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Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card
At thirteen, bright-eyed, straight-A student Sara Saedi uncovered a terrible family secret: she was breaking the law simply by living in the United States. Only two years old when her parents fled Iran, she didn’t learn of her undocumented status until her older sister wanted to apply for an after-school job, but couldn’t because she didn’t have a Social Security number.
Fear of deportation kept Sara up at night, but it didn’t keep her from being a teenager. She desperately wanted a green card, along with clear skin, her own car, and a boyfriend.
Americanized follows Sara’s progress toward getting her green card, but that’s only a portion of her experiences as an Iranian-“American” teenager. From discovering that her parents secretly divorced to facilitate her mother’s green card application to learning how to tame her unibrow, Sara pivots from the terrifying prospect that she might be kicked out of the country at any time to the almost-as-terrifying possibility that she might be the only one of her friends without a date to the prom.
Fear of deportation kept Sara up at night, but it didn’t keep her from being a teenager. She desperately wanted a green card, along with clear skin, her own car, and a boyfriend.
Americanized follows Sara’s progress toward getting her green card, but that’s only a portion of her experiences as an Iranian-“American” teenager. From discovering that her parents secretly divorced to facilitate her mother’s green card application to learning how to tame her unibrow, Sara pivots from the terrifying prospect that she might be kicked out of the country at any time to the almost-as-terrifying possibility that she might be the only one of her friends without a date to the prom.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 6, 2018
208 people are currently reading
4916 people want to read
About the author
Sara Saedi
5 books222 followersSara Saedi was born in Tehran, Iran smack-dab in the middle of a war and an Islamic Revolution. She received a B.A. in Film and Mass Communications from the University of California, Berkeley and began her career as a creative executive for ABC Daytime. Since then she's penned three TV movies for ABC Family and a pilot for the Disney Channel, won a Daytime Emmy for What If..., a web series she wrote for ABC, and worked as a staff writer on the FOX sitcom The Goodwin Games.
Her first novel for young adults, Never Ever, was published in 2016 and its sequel, The Lost Kids, was published in spring 2018. Her memoir, Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card was released in February 2018. Her latest novel, I Miss You, I Hate This comes out in October 2022.
She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and pug, where she writes for the hit CW show iZombie. You can find her on Twitter at @saaaranotsarah or at SaraSaediWriter.com
Her first novel for young adults, Never Ever, was published in 2016 and its sequel, The Lost Kids, was published in spring 2018. Her memoir, Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card was released in February 2018. Her latest novel, I Miss You, I Hate This comes out in October 2022.
She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and pug, where she writes for the hit CW show iZombie. You can find her on Twitter at @saaaranotsarah or at SaraSaediWriter.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 651 reviews
March 15, 2018
I'm wondering who the audience of this book is--Maybe American teens who don't know anything about Iranians? Maybe American adults interested in a funny memoir? It certainly isn't other Iranians. The book is filled with a lot of quirky and funny tidbits about growing up Iranian. I related with nearly everything in there except for she paints everything and everyone in her life with a lot of optimism and I am probably a bit more cynical. The reason I am hung up on the audience is because I think that the motivating force behind this book was to prove to "real Americans" that Iranians are just like them. Specifically, that Iranian teens have celebrity crushes and care about popularity etc. Trump's election is the background of the book and the force against which she is writing. She specifically addresses it several times. I guess I am annoyed by the fact that such a book has to be written in the first place. But it was a fun read I guess. I just couldn't shake the sense that she was justifying her (our) humanity.
October 1, 2018
🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
5 Cookies
My YA Blog!
I was giving this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honestly review
First off. This book was amazing. I honestly should end it at that and call it a day but... I won't allow myself! This book is the first ARC I have rated 5 full cookies. That is saying something! I was in absolute love from page one.
This book is about one teen's experience growing up in America without a green card. I wanted to start with the overall book first then work my way into the characters. So here goes: This overall story was incredible. (I still don't understand some of the bad reviews! This book was flawless.) I usually don't go for this genre of books but I'm really glad I did. It was hilarious. I was able to relate to some of the things she went through as a teenager.
This book also was sad. The things this family went through was extreamly sad. But they were an awesome family together. (I'll get into this later!) I really like the way she put in little history tid bits. This was important to me because I really wanted to learn more on this issue specifically. So I give these books two thumbs up. (I would give it more if I actually had more thumbs...)
Now let's address the characters. All the characters that Sarah used in this book are real, and they did influence her life. Now I'm not going to anylyze these characters like in a fiction novel because of this. Now! My favorite character in this book is... Well I technically should say characters but whatever. The family! Why you ask? This family loved each other so much. The parents gave up everything, just so that their children grew up living in America in freedom. There love for their children in this book was apparent. It's really how they showed their love that made my heart melt. This sister relationship was GOALSS!?? Am I right! Loved this relationship as well... Ok. I really liked every single relashinship that involved family and there are too many so I'm just going to leave it as that.
Gosh. Well I think I hit all the points I needed to hit. So that's going to be the end of this review but I cannot stress enough of how much I really love this book. I would totally reccommend this book and everyone should read it!
