A review by shirleytupperfreeman
It Ain't So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas

I really enjoyed this funny, and educational, middle reader. Eleven year old Zomorod Yousefzadeh has moved between Iran and the United States several times in her short life. As the family lands in a condo in Newport Beach, CA, Zomorod is determined to fit in to her new life. Even though she is still a loving and dutiful daughter (and translator) for her parents, she changes her name to Cindy and embraces new experiences and ideas. But the year is 1979 and as Khomeini comes to power and US hostages are taken, Zomorod and her family become the target of racism. A dead hamster is left on their doorstep, their garbage is vandalized etc. Fortunately, 'Cindy' has made some good friends and the community rises to the occasion. I read the ARC for this book to be published in May.