Publication
Imprint: Boston : Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. Responsibility: Firoozeh Dumas. OCLC Number: 913923982. Physical: Text : 1 volume : 378 pages ; 22 cm.
Call number
YA-Fic / Dumas
ISBN
9780544612310
Collections
CSS Library Notes
Description: "Eleven-year-old Zomorod, originally from Iran, tells her story of growing up Iranian in Southern California during the Iranian Revolution and hostage crisis of the late 1970s"--
FY2019 /
FY2019 /
Physical description
378 p.; 22 cm
Awards
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Nominee — 2019)
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (Nominee — 2019)
Sasquatch Book Award (Nominee — 2019)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Junior — 2019)
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee — 2018)
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Nominee — Grades 3-5 — 2018)
California Young Reader Medal (Nominee — 2020)
Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature (Recommendations — 2017)
Middle East Book Award (Honorable Mention — Youth Literature — 2016)
Flicker Tale Award (Nominee — Juvenile Books — 2018)
YouPer Award (Winner — 2017)
Rhode Island Middle School Book Award (Nominee — 2018)
New-York Historical Society Children's History Book Prize (Winner — 2016)
CCBC Choices (2017)
Great Reads from Great Places (California — 2017)
Idaho Battle of the Books (2023)
Description
"Eleven-year-old Zomorod, originally from Iran, tells her story of growing up Iranian in Southern California during the Iranian Revolution and hostage crisis of the late 1970s"--
Language
Original language
English
Lexile
730L
User reviews
LibraryThing member swingdancefan
This book was so much fun! First of all, I’m only three years older than “Cindy,” so the historical setting was very clear to me, from gauchos to Captain & Tenille to puka shell necklaces. (Just gonna plead the 5th on which of those I was a fan of.)
Historical context aside, I was also a
Not all of the adults in the story are so sympathetic—and it wouldn’t be a good story if they were.
Cindy’s despair as events go from bad to worse rings true, including her self-isolation from her friends. The conclusion, however, is a good one. Some might find it to be too good to be true, but I believe in the goodness in people. Besides, the book leans strongly on the author’s own life.
This is a great entry into bringing other cultures and ideas into a predominantly white middle-grades market. It has “award-winner” written all over it.
Possible Objectionable Material:
There’s no cursing, and only the mildest of crushes. Some racism and sexism exist. The world events of the time could be troubling to the highly sensitive. Discussion of religion—including that Jews, Christians, and Muslims all worship the same God. Cindy doesn’t tell her parents the entire truth sometimes.
Who Would Like This Book:
Those who enjoy learning about other cultures and not-too-distant history. While most of the characters are female, it doesn’t read as “girly”. Short chapters (kind of reminds me of The House on Mango Street in this way) make it a quick read, not too overwhelming for reluctant readers. Lexile Measure: 730
Thank you, NetGalley, for a great read!
Historical context aside, I was also a
Show More
bookish, nerdy girl with a parent who wasn’t “from America”, just looking for a place to fit in. I identified with Cindy’s journey as she found a core group of friends who appreciated her for who she was. Their honest curiosity about her heritage and their desire to understand the turbulent events in Iran are heartwarming.Not all of the adults in the story are so sympathetic—and it wouldn’t be a good story if they were.
Cindy’s despair as events go from bad to worse rings true, including her self-isolation from her friends. The conclusion, however, is a good one. Some might find it to be too good to be true, but I believe in the goodness in people. Besides, the book leans strongly on the author’s own life.
This is a great entry into bringing other cultures and ideas into a predominantly white middle-grades market. It has “award-winner” written all over it.
Possible Objectionable Material:
There’s no cursing, and only the mildest of crushes. Some racism and sexism exist. The world events of the time could be troubling to the highly sensitive. Discussion of religion—including that Jews, Christians, and Muslims all worship the same God. Cindy doesn’t tell her parents the entire truth sometimes.
Who Would Like This Book:
Those who enjoy learning about other cultures and not-too-distant history. While most of the characters are female, it doesn’t read as “girly”. Short chapters (kind of reminds me of The House on Mango Street in this way) make it a quick read, not too overwhelming for reluctant readers. Lexile Measure: 730
Thank you, NetGalley, for a great read!
Show Less
LibraryThing member foggidawn
It's the summer before sixth grade, and Zomorod Yousefzadeh's family is moving to Newport Beach, California. Zomorod decides that this is the perfect time to adopt a more American-sounding name, so she selects Cindy and sets off to brave the wilds of middle school. Little does she know that one of
I never would have guessed that I'd write the phrase, "a heartwarming middle-grade novel about the Iranian Hostage Crisis," but there you have it! This book is sweet and funny, and the characters are well-developed and true to life. The story is semi-autobiographical, and the author has clearly not forgotten how it feels to be a middle-schooler. Portions of the book did feel a bit didactic, but I feel that the author did a good job of incorporating a large amount of historical context, and it was necessary to the story, especially since these events are not likely to be familiar to much of the target audience. I know I learned a lot! Here's hoping this book finds the wide audience it so richly deserves.