5 Cookies
My YA Blog!
I was giving this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honestly review
First off. This book was amazing. I honestly should end it at that and call it a day but... I won't allow myself! This book is the first ARC I have rated 5 full cookies. That is saying something! I was in absolute love from page one.
This book is about one teen's experience growing up in America without a green card. I wanted to start with the overall book first then work my way into the characters. So here goes: This overall story was incredible. (I still don't understand some of the bad reviews! This book was flawless.) I usually don't go for this genre of books but I'm really glad I did. It was hilarious. I was able to relate to some of the things she went through as a teenager.
This book also was sad. The things this family went through was extreamly sad. But they were an awesome family together. (I'll get into this later!) I really like the way she put in little history tid bits. This was important to me because I really wanted to learn more on this issue specifically. So I give these books two thumbs up. (I would give it more if I actually had more thumbs...)
Now let's address the characters. All the characters that Sarah used in this book are real, and they did influence her life. Now I'm not going to anylyze these characters like in a fiction novel because of this. Now! My favorite character in this book is... Well I technically should say characters but whatever. The family! Why you ask? This family loved each other so much. The parents gave up everything, just so that their children grew up living in America in freedom. There love for their children in this book was apparent. It's really how they showed their love that made my heart melt. This sister relationship was GOALSS!?? Am I right! Loved this relationship as well... Ok. I really liked every single relashinship that involved family and there are too many so I'm just going to leave it as that.
Gosh. Well I think I hit all the points I needed to hit. So that's going to be the end of this review but I cannot stress enough of how much I really love this book. I would totally reccommend this book and everyone should read it!
April 5, 2018
I can’t sing the praises of this book enough. It’s written so that it feels like you’re listening to your friend tell you a story filled with humor and emotion. I learned so much about the immigration process and all of the pitfalls that can happen to families looking for safety and a better life. At this time, it is the perfect book for young and old alike. Let’s start trying to understand one another better. Highly recommended!
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Read
September 1, 2018Americanized is a non fiction piece of work, written by Sara Saedi, about her life and culture.
She is from Iran and when she was little, her family moved out to USA, but they did not have green cards. We follow Sara and her family through the journey to become USA legal citizens and their fear of being transported back to Iran.
This book is so educational. We learn a lot about Iran and Persian people and their culture.
Also, so many history facts were mentioned here and I can not tell you how grateful I am for reading this book.
In my country, we don't learn anything about Iran in schools, and while reading, I have realized just how little (or non) I actually knew about anything that Iran people went through.
I was even shocked to learn some things and how life in Iran was before.
I think reading this book is really important to educate yourself. Even if you don't feel like Iran or this kind of books interest you, it will help you understand their culture and where they come from, plus it will educate you about their history.
She is from Iran and when she was little, her family moved out to USA, but they did not have green cards. We follow Sara and her family through the journey to become USA legal citizens and their fear of being transported back to Iran.
This book is so educational. We learn a lot about Iran and Persian people and their culture.
Also, so many history facts were mentioned here and I can not tell you how grateful I am for reading this book.
In my country, we don't learn anything about Iran in schools, and while reading, I have realized just how little (or non) I actually knew about anything that Iran people went through.
I was even shocked to learn some things and how life in Iran was before.
I think reading this book is really important to educate yourself. Even if you don't feel like Iran or this kind of books interest you, it will help you understand their culture and where they come from, plus it will educate you about their history.
January 13, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this. I could relate to a lot of it because I was also a teenager in the 90s, so a lot of what Saedi writes about resonates with my own experience, but this wasn't quite what I expected it to be. Since this is a memoir, I'm not sure that a spoiler warning makes sense, but I will talk at some length about this book's specifics.
I think one of my main problems with this book is that it feels awkward at times. I could feel Saedi reaching from the page and wanting to grab me or her presumed teen audience by using colloquialisms or coming across as irreverent, but those parts felt stilted to me. I didn't see the need to try so hard when there were elements of her story that could more than stand on their own two legs. I wish she would have trusted that rather than practically grabbing her readers by the collar and shouting, "See? I can relate to the kids of today!"
Another thing I didn't much like was how heavy-handed this book felt at times, which is awkward for me to say. Since I'm not a PoC, I'm not comfortable evaluating a book by a PoC on those grounds, but I think that element tries into the whole trying too hard bit. I didn't need Saedi to outright say, "While regular teenagers were doing x, I had to worry because I was an illegal immigrant." I could already feel the difficulty there. I think what I didn't like about her sometimes overt approach was that it pulled me out of the narrative, which didn't work for me because when I was immersed in the narrative I was walking in Saedi's shoes and feeling plenty sympathetic for her plight.
I have to admit, the casual references to pot in this book also gave me pause, since the science about the effect of pot on teen brains isn't very solid but does indicate some areas for concern. On the one hand, I did think it was valuable that Saedi didn't try to "clean" things up for her readers, and that she was upfront about things like recreational drug use, drinking, and sex, but I also wish there'd been some more nuance here. I mean, she casually mentions family members getting her drunk when she was only 13 and I...just wasn't okay with that.
