Sara SaediBesprekingen

teen fiction - 17y.o. senior high school besties Iranian-American Parisa (atheist/agnostic valedictorian candidate with an extreme anxiety disorder, stressing over her Harvard application/college essay) and Mexican-American Gabriela (in a new romantic relationship with their long-time friend Wes, has two moms who are both recovering alcoholics and definitely can't afford an out-of-state school) struggle with pandemic woes when a fictional (but very familiar) Adema virus shuts everything down. Takes place over one year, fall/autumn (October - Halloween is cancelled ) - winter (both girls' Chrisymases are kinda lame ), spring and summer, in the Bay Area/Los Gatos, California. CW/TW: panic attacks, debilitating anxiety, underage drinking/edible pot usage (resulting in paranoia and getting sent home to parents), loss of friend to pandemic virus, hospitalization, sexual situations (one with a creepy jerk), extended family who don't support moms' lesbian relationship. Written during the COVID-19 pandemic, obviously.

I mistakenly thought this was a graphic novel (that cover graphic is so lovely!) but it's actually a very readable novel despite the utterly miserable subject matter than many of us would rather not be reminded of, with short chapters and SMS conversations. These two sweet, smart girls crack me up and I enjoyed getting to know them and see how their relationships with their families/friends evolve and develop. The author did a great job and I'd love to read more from her.

A memoir that feels like it could be written by the girl next door. At times painfully ordinary, but I believe that was by design. The author is your typical teenage girl, worried about fashion, friends, and sibling rivalry. I could almost hear the gum popping and upward inflection while reading (perhaps she reminds me of some of my "ordinary" students). What sets this family apart is the fact that they have overstayed their visit to America by about a decade. They are working through the appropriate legal channels, finding them time consuming, cumbersome, and frustrating. Told from a very personal point of view, this story follows the typical teenage challenges as they occur alongside the long journey to a green card. I appreciate the historical context on why her family had to leave Iran, and the frustrations she feels toward the typical American view of Iran and its people. Recommend this for middle school to adult readers.

Note: I received this from netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Iranian-American Parisa and Mexican-American Gabriela are best friends beginning their senior year at Winchester High in the Bay Area. But a few weeks into the year, Ademavirus sweeps the globe, leading to a complete shutdown; Adema targets teenagers the hardest. Eventually this means remote learning, masks, no prom, no in-person graduation ceremony, and the death of some classmates. Wealthy, high-achieving Parisa's anxiety gets worse as she stays in her family's house and tries to write her college essay; Gabriela's moms struggle to make ends meet with their vegan catering business. Some relationships are damaged, while others strengthen, and ultimately, a vaccine is developed - but not before the pandemic changes their lives forever.

Quotes

I have had everything I have ever wanted - what do I have to be anxious about? (Parisa, 44)

Stop depriving me of having a family! (Gabriela, 62)

Why does it feel like everyone's life is evolving and flourishing in quarantine while mine has stayed exactly the same? (Parisa, 142)

But I'm not sure I want to know that my parents experience regular human emotions. The only thing that helps me believe that everything will be okay is if they believe that, too. (Parisa, 159)

...I realize that living through a pandemic means that all the good choices are bad choices, too. (Parisa, 194)

...my stomach turns into an impossible knot of Christmas lights, tangled up and glowing at the same time. I remember hearing someone somewhere say that grief is love inside out, and that's exactly what this feels like. (Gabriela, 247)½

A heartbreakingly accurate parallel to many of our children’s experiences during the pandemic lockdowns.

I Miss You, I Hate This, the title of this contemporary young adult novel by Sara Saedi, is also the recurring sign-off between the two main characters as they message throughout the length of the pandemic. The two girls are delightful together as the story opens; their text exchanges are often laugh-out-loud funny. However, as the lockdown and isolation wear on, their friendship begins to suffer.

The characters in the book present a wide variety of cultures, lifestyles, and family configurations, and most readers will find something similar to their situation somewhere in the story. The author puts names and faces to the characters experiencing the many different kinds of collateral effects the pandemic brought to the table, making them real. For example, I could feel the worry of Gabriela’s family, who could not make a living and pay their apartment rent when their catering business could no longer operate.

I enjoyed the secondary storyline about Gabriela’s extended family. What a heartbreaker for her moms to be estranged from their families all those years because of who they loved.

