Born into a family so wealthy his grandfather's grandfather was called a king, young Khosrou lived a privileged life in Iran. There's a very graphic and bloody description of a bull being slaughtered and a scene where a woman is beaten by her husband as her children watch.ĮVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE is a patchwork of stories (some true), myths, and fables, told by 12-year-old Khosrou 'Daniel' Nayeri. Episodes of violence sometimes appear in Daniel's stories and some may be disturbing to readers. But that perception slowly changes as he becomes a seventh grade Scheherazade, sharing with them tales of Persian kings, khans, and princesses and true (mostly) stories of his life in Iran and in a refugee camp in Italy. Finally settling with his family in Edmond, Oklahoma, Khosrou changes his name to Daniel and struggles to find acceptance from classmates who see him only as a poor refugee who often smells of pickles and garlic. Young Khosrou Nayeri's very privileged life in Iran comes to a terrifying end as he, his mother, and his sister flee the country one step ahead of the secret police.

Ptintz Award for young adullt literature. Parents need to know that Daniel Nayeri's Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True story) is a 'memoir' told through a captivating mix of fiction and nonfiction. A character smuggles drugs from Iran to England.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

All that is sad is untrue