Now, that aside, there are also some very strong aspects to this book that I very much admired. As I said, when I was walking in Saedi's shoes, I felt a great deal of empathy for her and her family. There's a section in the book where she talks about a blow up she had with her parents that was born of frustration on both sides with the immigration process. Saedi does a nice job of showing how the stress was affecting her differently from her parents and how that resulted in a big misunderstanding that ended up in her gaining insight into her parents. I mean, what teen doesn't fail to recognize their own parents as human beings from time to time? Yet as strong as this passage was, I was a little confused by it as well because she mentions a screaming fight yet no fight takes place. Instead, she's describing the aftermath. I'm not saying I needed to see the fight on the page, I just found the narrative setup confusing. Why not just say that she had a fight with her parents that made her see things from a different point of view, rather than making it sound like the chapter was going to be about that fight?
Equally strong were the sections exploring her family background, especially with regard to her grandparents. Saedi interrogates her grandmother's life, showing her unconventional a woman her grandmother was, and exploring its impact on the way it shaped her family on down the line. There's probably a whole book there, in just that story alone. Saedi also talks candidly about how sorry she is that she didn't try to find more common ground with her grandmother while she was still alive, and I think this is a valuable lesson for people of all ages. Our family members are living examples of both our family and cultural histories, and I share some of Saedi's regret at not having appreciated that in my own life when I still had the option.
The book lost me when it delved a lot into Saedi's typical teen angst, even though I found myself in a lot of those passages as well. I think those sections might resonate more with young people who are in the midst of the same dramas, but they didn't work as well for me, who has the benefit of decades of hindsight with regard to those particular episodes.
In the end, this book ended up being a mixed bag for me. I'd been really drawn in to certain chapters, invested in Saedi's family background and their plight as immigrants, and then get to a chapter where she'd talk at length about her teenage romance problems, which would make me lose interest. Like I said, I don't fault the book for this because I do think those sections would resonate more with teenagers, who would see that even as Saedi was dealing with her family's precarious situation, she still had to deal with the same stuff every teenager does. Since this book isn't targeted at people my age, I think it's good those parts have been woven into the book. But to me the really strong parts are when Saedi sits back and lets her story take precedence without trying to be quippy about it, and I think if the whole book had been like that, it would have been stronger.
I think one of my main problems with this book is that it feels awkward at times. I could feel Saedi reaching from the page and wanting to grab me or her presumed teen audience by using colloquialisms or coming across as irreverent, but those parts felt stilted to me. I didn't see the need to try so hard when there were elements of her story that could more than stand on their own two legs. I wish she would have trusted that rather than practically grabbing her readers by the collar and shouting, "See? I can relate to the kids of today!"
Another thing I didn't much like was how heavy-handed this book felt at times, which is awkward for me to say. Since I'm not a PoC, I'm not comfortable evaluating a book by a PoC on those grounds, but I think that element tries into the whole trying too hard bit. I didn't need Saedi to outright say, "While regular teenagers were doing x, I had to worry because I was an illegal immigrant." I could already feel the difficulty there. I think what I didn't like about her sometimes overt approach was that it pulled me out of the narrative, which didn't work for me because when I was immersed in the narrative I was walking in Saedi's shoes and feeling plenty sympathetic for her plight.
I have to admit, the casual references to pot in this book also gave me pause, since the science about the effect of pot on teen brains isn't very solid but does indicate some areas for concern. On the one hand, I did think it was valuable that Saedi didn't try to "clean" things up for her readers, and that she was upfront about things like recreational drug use, drinking, and sex, but I also wish there'd been some more nuance here. I mean, she casually mentions family members getting her drunk when she was only 13 and I...just wasn't okay with that.
Now, that aside, there are also some very strong aspects to this book that I very much admired. As I said, when I was walking in Saedi's shoes, I felt a great deal of empathy for her and her family. There's a section in the book where she talks about a blow up she had with her parents that was born of frustration on both sides with the immigration process. Saedi does a nice job of showing how the stress was affecting her differently from her parents and how that resulted in a big misunderstanding that ended up in her gaining insight into her parents. I mean, what teen doesn't fail to recognize their own parents as human beings from time to time? Yet as strong as this passage was, I was a little confused by it as well because she mentions a screaming fight yet no fight takes place. Instead, she's describing the aftermath. I'm not saying I needed to see the fight on the page, I just found the narrative setup confusing. Why not just say that she had a fight with her parents that made her see things from a different point of view, rather than making it sound like the chapter was going to be about that fight?
Equally strong were the sections exploring her family background, especially with regard to her grandparents. Saedi interrogates her grandmother's life, showing her unconventional a woman her grandmother was, and exploring its impact on the way it shaped her family on down the line. There's probably a whole book there, in just that story alone. Saedi also talks candidly about how sorry she is that she didn't try to find more common ground with her grandmother while she was still alive, and I think this is a valuable lesson for people of all ages. Our family members are living examples of both our family and cultural histories, and I share some of Saedi's regret at not having appreciated that in my own life when I still had the option.
