Daniel Nayeri
Levine Querido/Chronicle, 2020
354 pages
Grades 6-Up
Fictionalized Memoir
Much as Scheherazade in Arabian Nights, Author Nayeri recounts his memories from early childhood in Iran to life in an Italian refugee camp to middle school in Oklahoma. The format of the book is a report to Mrs. Miller, Daniel's teacher, and he admits from the first that memories are not to be trusted, yet these are his truths as he remembers them. We see through Daniel's first person account how difficult it is to be of middle-eastern descent in Oklahoma and the bullying he endures, as well as the abuse suffered by his mother, who is not allowed to practice medicine in her new country. The narrative is infused with Persian stories, both from Daniels family and that of legends, and readers learn about his life and essence in overlapping layers and time periods. The climax of the book is when Daniel's estranged father visits from Iran, merging all aspects of his life and leaving behind a catalyst for change.
This is a beautiful story that took me a while to get through. The first person narrative is both poetic and haunting, jumping from the stark realities of the immigrant experience to that of Persian legend. I read the book slowly and carefully and savored every word. This fictionalized memoir is meant for children-and I bought it for my juvenile fiction section. That said, the book just won the 2021 Printz award for best teen book and this is where it belongs. Although the narrator is recounting his childhood, the sophistication of the writing and the harshness of some of the subject matter make it more appropriate for teens. Daniel's mother is repeatedly beaten by her new husband and many horrible things happen to other characters, both of legend and real life. All of this is seen through the lens of a child, making it reminiscent of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, featuring a child trying to make sense of a harsh world. I learned a lot about contemporary Iran and saw first hand the sacrifices made by immigrants, only to come to America to suffer, though to stay in Iran would mean death. An author's note at the end reassures the reader that Daniel not only survives the abuse and poverty, but becomes a great success in life, serving as an inspiration to readers everywhere.
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