Parisa’s anxiety disorder is really brought home and made real. As one of the book’s points of view, her feelings, thoughts, and fears are laid bare, and readers facing similar struggles will easily relate. The same can be said for her crush on her older sister’s boyfriend and how she handles her feelings and actions.

It was hard not to cry during certain parts of this tough yet ultimately hopeful story. The feelings and fears in the book accurately mirror what many of our students and children have been going through during the Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and remote schooling. Everyone was hurting, and many are still struggling today.

I recommend I MISS YOU, I HATE THIS to readers of contemporary young adult fiction, especially those interested in a story that parallels the experiences of many current and recently graduated high school students.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

DNF. The writing in this is quite juvenile. I can only imagine that the 4 - 5 star reviewers are as well. The voice would be believable if she were the age that Wendy was written originally, but not a 17 year old.

Americanized: Rebel Without A Green Card by Sara Saedi is a true story following the author's life as a young teen finding out her family is in America illegally. Her family came to America from Iran when she was just a young toddler, so she was unaware of her family's status until things began unraveling when her sister applied for a job but had no social security number. Throughout the story, Sara struggles with the fear of her family's secret and deportation. She wants to be like her American friends, but the family's issues create invisible barriers. Sara struggles with typical teenage problems as well like acne and boy drama. In the end, Sarah eventually becomes a citizen becoming fully Americanized.

Any and every reader should read Americanized. Our country's past and present are filled with stories of immigration and hardship and every reader would benefit from hearing these stories firsthand from someone who has lived it.

For more information on Sara Saedi : https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/275989/sara-saedi/

teen/adult memoir (Iranian immigrant family works hard to get green cards plus typical American teen girl angst and quite a bit of humor). As others have noted, this probably relates better for an adult audience (people born circa 1980) but the author has smartly explained a lot of the concepts that would fall before the teen audience's time (such as what a Virgin Records store was, and who her favorite 90s celebs were, described in modern references). For Iranian teens that are already familiar with some of the ways that Americans can discriminate, reading a book that shares that perspective can be refreshing and encouraging.

Want more books starring Iranians in America? Check out Down and Across which features a boy who is, incidentally Persian/Iranian, and also (for middlegrade and younger) the humorous It Ain't So Awful, Falafel, and for adults Maman's Homesick Pie.

Saedi came to American at the age of 2, and was considered an illegal alien. This story discusses what Iran is really like, and what it is like to be considered an illegal alien. Saedi found out that she was an illegal alien when her sister went to apply for a job, and was unable to.

Sara Saedi came to the US from Iran with her parents and older sister when she was two years old; she finally became an American citizen at age 26. In between, she had a Persian-inflected American childhood and adolescence over which the threat of deportation loomed. For those unfamiliar with the labyrinthine and incredibly long process of gaining citizenship, Saedi takes readers by the hand and explains it in a concise, breezy way, though she's careful not to lose sight of the fact that the consequences of her actions could have an outsize impact. Mostly, however, she concentrates on her relationships with her older sister Samira and younger brother ("accidental anchor baby") Kia, her parents, her cousins, her best friends, and the object of her unrequited love.

The book begins with a brief, painless-to-read history of Iran, followed by chapters separated by diary excerpts, FAQs, and stereotypes about immigrant (specifically Iranian) parents, most of which her parents did not fall into.

See also: The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri (adult), Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga (middle grade)

Quotes

Kind of ironic that today the United States would really love more democratic countries in the Middle East, and Iran was one, until the CIA got involved. (11)

But with every revolution comes the risk that the new regime will suck worse than the old one... (12)

As much as their parenting philosophy was "We trust you," it was also "You can trust us." (73)

ICGC: immigrant child guilt complex (80)

"It's always better to put yourself out there. Sometimes you'll hear no, but you'll never hear yes, either, unless you ask." (Maman to Sara, 228)

Immigrant kids often feel like their parents will never understand what it's like to be a teenager in the States. They'll never fully comprehend what it's like to bounce back and forth between two worlds and two cultures without offending either side. (228)

"Why would you even want to make things work with someone who says they don't love you?" (Maman to Sara, 239)

A great choice if you're in the mood for a funny memoir that will help you learn a little about Iranian history and American politics. Also a good choice if you like reading excerpts from teenager diaries because: ha! I'd say it's a solid readalike for [b: In The Country We Love: My Family Divided|25666051|In the Country We Love My Family Divided|Diane Guerrero|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461758898s/25666051.jpg|45489189].

