It Ain't So Awful, Falafel

Content Warning: The source material features mentions of xenophobia.

In this novel, the Yousefzadeh family wrestles with what America means to them at a time when their relationship with their home country changes as a result of forces beyond their control. Ultimately, they embrace the United States as their newfound permanent home, but they are also aware of the complex relationship the country has with Iran and, therefore, with anyone from Iran living within the US.

Each family member has their own struggles with their insider/outsider dynamic. From the start of the novel, Zomorod makes it clear that she does not like having to be her family’s translator, and she feels like her family has not adjusted to life in the United States. Mo, while able to speak English and willing to drive to various locations, is fixated on the US’s relationship with Iran as a result of the oil industry. Nastaran, on the other hand, spends the first half for the novel—before the Iranian Revolution—missing Iran. Her attempts to cook the same food she would in Iran reflect how connected she wants to feel to her home country and her reluctance to try new things. Both she and Mo see the US as a place for Zomorod to be exposed to new things, showing they care about Zomorod’s future even if they are uncomfortable with their new surroundings.