Everything Sad Is Untrue: (a true story)

The praise from critics on this one is effusive: NPR cautions, "it hooks you right from the opening line," Kirkus Reviews calls it "a modern epic," and BookPage says, "This book could change the world." From the publisher: "A sprawling, evocative, and groundbreaking autobiographical novel told in the unforgettable and hilarious voice of a young Iranian refugee. '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. 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."