The book lost me when it delved a lot into Saedi's typical teen angst, even though I found myself in a lot of those passages as well. I think those sections might resonate more with young people who are in the midst of the same dramas, but they didn't work as well for me, who has the benefit of decades of hindsight with regard to those particular episodes.
In the end, this book ended up being a mixed bag for me. I'd been really drawn in to certain chapters, invested in Saedi's family background and their plight as immigrants, and then get to a chapter where she'd talk at length about her teenage romance problems, which would make me lose interest. Like I said, I don't fault the book for this because I do think those sections would resonate more with teenagers, who would see that even as Saedi was dealing with her family's precarious situation, she still had to deal with the same stuff every teenager does. Since this book isn't targeted at people my age, I think it's good those parts have been woven into the book. But to me the really strong parts are when Saedi sits back and lets her story take precedence without trying to be quippy about it, and I think if the whole book had been like that, it would have been stronger.
Read
January 25, 2018A really humor-soaked memoir about life as an illegal immigrant in America. Sara is older than me, but her voice is relatable enough to young readers that teens will enjoy this one without a problem, especially if they love Mindy Kaling style humor. We get a great look at Saedi's family, her relationship with her sister, and the lengths that her parents went to to obtain green cards for them all. Sprinkled throughout the story are FAQs about Iranian culture and tradition which are written in a really funny yet informative manner. A small thing I really loved about this book: Saedi is really clear on how things are pronounced and does so in a way that's necessary for not sounding ignorant (it's E-ran, not I-ran, and her name is pronounced with a first a like car and not sar).
I read this one as a digital ARC so the photos were impossible to look at well, but the style of this book should be really appealing. I see so many teens who themselves are immigrants or refugees picking this up and feeling seen, which is especially important in a world which doesn't allow them that luxury for all of the reasons Saedi talks about -- and which she acknowledges are even worse now than they were when she was younger.
Pass this along, too, to readers who love FUNNY IN FARSI or pass along Dumas's book to readers who enjoy this one.
I read this one as a digital ARC so the photos were impossible to look at well, but the style of this book should be really appealing. I see so many teens who themselves are immigrants or refugees picking this up and feeling seen, which is especially important in a world which doesn't allow them that luxury for all of the reasons Saedi talks about -- and which she acknowledges are even worse now than they were when she was younger.
Pass this along, too, to readers who love FUNNY IN FARSI or pass along Dumas's book to readers who enjoy this one.
August 5, 2024
I'm hoping this wins the Printz but that might be expecting too much. At least I hope it wins the YALSA nonfiction award as well as the Siebert Award. Maybe I'm expecting too much in hoping both Front Desk and Americanized win awards but that is what I'm hoping for. If this trend keeps up, I may have to start a shelf on Immigrant titles. Unlike Front Desk, this is definitely autobiographical. Sara, (pronounced Sahrah and don't forget that!) is the middle kid of a loud and loving immigrant family from Iran. Sara was 3 at the time. She discovered they were illegal aliens when she was 13, her sister breaking the calamitous news to her. This is the story of her teenage years after the discovery of illegal aliens label. It is hilarious. She gleefully blows up many stereotypes along the way. She's worn a scarf in public one time: to get her passport card from Iran renewed. spoiler alert: this was before she achieved citizenship in the United States. Her mother doesn't wear a hijab either, and a photo shows her as being downright cute. Ditto for her older sister. Sara is a lot more concerned with finding out if Clearasil is a scam practiced on desperate teenagers but she does spend a lot of time obsessing about the label. This book is hilarious and incredibly frank. If you are expecting generational misunderstandings and bitterness, you better not read this book. She absolutely no ifs or buts, LOVES her parents, sister and brother! She loves being part of a loud family that lives life to the full. Her parents moved to California to give their daughters a good chance of life after the rebellion in Iran (they weren't concerned about their son, since he wasn't born yet and was automatically an American citizen due to the birth being in California). Her parents DID have an arranged marriage but it was one they entered into happily, and they love each other....even during the divorce. Not saying more. Read the book, it is one of the more hilarious sections. She talks about her sexual inexperience and how her Mom found out that she had lost her virginity. Her Mom was more worried about whether she was using birth control than the virginity part. Her Mom was also the one who asked why she would want to try to make up with a guy who said he didn't love her when she called in tears about the relationship breaking up. In short, this is the story of a happy talented young lady who is discovering what life is all about with additional complications of illegal alien status. She does turn serious towards the end and emphasizes that she might joke but a lot of this was a heavy expensive burden for the family. She also says definitely that she had it easy compared with illegal aliens in trump time and passes on solid simple advice from her second cousin the immigrant lawyer. Likely the two most important: you DO have rights and never ever open the door to an ICE agent at the door till they slide a warrant under the door to you.
Highly recommended and I hope it wins some award! So nice to see a YA with a positive attitude towards life! Note: while nominated, this didn’t win the YALSA nonfiction award. Darn.
