A review by katiemack
It Ain't So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas

emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I've had this on my list ever since I read Dumas' Funny in Farsi years ago. While this is a fictional middle-grade novel (and a bitingly funny one at that), Dumas intersperses real historical events in a way that feels organic to the story; it's easy to tell that her lived experiences informed much of this book.

Amidst the humor and the history is despair, warmth, and even a bit of romance--the balance between these elements made this a five-star book for me and a great pick for middle-grade readers looking for a multicultural historical fiction read.