything Sad Is Untrue: (a true story)
Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award
Christopher Award Winner
Middle East Book Award Winner
National Indie Bestseller
NPR Best Book of the Year
New York Times Best of the Year
Amazon Best of the Year
Booklist Editors' Choice
BookPage Best of the Year
NECBA Windows & Mirrors Selection
Publishers Weekly Best of the Year
Wall Street Journal Best of the Year
Today.com Best of the Year
Walter Awards Honor Book
"A modern masterpiece."-The New York Times Book Review
"Supple, sparkling and original."-The 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
SEVEN STARRED REVIEWS
* "A modern epic."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "A rare treasure of a book."-Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "A story that soars."-The Bulletin, starred review
* "At once beautiful and painful."-School Library Journal, starred review
* "Raises the literary bar in children's lit."-Booklist, starred review
* "Poignant and powerful."-Foreword Reviews, starred review
* "One of the most extraordinary books of the year."-BookPage, starred review
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 in a hostile classroom, Daniel spins a tale to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth. EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE (a true story) is a tale of heartbreak and resilience and urges readers to speak their truth and be heard.
Christopher Award Winner
Middle East Book Award Winner
National Indie Bestseller
NPR Best Book of the Year
New York Times Best of the Year
Amazon Best of the Year
Booklist Editors' Choice
BookPage Best of the Year
NECBA Windows & Mirrors Selection
Publishers Weekly Best of the Year
Wall Street Journal Best of the Year
Today.com Best of the Year
Walter Awards Honor Book
"A modern masterpiece."-The New York Times Book Review
"Supple, sparkling and original."-The 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
SEVEN STARRED REVIEWS
* "A modern epic."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "A rare treasure of a book."-Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "A story that soars."-The Bulletin, starred review
* "At once beautiful and painful."-School Library Journal, starred review
* "Raises the literary bar in children's lit."-Booklist, starred review
* "Poignant and powerful."-Foreword Reviews, starred review
* "One of the most extraordinary books of the year."-BookPage, starred review
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 in a hostile classroom, Daniel spins a tale to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth. EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE (a true story) is a tale of heartbreak and resilience and urges readers to speak their truth and be heard.
Editorial Reviews
"A modern epic." - KIRKUS REVIEWS ( starred review)
"A story that soars. Readers will be transported."- BCCB (starred review)
"A distinctive voice. A rare treasure of a book." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)
"Poignant and powerful. A story of heartbreak and resilience." - FOREWORD REVIEWS (starred review)
"One of the most extraordinary books of the year."- BOOKPAGE ( starred review)
"A journey as intimate as it is epic. A remarkable work that raises the literary bar in children's lit."- BOOKLIST (starred review)
"At once beautiful and painful, this timely story is highly recommended for middle grade readers."- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)
"A modern masterpiece - as epic as the "Iliad" and "Shahnameh," and as heartwarming as "Charlotte's Web." It's for the kids at the lunch table; the heroes of tomorrow, just looking to survive the battle of adolescence." - NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
"Supple, sparkling and original." - THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
"Like nothing else you've read or ever will read."-Newbery Medalist, Linda Sue Park
"A story that soars. Readers will be transported."- BCCB (starred review)
"A distinctive voice. A rare treasure of a book." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)
"Poignant and powerful. A story of heartbreak and resilience." - FOREWORD REVIEWS (starred review)
"One of the most extraordinary books of the year."- BOOKPAGE ( starred review)
"A journey as intimate as it is epic. A remarkable work that raises the literary bar in children's lit."- BOOKLIST (starred review)
"At once beautiful and painful, this timely story is highly recommended for middle grade readers."- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)
"A modern masterpiece - as epic as the "Iliad" and "Shahnameh," and as heartwarming as "Charlotte's Web." It's for the kids at the lunch table; the heroes of tomorrow, just looking to survive the battle of adolescence." - NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
"Supple, sparkling and original." - THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
"Like nothing else you've read or ever will read."-Newbery Medalist, Linda Sue Park
Readers Top Reviews
VStamper sashad
Only a masterful storyteller can weave childhood wonder and its magic-tinged memories, the pain of middle school, the mythology of Persian culture, and poops and farts into one of the most beautiful and lyrical books I’ve ever read. And the chapterless, Scheherazade-tale format kept me up WAY too late. It brought up so many of my own difficult memories but healed them at the same time. A must read, whether you’re a middle schooler or a mid-lifer.
A. StanleyVStampe
If you only read ONE book this year, let it be this one: "Everything Sad is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri. This memoir of an Iranian refugee child who moved to Oklahoma in the 90s is endearing, funny, and utterly captivating. It interweaves fact with fiction, telling of his upbringing but also telling the myths and stories of his cultural heritage. I listened to it on OverDrive/Libby (the audio is read by the author) in the span of a day (it’s 8 hrs long!) and loved it so much that I bought the hardcover for us to keep in our library so we can revisit it over and over, like we do all the best stories. We are also reading it together as a family right now. The kids complain when it’s time to stop. That’s the BEST feeling in the whole world; having your kids engrossed so completely in a true story, a well-told story that includes elements of the Gospel and real-life lessons they need to know, that they whine when it’s over and beg to hear more. This is the kind of story I want to fill their heads with, one that includes hard truths but also magic and whimsy. If they heard only stories like these for years and years, imagine what kind of thoughts they’d think, what kind of things they’d write, and what kinds of people they’d be. That’s our goal: to find out. Read it, by yourself or with your family. You will not regret it. 😉
Gavin R. JonesA.
I’m just stunned. I love this author. I love the eye-opening depth and truth of his memories. I want to SEE refugees as this boy should have been seen: as precious and cherished. His mom is my new favorite literary hero. I want to be more like her, and consequently more like her Savior. I’ve never been so moved by a book, save the Bible, and I’ve laughed out loud more times than I can remember. If you read this review, Kousrou/Daniel, thank you. Much love to you for Eternity. I hope to meet you there. - Carrie Jones
Linda S.Gavin R.
I know Daniel from his college days and was aware of the basics of his story. I also met his amazing mom. This book filled in many details in a unusual, magical way. Yes, there are several poop stories but this book is based on his memories and these are the kinds of things we humans remember! (Like my grandmother burping after drinking ginger ale.) Daniel's book also explains, at a level kids and adults can understand, what it's like to be a refugee. I highly recommend reading this and asking your library to purchase it. (Copies for both adult and youth sections.)
K. J. KrispinLind
Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story) is the closest to perfection a book can be. I read it in its entirety in two sittings on the same day. My body, mind, and heart were fully engaged from page one. Daniel Nayeri is a master storyteller, weaving his narrative in and out of time and place while artfully embodying both (all?) of the traditions that have contributed to his formation. I could taste the baklava. I could smell the jasmine. I could hear the bullies’ taunts. I could touch the Persian rugs and the cheap shag carpets. I could see the twisters in the distance. My heart went on the journey with him, and I think I came out a better, or at least more empathetic and hopeful, person. Highly recommend!