Highly recommended and I hope it wins some award! So nice to see a YA with a positive attitude towards life! Note: while nominated, this didn’t win the YALSA nonfiction award. Darn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2018
I would like to preface this review by saying that I am half Iranian. I’ve sadly never been to Iran, but my mom was an immigrant to the US at age 18.
This book taught me things I didn’t even know about the Iranian culture, and made me smile about the aspects I was familiar with. I also learned a lot about what it’s like to be an undocumented immigrant and applying for citizenship, which is not a perspective that I had read much from. Because this story is told from someone who actually had that experience, it was full of lots of detail.
This is a very informative book about immigration, Iranian history, and Iranian culture, and a must read in today’s world with the current political climate.
This book taught me things I didn’t even know about the Iranian culture, and made me smile about the aspects I was familiar with. I also learned a lot about what it’s like to be an undocumented immigrant and applying for citizenship, which is not a perspective that I had read much from. Because this story is told from someone who actually had that experience, it was full of lots of detail.
This is a very informative book about immigration, Iranian history, and Iranian culture, and a must read in today’s world with the current political climate.
April 13, 2022
Very engaging memoir and so timely! This book deserves a fair reading in light of the immigration mess the US is in. Saedi engenders lots of empathy here. I can’t wait to discuss this with my students.
In my second reading I noticed that when she referred to “American” culture or a person who was “American” it was synonymous with white. It seems her cultural duality was Iranian and white American. Even her boyfriends were white. This isn’t a criticism but an observation about the dominant culture of the US during the 80s and 90s, and now even.
Third reading down. I really enjoyed reading this book. Sara is a gifted storyteller. She really draws her reader into the stories she tells.
In my second reading I noticed that when she referred to “American” culture or a person who was “American” it was synonymous with white. It seems her cultural duality was Iranian and white American. Even her boyfriends were white. This isn’t a criticism but an observation about the dominant culture of the US during the 80s and 90s, and now even.
Third reading down. I really enjoyed reading this book. Sara is a gifted storyteller. She really draws her reader into the stories she tells.
April 3, 2018
Americanized is the memoir of a young girl brought to the United States for safety and freedom when she was two years old, and her experiences growing up 'undocumented.' The trials of teenage years and her fear of being deported to a land she does not remember are honestly and humorously expressed. An addictive read, fun and serious at the same time.
Recommended.
*eARC Netgalley*
ATW 2018 Iran
Recommended.
*eARC Netgalley*
ATW 2018 Iran
February 25, 2025
Didn’t hate it, but it was boring
January 26, 2021
Wow! While she is from Iran, I felt like I was reading about some of my own teenage years! It helps that we are both children born in 1980 (four days apart, actually)! I love how the extremely serious nature of the book is made lighthearted by the comic relief that Sara interjects. I also appreciate how she helps breakdown the pronunciation of things that I was unaware of, along with explaining some of the Iranian customs that I was not aware of. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to suggesting it to others!
May 20, 2019
clever humor.
well written memoir about being an "undocumented immigrant" during adolescence in the U.S.
things were broken down easily to understand b/c this was targeted to the YA audience. I think adults would also like it.
the memories of her teen years are relatable to all of us who've gone thru puberty.
it's also a great story about being Persian/Iranian, adolescence, understanding your parents/family after you've become an adult yourself & look back.
i liked that there were pictures included but it was a shame they weren't in color.
Chpt 23-Sporting the Frida Kahlo was the best one.
some great quotes:
"The wails and screams that escaped from his tiny mouth sounded like those of a dying litter of meerkats. The hospital smelled like shit & regret. My sister was so disturbed by the whole thing that she puked her guts out." ----description of going to the hospital after the birth of her little bro
"According to my mom, we couldn't mess with our brows until we turned 15. We were however, allowed to shave our legs and bleach our mustaches. (I mean, the woman wasn't a monster.)"---memory of asking her mom about her unruly eyebrows
"...just because a girl has a perm, it does not mean that she's easy. It just means that she's going to have a lifetime of very damaged hair."
"I was also student body president of our elementary school. Yeah, I was an undocumented immigrant who'd been elected to public office. How do you like me now, ICE?"
September 3, 2024
4.5 stars
- all the seemingly mundane feelings and worries that i’ve ever experienced as a second generation immigrant with dual citizenship were perfectly articulated in this book. (not being enough or being too much of one nationality, the sacrifices that my mom has made and how she feels every day, the opportunities that living here presents, the guilt, losing one language, and how life could’ve been if we weren’t here)
- i wasn’t entirely obsessed with the coming of age teenage parts of it but i liked certain moments and the stories were entertaining enough to keep me interested.
- i loved the informational parts of it that were sprinkled into the book because the topics are interesting in my opinion.
- i think the narration was smart on her part because it really made the book. the dramatic, slightly self deprecating, and sarcastic way she told the story was funny and made it more fun to read.
