Reviews
Everything Sad Is Untrue
by Meredith Leigh Burton
Sometimes, a book appears that is unique and defiant of genre conventions. Books of this sort can be discordant, incoherent messes, or they can be intricate tapestries of beauty. Daniel Nayeri’s Everything Sad is Untrue is a tapestry book; an autobiographical novel of a turbulent but profound childhood.
Daniel is often ridiculed at his new school in Oklahoma. His classmates cannot believe Daniel’s extraordinary stories. He claims to have been descended from kings, to have once lived in a house with birds residing in the walls and to have been regarded as a prince. How can an overweight, poor child living in a derelict neighborhood really claim to have had such amazing adventures? In a seemingly convoluted narrative style, Daniel relates his story of flight from danger.
Daniel Nayeri is a gifted author, able to describe lush Persian landscapes as adeptly as the tornado-ravaged Oklahoma plains. Even ruminations about the different foods of each country and the contrasting of the bathrooms in Iran and America are fascinating. You become immersed in Daniel’s story and cannot escape. Daniel relates the story of his prosperous mother and father. His father is a dentist in Iran, and his mother is a famous doctor. When Nayeri’s mother converts to Christianity, the family dynamics change. Secret police, daring escapes and heartbreaking desertion and sacrifice ensue.
Daniel’s story is one of perseverance and love; a story where the sadness cannot overshadow the heroism. Above all, it is a story of finding empathy. So many stories about immigration are linear and conventionally presented. Nayeri’s use of interwoven family history, Persian myths and real-life experiences are amazing to read.
Everything Sad is Untrue is a poetic tale that is unforgettable. Winner of the prestigious Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Fiction, it is a story that does not deserve to be overlooked.
About the Author
Meredith is an author of young adult fantasy. Her recent release, Blind Beauty and Other Tales of Redemption, is an anthology of fairy tale retellings that seek to explore the familiar tales in unique ways. Most of her works feature disabled protagonists who are called upon to fight against evil. All her characters face difficult obstacles and must find strength to fight. Meredith hopes to show her readers that disabilities are really blessings, that we all have gifts and long to make a difference in the world. Buy her book Blind Beauty and Other Tales of Redemption on Amazon.
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I also recommend the audiobook of Everything Sad is Untrue, which is read beautifully by the author. The books is available on audible and on the nls (National Library Service for books and Accessible Media), website.