Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card

Sara Saedi came to the US from Iran with her parents and older sister when she was two years old; she finally became an American citizen at age 26. In between, she had a Persian-inflected American childhood and adolescence over which the threat of deportation loomed. For those unfamiliar with the labyrinthine and incredibly long process of gaining citizenship, Saedi takes readers by the hand and explains it in a concise, breezy way, though she's careful not to lose sight of the fact that the consequences of her actions could have an outsize impact. Mostly, however, she concentrates on her relationships with her older sister Samira and younger brother ("accidental anchor baby") Kia, her parents, her cousins, her best friends, and the show more object of her unrequited love.

The book begins with a brief, painless-to-read history of Iran, followed by chapters separated by diary excerpts, FAQs, and stereotypes about immigrant (specifically Iranian) parents, most of which her parents did not fall into.

See also: The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri (adult), Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga (middle grade)

Quotes

Kind of ironic that today the United States would really love more democratic countries in the Middle East, and Iran was one, until the CIA got involved. (11)

But with every revolution comes the risk that the new regime will suck worse than the old one... (12)

As much as their parenting philosophy was "We trust you," it was also "You can trust us." (73)

ICGC: immigrant child guilt complex (80)

"It's always better to put yourself out there. Sometimes you'll hear no, but you'll never hear yes, either, unless you ask." (Maman to Sara, 228)

Immigrant kids often feel like their parents will never understand what it's like to be a teenager in the States. They'll never fully comprehend what it's like to bounce back and forth between two worlds and two cultures without offending either side. (228)

"Why would you even want to make things work with someone who says they don't love you?" (Maman to Sara, 239) show less

A memoir that feels like it could be written by the girl next door. At times painfully ordinary, but I believe that was by design. The author is your typical teenage girl, worried about fashion, friends, and sibling rivalry. I could almost hear the gum popping and upward inflection while reading (perhaps she reminds me of some of my "ordinary" students). What sets this family apart is the fact that they have overstayed their visit to America by about a decade. They are working through the appropriate legal channels, finding them time consuming, cumbersome, and frustrating. Told from a very personal point of view, this story follows the typical teenage challenges as they occur alongside the long journey to a green card. I appreciate the show more historical context on why her family had to leave Iran, and the frustrations she feels toward the typical American view of Iran and its people. Recommend this for middle school to adult readers.

Note: I received this from netgalley in exchange for a honest review. show less

Sara Saedi tells her story of growing up in a loving Iranian family in California. She is shocked when she discovered she and the rest of her family are undocumented. Her voice is entertaining and at times snarky. She works hard to connect with contemporary teens, although this will probably date the book for its audience sooner than later (ex. referring to her fandom of Winona Ryder and explaining her as the mom in Stranger Things - it is perfect now...but reliant on pop culture to stay relevant). This would be well-paired with the Caudill, It Ain't So Awful Falafel.

Literary Merit: Good
Character Merit: N/A
Reading Level: 9-12
Recommend: Yes
Sara Saedi chronicles her twenty-three year journey from illegal immigrant to naturalized American citizen. Instead of being a dry treatise on the deficiencies of the American immigration system, Saedi uses humor and a conversational tone to show how her teenage life was both typical of her peers (concerns with dating and appearance) and atypical of her peers (fear of being deported and the effects the excruciatingly long legal process had on her parents). This book is better suited to high school because Saedi mentions masturbation, sex, alcohol and drug use, and uses the term "gave zero fucks." Saedi explains enough about the history of Iran and US immigration show more policies to establish background without being overwhelming to teen readers. Interspersed throughout the memoir are FAQs about Iranian culture and diary entries from her youth. show less

Memoir of Iranian-American Sara Saedi growing up in Southern California as an undocumented immigrant. Tales of (sometimes wild) teenage life, mix with recountings of her family's attempts to gain legal citizenship and short primers on Iranian life and culture. A truthful and authentic voice, Sara sometimes crosses the line, IMHO, in divulging details (do we really need to know why Iranians have watering cans in their bathrooms? or that her sister deliberately got her drunk as a "special" surprise?) Some teens may be titillated and even distracted by such recountings muting the overall message of fear and uncertainty of immigrant life.

A great choice if you're in the mood for a funny memoir that will help you learn a little about Iranian history and American politics. Also a good choice if you like reading excerpts from teenager diaries because: ha! I'd say it's a solid readalike for [b: In The Country We Love: My Family Divided|25666051|In the Country We Love My Family Divided|Diane Guerrero|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461758898s/25666051.jpg|45489189].

The writer does a wonderful job writing about her childhood, sharing experiences many people understand, and many that couldn’t imagine what her life was like. This book is definitely for middle/high school aged kids.