- all the seemingly mundane feelings and worries that i’ve ever experienced as a second generation immigrant with dual citizenship were perfectly articulated in this book. (not being enough or being too much of one nationality, the sacrifices that my mom has made and how she feels every day, the opportunities that living here presents, the guilt, losing one language, and how life could’ve been if we weren’t here)
- i wasn’t entirely obsessed with the coming of age teenage parts of it but i liked certain moments and the stories were entertaining enough to keep me interested.
- i loved the informational parts of it that were sprinkled into the book because the topics are interesting in my opinion.
- i think the narration was smart on her part because it really made the book. the dramatic, slightly self deprecating, and sarcastic way she told the story was funny and made it more fun to read.
January 21, 2019
2.5 - Interesting info about illegal immigration and living in the US without a green card. Beyond that, I didn’t much enjoy Saedi’s stories of becoming “Americanized.” Though her experiences contain SOME staples that could be considered the “American experience” (i.e. prom), most of her stories contained unnecessary(IMO) shock value content and experiences that don’t necessarily equate to being an American teen. I’m sure many teenagers enjoy this memoir! :)
January 27, 2019
Just brilliant! An authentic, empathy-building memoir told with grace and just the right amount of humor. This book shows how complicated, frustrating, and slow the process of becoming a permanent legal resident is in the U.S. The author is honest and relatable, and she destroys stereotypes about Iranian people one anecdote at a time.
October 15, 2018
I really like this book, and my students love it, too. They particularly like how accessible it is. Sara Saedi was born around the time that I was born, so I felt nostalgic reading about all of the pop culture references. I was worried my 20-year-old students wouldn't like it for this reason, but they really did!
July 26, 2022
This book was awesome!! I literally finished it in two days; the author was so fun to read and I loved her personality, the characters were all so interesting, and her story was educational on the American immigrant experience. Highly recommend, it was sad at points, but overall very fun to read, and I really appreciated her providing her perspective on immigration and Iranian and American politics in the past few decades.
July 26, 2018
Parts of this book were really interesting. I enjoyed hearing about the experiences of Saedi's grandparents in Iran, and the challenges she and her parents overcame as they immigrated to the United States and (after nearly twenty years) received documentation. It's eye-opening and very accessible, especially in the current climate.
However, parts of this book dragged a little. First, it's written in an elliptical style, with Saedi covering the same chronological time period from different angles (discussing a grandparent, discussing cousins, discussing her brother); this structure make it seem a bit repetitive.
Second, Saedi talks a lot about her time in high school, and what she chooses to focus on is pretty stereotypical rebel stuff. She tries pot, she pines after a celebrity boyfriend, she gets drunk, she pines after a different celebrity boyfriend, she gets drunk again. This too makes the book repetitive, and as other reviewers have pointed out, it's also a bit uncomfortable to read, given how young Saedi is for much of the book, and given that the target audience of the book is also younger high school students. It's worth noting that depending on school, family, or personal standards, the descriptions of recreational drug and alcohol use among teens may make the book not suitable for its target audience. YMMV.
This is the second "minority book" written for young adults that I've read; The Hate U Give was the first, and that one was much stronger. Comparatively, Americanized simply has a weaker story and plot. Nevertheless, as a look at a different population - Iranians, undocumented immigrants - it was still interesting.
However, parts of this book dragged a little. First, it's written in an elliptical style, with Saedi covering the same chronological time period from different angles (discussing a grandparent, discussing cousins, discussing her brother); this structure make it seem a bit repetitive.
Second, Saedi talks a lot about her time in high school, and what she chooses to focus on is pretty stereotypical rebel stuff. She tries pot, she pines after a celebrity boyfriend, she gets drunk, she pines after a different celebrity boyfriend, she gets drunk again. This too makes the book repetitive, and as other reviewers have pointed out, it's also a bit uncomfortable to read, given how young Saedi is for much of the book, and given that the target audience of the book is also younger high school students. It's worth noting that depending on school, family, or personal standards, the descriptions of recreational drug and alcohol use among teens may make the book not suitable for its target audience. YMMV.
This is the second "minority book" written for young adults that I've read; The Hate U Give was the first, and that one was much stronger. Comparatively, Americanized simply has a weaker story and plot. Nevertheless, as a look at a different population - Iranians, undocumented immigrants - it was still interesting.
February 16, 2019
Although Sara experienced most of her immigration insecurity as a teen in the nineties, her story is unfortunately still all-too-relevant today. I'm glad this memoir exists -- both as a touchstone for other immigrant teens who can see the possibility of getting through it in Sara's story, and also for all those citizens who can never fully understand the fear and insecurity that goes along with being undocumented in this country.
As someone who is fairly educated about immigration issues, I was not at all surprised by how difficult it is to obtain legal status even when going through the "proper" channels. However, there are a lot of people who still hold onto the argument that "immigration is fine, you just need to do it the right way" without realizing how broken our "right way" currently is. This book serves as a really accessible introduction to the reality of that process. It also includes a lot of typical teen concerns -- body image, crushes, etc., so that there is plenty to relate to even for those who might pick it up without being interested in the immigration aspects.