Show More
the defining events of her middle school years will be the revolution and hostage crisis in her family's home country, Iran. I never would have guessed that I'd write the phrase, "a heartwarming middle-grade novel about the Iranian Hostage Crisis," but there you have it! This book is sweet and funny, and the characters are well-developed and true to life. The story is semi-autobiographical, and the author has clearly not forgotten how it feels to be a middle-schooler. Portions of the book did feel a bit didactic, but I feel that the author did a good job of incorporating a large amount of historical context, and it was necessary to the story, especially since these events are not likely to be familiar to much of the target audience. I know I learned a lot! Here's hoping this book finds the wide audience it so richly deserves.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ChristianR
Zomorod and her family have just moved to a new home in California. They're originally from Iran, but Zomorod's biggest wish is to fit in so she changes her name is Cindy. And is slowly works. She makes some good friends but she also faces prejudice -- which heats up considerably when the Iranian
Show More
hostage crisis begins. This book shows the difficulties Cindy has straddling her two cultures as well as her parents' considerable challenges with American customs while missing their drastically changing home. Readers will sympathize with Cindy and will learn how current events can affect children's lives. Show Less
LibraryThing member ardvisoor
I loved this book. I laughed a lot, it had its sad moments too.
It's the life of a normal immigrant middle-schooler and challenges she faces like when she has to play translator role for her parents, or when she is the new kid at school and tries to melt in. At the same time it tells the story of my
When revolution happens in Iran, US and Iran relations were ruined forever and it shows how it affected normal people's lives. Although this books is about almost 40 years ago it can relate to today's world too. With all conflicts going on all over the world and so many people far from their country by choice or by force.
It's the life of a normal immigrant middle-schooler and challenges she faces like when she has to play translator role for her parents, or when she is the new kid at school and tries to melt in. At the same time it tells the story of my
Show More
home country in a period that changed everything for it and us(the people). When revolution happens in Iran, US and Iran relations were ruined forever and it shows how it affected normal people's lives. Although this books is about almost 40 years ago it can relate to today's world too. With all conflicts going on all over the world and so many people far from their country by choice or by force.
Show Less
LibraryThing member acargile
Zomorod is eleven and has moved four times. She decides life will be different here in Newport Beach, California. It’s a nicer town than her previous one, Compton, California. She also decides that her Iranian name elicits too many questions, so she decides on a more American name, Cindy. Armed
Cindy starts school alone, but this solitary life lasts a short time. Cindy quickly makes friends with friendly 6th graders. One friend is Carolyn who wants to be a reporter one day. She asks many questions, and Cindy doesn’t mind answering her questions about Iran because Carolyn is sincere in her desire to learn. It’s what happens that makes this novel so interesting. Iran has a revolution where the shah (king) is removed from power. This event is explained well in this novel. This transfer of power concerns Cindy and her family because their families still live in Iran and they plan on returning there. The new ruler institutes his version of religious laws, which remove all freedoms from women and require their dress to be extremely conservative. People in the United States begin to distrust Iranians who live in the US because Iranians took American hostages. Consequently, Cindy and her family are treated with hate, which Cindy hides from them. Once her father loses his job, they can’t stay in the US if he isn’t employed.
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. It explains an event I well remember from my childhood and has information that is helpful in our current dealings with Iran. I also laughed out loud several times because Cindy is so American and she’s funny when dealing with her mother who doesn’t understand America. Her mother is really a caricature of a foreigner, but her father has more depth. My favorite line is from Cindy’s father: “If I had one son and one daughter and could only educate one of them, I would educate my daughter. You know why? A girl without an education has now power; she is always at the mercy of others” (218).
Show More
with a new name, new bedroom furniture, and new town, Cindy is ready to meet people. Her first friend is Cindy--known as Original Cindy because that’s her real name. Original Cindy is horse crazy and wants to spend her time tanning. Once school starts, Original Cindy finds Cindy boring, so she dumps her.Cindy starts school alone, but this solitary life lasts a short time. Cindy quickly makes friends with friendly 6th graders. One friend is Carolyn who wants to be a reporter one day. She asks many questions, and Cindy doesn’t mind answering her questions about Iran because Carolyn is sincere in her desire to learn. It’s what happens that makes this novel so interesting. Iran has a revolution where the shah (king) is removed from power. This event is explained well in this novel. This transfer of power concerns Cindy and her family because their families still live in Iran and they plan on returning there. The new ruler institutes his version of religious laws, which remove all freedoms from women and require their dress to be extremely conservative. People in the United States begin to distrust Iranians who live in the US because Iranians took American hostages. Consequently, Cindy and her family are treated with hate, which Cindy hides from them. Once her father loses his job, they can’t stay in the US if he isn’t employed.
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. It explains an event I well remember from my childhood and has information that is helpful in our current dealings with Iran. I also laughed out loud several times because Cindy is so American and she’s funny when dealing with her mother who doesn’t understand America. Her mother is really a caricature of a foreigner, but her father has more depth. My favorite line is from Cindy’s father: “If I had one son and one daughter and could only educate one of them, I would educate my daughter. You know why? A girl without an education has now power; she is always at the mercy of others” (218).
