It Ain't So Awful, Falafel - by Firoozeh Dumas (Paperback)

About the Book

From a "New York Times"-bestselling memoirist ("Funny in Farsi") comes a humorous, voice-driven debut novel about growing up Iranian in Southern California during the Iranian Revolution and hostage crisis of the late 1970s.

Book Synopsis

Zomorod (Cindy) Yousefzadeh is the new kid on the block...for the fourth time.

California's Newport Beach is her family's latest perch, and she's determined to shuck her brainy loner persona and start afresh with a new Brady Bunch name--Cindy.

It's the late 1970s, and fitting in becomes more difficult as Iran makes U.S. headlines with protests, revolution, and finally the taking of American hostages. Even puka shell necklaces, pool parties, and flying fish can't distract Cindy from the anti-Iran sentiments that creep way too close to home.

A poignant yet lighthearted middle grade debut from the author of the bestselling Funny in Farsi.

California Library Association's John and Patricia Beatty Award WinnerFlorida Sunshine State Young Readers Award (Grades 6-8)New York Historical Society's New Americans Book Prize WinnerMiddle East Book Award for Youth Literature, Honorable MentionBooklist 50 Best Middle Grade Novels of the 21st Century

Review Quotes

"Insightful, sobering, and hilarious." - People
"Filled with humorous touches and authentic cultural references, Dumas's story will resonate not just with young immigrants but with any readers trying to adapt to new situations." - Publishers Weekly
"Dumas' semi-autobiographical novel is both funny and affecting...Readers will be thoroughly invested in Cindy's story, whether holding their breath or laughing out loud, and always hoping that the Yousefzadehs will come out on top." - Booklist (starred review)
"[A] fresh take on the immigrant experience--authentic, funny, and moving from beginning to end." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"[It Ain't So Awful, Falafel] is funny, affecting, and nuanced...The novel doesn't sugarcoat the issues, but it balances these serious notes with preteen antics and melodramas that Blume would be proud of; Cindy's voice will undoubtedly draw in readers from all backgrounds." - Horn Book Magazine
"...keeps readers engaged with the very real and relatable difficulties of finding friends after moving, dealing with family issues both domestic and abroad, and discovering one's own identity in middle school." - School Library Journal
"Firoozeh Dumas's unique gift is her ability to use her wry, bold, but always gentle wit to tell serious stories about family, heritage, and loss. . . . In this era of suspicion and paranoia, [this book] offers a tender and compassionate glimpse into the immigrant experience." - Khaled Hosseini, bestselling author of The Kite Runner
"This book is a sheer delight--rambunctious and rich. . . . Firoozeh Dumas writes with the perfect light touch that makes us wonder once again: Who is running the big world and why not this person, please?" - Naomi Shihab Nye, novelist and poet
"[A]n honest, witty, and moving portrayal of what it means to be an Iranian immigrant in the late 1970s, during the Iran hostage crisis. - Scholastic Teacher Magazine

About the Author

Firoozeh Dumas was born in Abadan, Iran, and grew up in California and her birth country. She is the author of the New York Times best-selling memoir Funny in Farsi, and lives in Munich, Germany, with her husband and three children. Visit her website at www.firoozehdumas.com.