Although Sara's writing is not beautiful and the narrative itself is a little disjointed -- it feels more like a collection of essays about her life than as a cohesive memoir with an obvious through-line -- I loved the conversational, sometimes flippant, always warm, tone, as well as the way she makes connections between what life was like for teenagers in the nineties to the realities of the teens who are reading it today. As a thirty-something woman reading it, I got the added bonus of some nineties nostalgia (grunge!)
Definitely a worthwhile read, for those interested in memoirs of teenage life, immigration issues, or the Iranian revolution. I'm interested in all of the above, so it was a pretty easy sell for me.
As someone who is fairly educated about immigration issues, I was not at all surprised by how difficult it is to obtain legal status even when going through the "proper" channels. However, there are a lot of people who still hold onto the argument that "immigration is fine, you just need to do it the right way" without realizing how broken our "right way" currently is. This book serves as a really accessible introduction to the reality of that process. It also includes a lot of typical teen concerns -- body image, crushes, etc., so that there is plenty to relate to even for those who might pick it up without being interested in the immigration aspects.
Although Sara's writing is not beautiful and the narrative itself is a little disjointed -- it feels more like a collection of essays about her life than as a cohesive memoir with an obvious through-line -- I loved the conversational, sometimes flippant, always warm, tone, as well as the way she makes connections between what life was like for teenagers in the nineties to the realities of the teens who are reading it today. As a thirty-something woman reading it, I got the added bonus of some nineties nostalgia (grunge!)
Definitely a worthwhile read, for those interested in memoirs of teenage life, immigration issues, or the Iranian revolution. I'm interested in all of the above, so it was a pretty easy sell for me.
February 12, 2018
I usually stay clear of memoirs because they usually don't hold my attention, but I'm so happy I took a chance with Saedi's story. It turned out to be quite an eye-opening experience that I could relate to on various levels, even though we're both from different countries.
This book is perfect for readers who are looking to better understand the life of immigrants and the immigration process and to also see things from the perspective of someone from the Middle East, Iran to be exact. It's definitely a sad time in this country where hate seems to continue to grow daily, and Sara describes how she and her family are affected, how different things were for them before 9/11, and how it is now.
Sara delved deeply, sharing about her "Americanized" ways growing up in the country, significant moments that shaped her character, crushes, friendships, loss, body issues, and all the things she and her family went through to sort out their immigration status. And let me tell you, it was a long and difficult journey plagued with disappointments and short-lived hope. If you think being an immigrant is easy it is absolutely not. I loved that Sara made it clear from start to finish, especially since a lot of people think immigrants are here to live freely, don't pay tax, and take every job. Welp, that mindset will change once you read Saedi's story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. I liked how Sara included humor to sort of balance the seriousness, and her definitions of terms, remarks and also names used in Iran were quite informative. Just a really great read. I highly recommend.
This book is perfect for readers who are looking to better understand the life of immigrants and the immigration process and to also see things from the perspective of someone from the Middle East, Iran to be exact. It's definitely a sad time in this country where hate seems to continue to grow daily, and Sara describes how she and her family are affected, how different things were for them before 9/11, and how it is now.
Sara delved deeply, sharing about her "Americanized" ways growing up in the country, significant moments that shaped her character, crushes, friendships, loss, body issues, and all the things she and her family went through to sort out their immigration status. And let me tell you, it was a long and difficult journey plagued with disappointments and short-lived hope. If you think being an immigrant is easy it is absolutely not. I loved that Sara made it clear from start to finish, especially since a lot of people think immigrants are here to live freely, don't pay tax, and take every job. Welp, that mindset will change once you read Saedi's story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. I liked how Sara included humor to sort of balance the seriousness, and her definitions of terms, remarks and also names used in Iran were quite informative. Just a really great read. I highly recommend.
March 16, 2020
Because it's a HS Battle of the Books title, I read this not knowing a thing about it. Laughing, I got to experience my exact adolescent years from the eyes of an Americanized Iranian immigrant. We grew up at the exact same time, just hours away from each other, so I "got" all the cultural references and jokes that I'm not sure my students would. However, there is plenty for our students to understand and relate to, and in fact, the one Freshman who read it so far said it was "really good."
I appreciated a quick history of tensions between Iran and the US; I definitely learned some facts that are certainly pertinent today. I loved seeing her not-so-well-written diary entries, which looked almost exactly like me own (those that I threw away because they were so embarrassing). Kudos to Sara for saving and sharing them! She's a good writer now, so no reason to be embarrassed! I felt comfort in her childhood and adolescent strife, and this is exactly what I look for when reading memoirs. The Iranian family is so different from my own upbringing that I found it all totally fascinating. And thanks, Sara, for the Iranian/Persian Q&A, and I now will not even wonder about the watering can in the bathroom.
I highly recommend this to HS & adult-aged girls. REally, girls, girls, girls, because so much of this is girl stuff. Relate, learn about another culture, learn some history, and enjoy a memoir with some chuckles along the way with this book!