RGG: Despite the tension of the subject matter, a light, enjoyable memoir of teenage adolescence. Various graphic language and behaviors. Reading Interest: 14-YA.

RGG: Despite the tension of the subject matter, a light, enjoyable memoir of teenage adolescence. Various graphic language and behaviors. Reading Interest: 14-YA.

Memoir of Iranian-American Sara Saedi growing up in Southern California as an undocumented immigrant. Tales of (sometimes wild) teenage life, mix with recountings of her family's attempts to gain legal citizenship and short primers on Iranian life and culture. A truthful and authentic voice, Sara sometimes crosses the line, IMHO, in divulging details (do we really need to know why Iranians have watering cans in their bathrooms? or that her sister deliberately got her drunk as a "special" surprise?) Some teens may be titillated and even distracted by such recountings muting the overall message of fear and uncertainty of immigrant life.½

Recommended Ages: Gr. 8-12

Plot Summary: Sara (rhymes with car) finds out at age 13 that she is in the United States illegally and her and her family, except her younger brother who was born in the US, could be deported any time. This memoir covers what it's like to apply and wait and wait and wait and wait for a green card, which friends and neighbors to share it with, and an explanation of the process. But it also covers what it's like to be a first-generation American teenager trying to balance strong cultural ties to Iran while also appreciating the freedoms America has to offer. Sara is proud of her Iranian culture and explains a tradition or value in each chapter through personal experience and story. She also explains what it's like to be a teenager trying to fit in.

Setting: San Jose, CA

Characters:
Sara - moved to the US when she was 2
Samira - older sister, was senior when Sara was freshman
Kia - brother, 8 years younger than Sara, born in the US and a US citizen
Baba and Mom - own a furniture store together, work hard and enjoy each other's company even though they spend all day every day together

Recurring Themes: fitting in, first generation American, Iranian culture, friendships, relationships, family, large families

Controversial Issues: swears, discussion of masturbation and sex

Personal Thoughts: Sara is honest, interesting, and open. I'm thankful she used her experiences to help others understand the immigration process and Iranian culture. This was a very engaging read.

Genre: memoir

Pacing: fast
Characters: I'm ashamed to admit I lost track of which uncle or cousin was which (I think Sara has 20-something first cousins that she's close to)
Frame: explained in an accessible and interesting way
Storyline:

Activity:½

Literary Merit: Good
Character Merit: N/A
Reading Level: 9-12
Recommend: Yes
Sara Saedi chronicles her twenty-three year journey from illegal immigrant to naturalized American citizen. Instead of being a dry treatise on the deficiencies of the American immigration system, Saedi uses humor and a conversational tone to show how her teenage life was both typical of her peers (concerns with dating and appearance) and atypical of her peers (fear of being deported and the effects the excruciatingly long legal process had on her parents). This book is better suited to high school because Saedi mentions masturbation, sex, alcohol and drug use, and uses the term "gave zero fucks." Saedi explains enough about the history of Iran and US immigration policies to establish background without being overwhelming to teen readers. Interspersed throughout the memoir are FAQs about Iranian culture and diary entries from her youth.

Literary Merit: Great
Characterization: Great
Reading Level: High School
Recommended: Highly Recommended

Saedi brings the illegal immigrant experience to glorious life in this funny, frank memoir about a childhood lived under threat of deportation. Delightfully dispelling myths about Iranian culture, Iranian families, and how illegal immigrants live in the U.S. and contribute to its economic and social landscape, Saedi's story is a joy from beginning to end. Her fresh and funny prose is sure to draw in teen readers. Brief discussions of sex and drugs might make this more suitable for high school students on the whole.

Sara Saedi tells her story of growing up in a loving Iranian family in California. She is shocked when she discovered she and the rest of her family are undocumented. Her voice is entertaining and at times snarky. She works hard to connect with contemporary teens, although this will probably date the book for its audience sooner than later (ex. referring to her fandom of Winona Ryder and explaining her as the mom in Stranger Things - it is perfect now...but reliant on pop culture to stay relevant). This would be well-paired with the Caudill, It Ain't So Awful Falafel.½

Americanized is the memoir of a young girl brought to the United States for safety and freedom when she was two years old, and her experiences growing up 'undocumented.' The trials of teenage years and her fear of being deported to a land she does not remember are honestly and humorously expressed. An addictive read, fun and serious at the same time.

Recommended.

*eARC Netgalley*

ATW 2018 Iran