It Ain't So Awful, Falafel

Dumas' semi-autobiographical novel is both funny and affecting...Readers will be thoroughly invested in Cindy's story, whether holding their breath or laughing out loud, and always hoping that the Yousefzadehs will come out on top

[A] fresh take on the immigrant experience--authentic, funny, and moving from beginning to end.

[It Ain't So Awful, Falafel] is funny, affecting, and nuanced...The novel doesn't sugarcoat the issues, but it balances these serious notes with preteen antics and melodramas that Blume would be proud of; Cindy's voice will undoubtedly draw in readers from all backgrounds.

"Insightful, sobering, and hilarious."
—People magazine

"Filled with humorous touches and authentic cultural references, Dumas's story will resonate not just with young immigrants but with any readers trying to adapt to new situations."
—Publishers Weekly

"...keeps readers engaged with the very real and relatable difficulties of finding friends after moving, dealing with family issues both domestic and abroad, and discovering one's own identity in middle school."
—School Library Journal

"Firoozeh Dumas's unique gift is her ability to use her wry, bold, but always gentle wit to tell serious stories about family, heritage, and loss. . . . In this era of suspicion and paranoia, [this book] offers a tender and compassionate glimpse into the immigrant experience." —Khaled Hosseini, bestselling author of The Kite Runner

"This book is a sheer delight—rambunctious and rich. . . . Firoozeh Dumas writes with the perfect light touch that makes us wonder once again: Who is running the big world and why not this person, please?" —Naomi Shihab Nye, novelist and poet

"[A]n honest, witty, and moving portrayal of what it means to be an Iranian immigrant in the late 1970s, during the Iran hostage crisis."—Scholastic Teacher Magazine