I appreciated a quick history of tensions between Iran and the US; I definitely learned some facts that are certainly pertinent today. I loved seeing her not-so-well-written diary entries, which looked almost exactly like me own (those that I threw away because they were so embarrassing). Kudos to Sara for saving and sharing them! She's a good writer now, so no reason to be embarrassed! I felt comfort in her childhood and adolescent strife, and this is exactly what I look for when reading memoirs. The Iranian family is so different from my own upbringing that I found it all totally fascinating. And thanks, Sara, for the Iranian/Persian Q&A, and I now will not even wonder about the watering can in the bathroom.
I highly recommend this to HS & adult-aged girls. REally, girls, girls, girls, because so much of this is girl stuff. Relate, learn about another culture, learn some history, and enjoy a memoir with some chuckles along the way with this book!
April 14, 2021
This biography of being an undocumented immigrant as a child and teen was incredibly powerful. Reading as an adult roughly the same age as the author it was easy to picture all of the ways Sara and I would have been the same and different all together. I love that she included snippits for her personal diaries during those times, it created a connection in unexpected ways.
I read it for a early lit staff book club pick so many of the questions it stirred inside me were, "How do I treat immigrant parents? What assumptions do I make based on appearance or accent about how someone raises their kids? How do I assume they treat their kids? What emphasis do we assume they place on education/literacy/morality/religion. How might those assumptions work against our patrons?"
The other big takeaway for me was thinking about Iran as a whole. When Saedi brought up Iran being called part of The Axis of Evil, I felt that in my core. I recognized in myself that that is the first phrase I think of when I think of Iran. I also appreciated her discussion on claiming a Persian identity versus and Iranian identity. More and more I see the importance of seeing people as PEOPLE, not a representation of a country. There are many ways that I both identify and don't identify with the perceptions of the United States, I too want to be seen and counted as a person. Honestly, I would love to reread this book because there are so many things I could continue to learn.
I read it for a early lit staff book club pick so many of the questions it stirred inside me were, "How do I treat immigrant parents? What assumptions do I make based on appearance or accent about how someone raises their kids? How do I assume they treat their kids? What emphasis do we assume they place on education/literacy/morality/religion. How might those assumptions work against our patrons?"
The other big takeaway for me was thinking about Iran as a whole. When Saedi brought up Iran being called part of The Axis of Evil, I felt that in my core. I recognized in myself that that is the first phrase I think of when I think of Iran. I also appreciated her discussion on claiming a Persian identity versus and Iranian identity. More and more I see the importance of seeing people as PEOPLE, not a representation of a country. There are many ways that I both identify and don't identify with the perceptions of the United States, I too want to be seen and counted as a person. Honestly, I would love to reread this book because there are so many things I could continue to learn.
December 7, 2019
I only read about 20% but I’m calling it. This is not a bad book - it might even be a good book for younger readers. But it’s not a book I’m going to enjoy much as a 45 year old woman. The author is not too much younger than me, about the same age as a lot of my friends I think, and she’s making references to lots of things from the 90s that I remember well - I too wore the flannel and listened to the grunge. But her flippant humor and constant pop-culture references just feel too try-hard to me, trying to make this book relatable to today’s teenagers. It just isn’t an enjoyable read for me, and it also means that the book will probably age really badly. I wish the story had been written for a more mature audience, or that the author/publisher had trusted that young adult readers don’t need Beyoncé references to understand and enjoy a story.
Anyway, the book is making me feel old and crotchety so I’m going to pass. Your mileage may vary, especially if you are 15 or looking for something for a 15 years old to read.
Anyway, the book is making me feel old and crotchety so I’m going to pass. Your mileage may vary, especially if you are 15 or looking for something for a 15 years old to read.
April 6, 2018
At first I wasn't sure about the writing style. It IS a memoir and so she gets to write as she likes of course. It was just weird reading about Iranian history that way. But when she got more into her own life it fit perfectly. I had no idea that it takes so LONG to get a green card. The author was a toddler when she moved here. Her sister almost timed out of the system before she got her green card. It is absolutely insane. But Sara Saedi tells her story with humor and it is quite engaging.
August 25, 2018
in many ways I completely related to Sara and her life as a girl growing up the same time I was. and in other ways I could never ever understand her life and struggle. this book really opens up your eyes to the struggle of immigrants and the impossibility of the process to become a US citizen. I challenge anyone who argues, build a wall, close the borders, they're taking our jobs, just come to America the "right way," blah blah blah to read this and not finish it feeling like a total jerk.
January 18, 2022
I wanted to love this memoir. But I just felt like the author didn't have much to say despite the uniqueness of her experiences. I longed for more of the culture and honesty of her experience as an illegal immigrant and less of the typical teenage ennui that felt overly dramatized and not very compelling.
December 26, 2017
Awesome. So much of my experiences were similar and yet the threat of deportation so different. Love the ‘Big question’ sections and everything is explained so well-never dumbed down, yet never dull. Also made me realize my crazy teenage thinking all over again. So great!
January 1, 2019
Read for review in the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/02/bo...
April 21, 2018
This was funny and relatable. Identified a lot with her upbringing as an Iranian immigrant in America. I particularly loved her closing analogy of herself as a Spork.
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