Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story) [B0873]

2020 HCDJ in excellent condition. 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 with a big butt whose lunch smells funny; who makes things up and talks about poop too much. But Khosrou's stories, stretching back years, and decades, and centuries, are beautiful, and terrifying, from the moment he, his mother, and sister fled Iran in the middle of the night, stretching all the way back to family tales set in the jasmine-scented city of Isfahan, the palaces of semi-ancient kings, and even the land of stories. We bounce between a school bus of kids armed with paper clip missiles and spitballs, to the heroines and heroes of Kosrou's family's past, who ate pastries that made them weep, and touched carpets woven with precious gems.

Like Scheherazade in a hostile classroom, author Daniel Nayeri weaves a tale of Khosrou trying to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth. And it is (a true story). It is Daniel's story.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "I was thoroughly entertained by this author. His writing style, the way he told the interesting stories of his life. I laughed many times; he had so many clever and funny lines! It was interesting to see the life of a refugee family from the perspective of a little boy."; "Oh goodness! This book jumps high on my list of all-time favorites! I just finished the audiobook and am now returning to the hard copy to reread and underline/highlight all the parts I want to remember!!"; "Well-crafted story of a young boy who came to Oklahoma from Iran and deals with the cultural changes by telling stories to his new, uncomprehending classmates. At first the stories are Persian legends, accompanied by his family history. But then, as he gains English skills and more comfort with America, he dares to tell the whole truth about his past."