An Impossible Thing to Say
Written by Arya Shahi
Published by Allida
Omid needs the right words to connect with his newly met grandfather and distant Iranian heritage, words to tell a special girl what she means to him and to show everyone that he truly belongs in Tucson, Arizona, the only home he’s ever known. Neither the school play’s Shakespearean English nor his parents’ Farsi seems up to the task, and it’s only when Omid delves into the rhymes and rhythms of rap music that he starts to find his voice. But even as he does so, an act of terrorism transforms familiar accents into new threats.
Then a family member disappears, and it seems everyone but Omid knows why. When words fail altogether and violence takes their place, what will Omid do next?
Primary ISBN: 9780063248359
Publication Date: September 2023
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
Young Adult, Age 13 or older
Community Represented: Iranian/Iranian American, Persian/Persian American
Themes: Accolades & Awards, Accolades & Awards: Starred Review, Arts, Cross-Group Dating, Cross-Group Friendship, Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Family, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Identity, Discrimination: Microaggression, Discrimination: Racial, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Family Relationship: Parents, Format: Novel In Verse, Generation: 1st, Generational Differences, Identity: Multilingual, Multilingual: Farsi Featured Words, Own Voices/Lived Experience
Setting: United States (Tucson AZ)
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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