Show Less
LibraryThing member penguinasana
After her family makes their latest move to Newport Beach, eleven year-old, Zomorod grapples with growing up as the new Iranian family in town in the 1970s. Awarded the California Library Association’s John and Patricia Beatty Award in 2017, this semi-autobiographical novel provides a funny, yet
Dumas is the author of bestselling adult memoir, Funny in Farsi (2004), and her first foray into middle grade fiction is an insightful and poignant story touching on themes of family, friendship, and finding one’s place in the world. An important read and valuable addition to a middle grade library collection.
Show More
touching portrayal of an Iranian girl facing cultural misunderstandings, financial worries, and rising fear and racism as the Iranian Revolution escalates. Dumas is the author of bestselling adult memoir, Funny in Farsi (2004), and her first foray into middle grade fiction is an insightful and poignant story touching on themes of family, friendship, and finding one’s place in the world. An important read and valuable addition to a middle grade library collection.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ewyatt
"Cindy" moves to Newport Beach. She's Iranian and her dad is working in the U.S. on assignment. An exploration about what it is like to be an immigrant in American, what it is like to be a kid that needs to explain and translate for her family, what it is like to try to fit in. When Iran is on the
Show More
news nightly during civil unrest and later the hostage crisis of 1979, Cindy is expected to explain current events in her former country to those in the United States and faces discrimination. She makes some great friends and has a super supportive family. The text is woven with humor in addition to the serious stuff. Show Less
LibraryThing member flackm
This is a cute story about the challenges of being the new kid. To add to that, her family is from Iran; living in the US during the Iran Hostage Crisis.
LibraryThing member aratiel
Such an amazing, funny, heartwarming book. It made me cry happy tears.
LibraryThing member revliz
A sweet smart book
LibraryThing member wrightja2000
Some of the dialogue felt a little stilted and didactic but all the info that was being dumped was so new and interesting to me that I didn't mind. Plus there were so many funny bits inbetween. I feel like I learned a lot about Iran and have a new appreciation for what people have gone through over
Show More
there the last several decades. Show Less
LibraryThing member fingerpost
Zomord Yousefzadeh (who goes by Cindy, because, well, Zomorod, in America?) has moved to California from Iran in the late 1970s, and is struggling to make friends and belong in American schools and neighborhoods, but she loves America and American culture. At the same time, she loves her Iranian
Dumas does an amazing job of telling this semi-autobiographical tale, giving a realistic and factual portrayal of the times, the political turmoil, and the anti-Iranian attitudes and how this Iranian family is affected by it... but at the same time, there are heavy doses of humor, and typical middle-school fun/chaos/drama to keep the book from getting bogged down with heavy material.
Beautifully told, you can't help but love Cindy, and her friends Carolyn, Howie and Rachel. You'll love her father, and have a great deal of sympathy for her mother. A number of other characters make brief appearances, most of which are fun. A++
Show More
roots. She does make some friends (and some not so friendlies as well) but then the Iranian Revolution happens, along with the capture of the American hostages there, and it's on the news all the time. Anti-Iranian sentiments in the U.S. grow to fever pitch, her father loses his job, and the situation gets more and more dire.Dumas does an amazing job of telling this semi-autobiographical tale, giving a realistic and factual portrayal of the times, the political turmoil, and the anti-Iranian attitudes and how this Iranian family is affected by it... but at the same time, there are heavy doses of humor, and typical middle-school fun/chaos/drama to keep the book from getting bogged down with heavy material.
Beautifully told, you can't help but love Cindy, and her friends Carolyn, Howie and Rachel. You'll love her father, and have a great deal of sympathy for her mother. A number of other characters make brief appearances, most of which are fun. A++
Show Less
LibraryThing member alsparks
Zomorod Yousefzadeh (Cindy is what she calls herself) is living in America in the late 1970s. She is from Iran and her father is an engineer working in the states. They have lived in California before and they are now back. Cindy has to translate for her mom because she doesn't understand English.
Show More
This book gets into many of the events of the late 70s with the Iranian hostage crisis and lets us see how it looked from an Iranian perspective. It also gives us a peek into the Iranian culture and just how different we are but just how alike we are as well. Students can learn great lessons from the main character and the events of this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member MrNattania72
This was a very very very slow book, but it would be a great book for 5 - 7 graders. It has historical relevant content as well as issues that people face today; Racial Profiling, being uprooted to another country for your parent's work, breaking the shy wall in a new place and first crushes . All
Show More
this through the eyes of a middle school-er from Iran. Some parts cute, like the budding romance and awkward puberty incidents, the creating and breaking of friendships and the cute education of an older Iranian to speak English. I would give this to a 6th grader - maybe a low 7th grader, never 8th and above. Show Less
LibraryThing member jennybeast
Delightful book about being a sixth grade Iranian immigrant during the Iran hostage crisis -- hard, yet hopeful, and full of funny moments. Particularly good at portraying what it's like to be the translator kid -- the bridge for your parents between the weird new culture and the old one. I like
Show More
Cindy's voice, because she's fierce, in her own way, without being disrespectful. I also really like that it's based on some of the author's experiences. Well written, great read. Show Less