whitneydziurawiec's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
dlberglund's review
5.0
EXCELLENT.
Khosrou (or Daniel, as he becomes known), is our middle school Scheherazade, spinning 1001 tales of his home, his family history, and his journey from country to country to find safety and a new life with his mother and sister. His teacher and the kids in his class and us, by extension, are his king-reader-listener, holding the power of acceptance (though fortunately, not life and death) in our hands. There are no chapters, and every story leads to 3 more. And while this book is sold as fiction, it's all based on the author's own memories, as true and imperfect as they may be.
I'll say it again: EXCELLENT.
Khosrou (or Daniel, as he becomes known), is our middle school Scheherazade, spinning 1001 tales of his home, his family history, and his journey from country to country to find safety and a new life with his mother and sister. His teacher and the kids in his class and us, by extension, are his king-reader-listener, holding the power of acceptance (though fortunately, not life and death) in our hands. There are no chapters, and every story leads to 3 more. And while this book is sold as fiction, it's all based on the author's own memories, as true and imperfect as they may be.
I'll say it again: EXCELLENT.
tfsheridan95's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
nate_meyers's review
5.0
Absolutely phenomenal book, worth all its hype. It's well-written, deeply funny, immeasurably sad, but also tremendously hopeful. As Khosrou writes near the end, "What you believe about the future will change how you live in the present." This is strong truth that tends to get lost in today's world.
I want to say two more things. Not sure you'd call this a proper review, but who cares. Skip it and read the book - that's all I care about.
One. This is the first YA novel that I've read that I fully intend to shelve for my children to read when they reach the appropriate age. I think this is a book they absolutely have to read, even if they don't understand the wonderful JCVD references. (Although they do love the video of his semi-truck splits stunt). It's more important they read it for the hilarious poop stories and even more important to learn/sympathize with the plight of refugees including how our country treats them.
Two. I was reading two hella long, hella dense books (Ulysses and Ducks, Newburyport) when I needed a break and picked up this book. While Everything Sad is Untrue is a "middle school read" not like the others - it's the only one that I absolutely recommend and think you'd be silly not to read. Ducks, Newburyport is tremendous and maybe the best book to capture modern American anxieties. You should read it, but it lacks hope and I would understand if you skipped or stopped reading it. Ulysses is a classic work that marks the invention of modern fiction, with writing that varies between brilliant and insane. Ultimately, it's more boring than funny and often uncomfortably blasphemous. While it may be crazy to say, I'm not sure folks outside of Ireland *need* to read Ulysses. But everyone *needs* to read Everything Sad is Untrue
I want to say two more things. Not sure you'd call this a proper review, but who cares. Skip it and read the book - that's all I care about.
One. This is the first YA novel that I've read that I fully intend to shelve for my children to read when they reach the appropriate age. I think this is a book they absolutely have to read, even if they don't understand the wonderful JCVD references. (Although they do love the video of his semi-truck splits stunt). It's more important they read it for the hilarious poop stories and even more important to learn/sympathize with the plight of refugees including how our country treats them.
Two. I was reading two hella long, hella dense books (Ulysses and Ducks, Newburyport) when I needed a break and picked up this book. While Everything Sad is Untrue is a "middle school read" not like the others - it's the only one that I absolutely recommend and think you'd be silly not to read. Ducks, Newburyport is tremendous and maybe the best book to capture modern American anxieties. You should read it, but it lacks hope and I would understand if you skipped or stopped reading it. Ulysses is a classic work that marks the invention of modern fiction, with writing that varies between brilliant and insane. Ultimately, it's more boring than funny and often uncomfortably blasphemous. While it may be crazy to say, I'm not sure folks outside of Ireland *need* to read Ulysses. But everyone *needs* to read Everything Sad is Untrue
robdawgreads's review
5.0
This is truly a wonderfully told memoir that bends the traditional western style of storytelling that most writers are beholden to! This book is a love letter from Khosrou (Nayeri) to his mother, the true hero of his life. It is a great story and I highly recommend listening to the audiobook! The delivery is outstanding!
krystlem's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
4.0
amymck05's review
5.0
If you are a middle school teacher or enjoy stories about characters in this age of life, you will love this book. This is the author Daniel Nayeri's story told from his seventh-grade perspective. It is cleverly and beautifully told. If you aren't a middle school teacher or you aren't particularly fond of middle school students you will find this story to be unorganized and rambling because it is, but if you feel sympathy for the narrator, you will love how he tells his story. This is the best book I've read in a while. I laughed out loud so many times and my heart broke so many times.
jennywithaz's review
5.0
This book blew me away...hands down, my favorite 2020 book I've read so far this year. My reader's heart lives for that excited feeling you get when you discover a new author whose voice is so fresh, so exuberant, so brazen in its willingness to take you for a ride on his own terms, whether you're ready for it or not. What Daniel Nayeri delivers in his refugee story is just that -- his voice and storytelling style are uniquely his own, and when he jumps from his scarce precious memories of his grandparents in Iran, to the myths of Persia, and back to his 7th grade Oklahoma classroom with its chorus of Jareds and Jennifers who question his every word, you feel compelled to go along for the ride with him. Funny, painful, poignant...this is utterly riveting, compelling stuff.
turrean's review
5.0
Stunning. Magical. Hilarious. Heartbreaking. Thought provoking. (One star for each attribute.)