
A parent might reach for this book when their teen is processing a major loss and expressing their grief through anger, sarcasm, or withdrawal. It validates the messy, contradictory feelings that come with losing a loved one. After their mother’s sudden death, sisters Parisa and Nima are uprooted from California and sent to live with their estranged, traditional Iranian grandfather in a small Washington town. The story follows the girls as they navigate their own distinct forms of grief, clash with their grandfather’s strict rules, and uncover family secrets that explain why their mother left home years ago. It’s an honest, often bitingly funny, and ultimately hopeful look at how families can fracture and then reform in the wake of tragedy, making it a powerful read for teens aged 14 and up.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe book is centrally focused on grief, family trauma, and loss.
Contains realistic teen profanity and swearing, including f-bombs.
Teen characters drink alcohol at a party.
Includes kissing and discussions about attraction and relationships.
The book deals directly and frankly with the death of a parent. The grief is not sanitized; it is portrayed as a raw, angry, confusing, and ongoing process. The approach is entirely secular. The resolution is realistic and hopeful: the pain of loss doesn't disappear, but the characters find a path toward healing and forming a new kind of family. The story also explores intergenerational and cultural clashes within an Iranian-American family.
A teen, 14-17, who is experiencing grief and feels more anger than sadness. This reader might feel isolated, misunderstood, and frustrated by platitudes. They will connect with a protagonist who is prickly, flawed, and resists processing her trauma in a neat, tidy way. This reader also appreciates humor that doesn't shy away from dark topics.
Parents should know the book contains some profanity (including f-bombs), underage drinking at a party, and romantic situations (kissing, making out). The emotional themes are intense and unflinching. It can be read cold, but a parent might want to be prepared to discuss the idea that it's okay to be angry at someone you've lost or at the world in general. The parent has witnessed their teen lashing out, being unusually sarcastic, or saying things like, "I'm fine," when they clearly are not, following a family loss or trauma. The parent is worried about the anger and is looking for a story that shows it's a normal, if difficult, part of the grieving process.
A younger teen (13-14) will likely connect with the fish-out-of-water school story, the sibling dynamics, and the budding romance. An older teen (15-18) will more fully appreciate the nuanced exploration of complex grief, the protagonist's internal struggle with her identity, and the complicated family history she uncovers.
Among many YA books about grief, this one stands out for its direct and unapologetic focus on anger. It normalizes the less 'sympathetic' emotions of loss. The protagonist's biting humor and the specific cultural lens of being second-generation Iranian American navigating family expectations add unique layers not often seen in this genre.
Five months after the sudden death of their single mother, Iranian-American sisters Parisa (17) and Nima (15) are sent from their home in California to live with their conservative maternal grandfather in Washington state. The sisters, who are grieving in very different ways, must adapt to a new school, new social dynamics, and the strict, unfamiliar rules of a grandfather they barely know. The story follows Parisa's angry, sarcastic journey through grief as she tries to uncover the mystery of why her mother was estranged from her family for so many years, all while navigating her relationship with her sister and a potential new romance.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.