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brogan7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
My son (age 14) did Not like this book, even though I skipped several sections in our read aloud and summarized them for him later (he couldn't stand the graphic descriptions).
I thought it was incredible, an epic tale for young readers. The history and mythology of Persia combined with the experiences of an immigrant boy from Iran who gets bullied in Oklahoma... it's like a tale from an ancient man about a young boy (who is himself). Heartbreaking and heart-affirming in that he uses the stories and the long, long historical context to weave himself into a bigger fabric, the long view, the possibility not just of survival but of mythology.
I thought it was incredible, an epic tale for young readers. The history and mythology of Persia combined with the experiences of an immigrant boy from Iran who gets bullied in Oklahoma... it's like a tale from an ancient man about a young boy (who is himself). Heartbreaking and heart-affirming in that he uses the stories and the long, long historical context to weave himself into a bigger fabric, the long view, the possibility not just of survival but of mythology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse
TW: religious persecution, when there's no safe placemabellene's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Racism
Moderate: Murder, War, Body shaming, and Drug use
Minor: Vomit and Infidelity
theglossreview's review against another edition
I wished I had checked the content warnings before. Terrible things are described graphically. Just awful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Murder, Medical content, Gore, Blood, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse
talita_koum's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Beautiful and honest reflection on childhood, all those quirks and experiences which form a person. Author has a unique voice. Messages are at times a little too obvious (which makes the narrator even more endearing). Climax somewhere in the 200s and slows down at the end. Themes of memory, family/tradition, flaws, and Christianity.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia and Domestic abuse
fairhairedwarrior's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
passionatereader78's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I don't like the writing style. I enjoyed the stories that were told. I didn't like the way the author jumped around and then explained why what happened in 3 pages ago was important. I love the mother in the book. The way she stayed strong and stood up for what she believed in was inspiring. I loved seeing the growth in Daniel as he tells the story from age 5. Interesting read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Addiction
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Hate crime
Minor: Racial slurs, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Vomit
kristinareadz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Medical trauma and Abandonment
Minor: Vomit
denisehiller's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Blood
Moderate: Domestic abuse
cassiealexandra's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.75
Wow. It took me quite a while to get through this “middle grade/YA” book, but it sure was worth it. Nayeri tells the story of his immigration from Iran to Edmond, Oklahoma with so much detail and humor. This is mainly due to the choice he made to share his memories through the lens of his seventh-grade self. Everything was beautifully written and the strong voice we get in middle school Daniel is mature and wise beyond his years, which makes sense with his refugee experience. He takes us on a meandering path from his earliest memories of grandparents to his most recent memory of his father coming from Iran to visit America, paying his classmates a hello as well. Daniel takes us from Iran to London, to Dubai, UAE, to Italy, and eventually settling in Oklahoma. From start to finish I was captured by the stories, enveloped in his experience, and forced to think about my own memories and life’s meaning.
My one issue was that it included perhaps just a little too much middle-school humor, bathroom talk in particular, but it is definitely true to the junior high boys I have worked with in the past or know presently. This is a me thing, a personal preference, but even in these sections, Nayeri makes points about class, immigration, and social standing.
I said the prose was meandering. There are no chapter divisions and one story bleeds into another, sometimes circling back at a later time. Daniel tells his story as a modern-day Scheherazade, holding the interest of his audience throughout. At one point, Nayeri writes: “Mrs. Miller says I have ‘lost the plot,’ and am now just making lists of things that happened to fill space. But I replied that she is beholden to a Western mode of storytelling that I do not accept and that the 1,001 Nights are basically Scheherazade stalling for time, so I don’t see the difference.” If I had any trouble with this book, it is likely because I am also beholden to a Western lens.
The bottom line: This was a beautiful fictionalized memoir written from the perspective of a seventh-grade boy, full of hope and heartache.
— NOTES —
Genres: literary fiction; middle grade to YA, but maybe more accessible to adults
POV: first-person, single
Content: domestic violence, refugee experience, divorce, animal death, mentions of war
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 4
Enjoyment: 4.5
Craft: 5
My Gut Feeling: 5
Total Stars: 4.625
My one issue was that it included perhaps just a little too much middle-school humor, bathroom talk in particular, but it is definitely true to the junior high boys I have worked with in the past or know presently. This is a me thing, a personal preference, but even in these sections, Nayeri makes points about class, immigration, and social standing.
I said the prose was meandering. There are no chapter divisions and one story bleeds into another, sometimes circling back at a later time. Daniel tells his story as a modern-day Scheherazade, holding the interest of his audience throughout. At one point, Nayeri writes: “Mrs. Miller says I have ‘lost the plot,’ and am now just making lists of things that happened to fill space. But I replied that she is beholden to a Western mode of storytelling that I do not accept and that the 1,001 Nights are basically Scheherazade stalling for time, so I don’t see the difference.” If I had any trouble with this book, it is likely because I am also beholden to a Western lens.
The bottom line: This was a beautiful fictionalized memoir written from the perspective of a seventh-grade boy, full of hope and heartache.
— NOTES —
Genres: literary fiction; middle grade to YA, but maybe more accessible to adults
POV: first-person, single
Content: domestic violence, refugee experience, divorce, animal death, mentions of war
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 4
Enjoyment: 4.5
Craft: 5
My Gut Feeling: 5
Total Stars: 4.625
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Domestic abuse
Minor: War
haren_k's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse