Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story) ISBN 978-1-64614-000-8 Bibliography: Nayeri, D. (2020).EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE.(A TRUE STORY). New York, NY, Levine Querido.
Plot Summary: At the front of a middle school classroom in Oklahoma, a boy named Khosrou (whom everyone calls “Daniel”) stands trying to tell a story. His story. But no one believes a word he says. To them he is a dark-skinned, hairy-armed boy whose lunch smells funny. Khosrou’s stories, stretching back years, decades, and centuries, are both beautiful and terrifying. From the moment he, his mother, and sister fled Iran in the middle of the night, all the way back to family tales set in the jasmine-scented city of Isdahan, the palaces of semi-ancient kinds, and even the land of stories. The story bounces back between a school bus of kids armed with paper clip missiles and spitballs, to the heroines and heroes of Khosrou’s family’s past. Families who ate pastries that made them weep and touched carpets woven with precious gems.The author Neyeri tells his story in a way that shows he was trying to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth, which is a true story - the story of Daniel’s life. Critical Analysis: Nayeri tells his memoir in such a way that is comedic, emotional, relatable, and sometimes even confusing. Confusing because of the way the author is telling the story. The story is being told using flashbacks from his early life in Iran, to his present life. Nayeri wants the readers to believe his story and keeps emphasizing that throughout the storyline. This book is definitely for young adults because of the humorous metaphors that are written throughout the story. The cover of the book is very appealing to readers because of how it authentically captures what the whole story is about. The cover page of the book features a cyclone that is coming out of a house, which is the main character's Oklahoma home where the story takes place. The colorful cyclone which looks like a rug is adorned with palatial images. Khosrous’ grandfather’s prized bull, and many other important items that are all in the story. I feel the author was trying to show two parts in the cover page, the cultural part of Iran and his home in Oklahoma. Nayeri describes his whole life in such a strange way with mythical stories mixed with laughter because of his descriptions of “poop”. I feel this is what is going to make students want to read the book because of that “laughter” component of the story. Many students will also probably relate to Khosrou, or Daniel as he is also called in the story, because of his family immigrating and settling in another part of the world that is so different from theirs. The way that Nayeri describes his home life and everything his mother had to go through was sentimental and very meaningful that will relate to many. This book is best suited for 8th to 12th grade students. Review Excerpt(s): "A modern epic." - KIRKUS REVIEWS ( 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 Michael Printz Award Connection: *Students can work on a cultural representation reflection on what they see in their world and the experiences they notice in the text. *Students can look for bias, privilege, and power within the text. Other books that reflect his genre: Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow: Four Novellas by Daniel Nayeri ISBN: 978-0763655266
Comments
Post a Comment