MMGM: The Story of the Story: A Review of Everything Sad is Untrue

 

Perhaps because I lived in two countries very different from the U.S., I’m always on the lookout for books that give that same immersive experience, but from my cozy reading chair. When a dear friend recommended Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story) by Daniel Nayeri, I was looking forward to reading a memoir about a topic I've never seen in middle grade: the challenges an Iranian family faces after a mother’s conversion to Christianity.

If you love novels or memoirs where you feel you’ve walked a hundred miles with a character, like Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt, Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang, or The Genuis Under the Table by Eugene Yelchin, you might treasure Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story). And if you loved 1,001 Nights (or its retelling, Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher), you will be enchanted by how Daniel weaves seemingly unrelated threads into a beautiful story.

Synopsis: 

Daniel (whose Persian name is Khosrou) is a twelve-year-old refugee living in Edmond, Oklahoma. Told in a somewhat stream-of-consciousness style, Daniel shares his memories the way people often tell family stories—one memory leading naturally to another. His stories of his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents are interwoven with myths and stories of Persia. He also relates his life in Oklahoma and how his memories feel like a patchwork quilt, stitched together from stories, fragments, and things he can only partly remember. By the time I learned about his mother’s conversion and why the family had to flee Iran, I couldn’t put the book down.

Why this story stayed with me:

1.    Although the book was a little hard to follow at first, all the early backstory about his family and their Persian ancestors truly was important for the last half of the book to pack an emotional punch.
 
2.    One aspect that stood out to me was the risks Daniel's family faced after his mother converted to Christianity. When asked why she became a Christian, she says, "Because it's true." But Daniel says:

 “It’s true and it’s more valuable than seven million dollars in gold coins, and thousands of acres of Persian countryside…and even maybe your life…My mom wouldn’t have made the trade otherwise.” 

(p. 196)

3.   I keep thinking about how, despite all the hardships that they encounter (and Daniel/Khosrou and his family endure more than most North Americans can imagine), they still had hope. This shows how there is meaning and purpose in life, even in suffering.

4.  I appreciated that Daniel tells his family's story honestly. The people he loves most are shown as real people, with both strengths and flaws.

5.  Summing up this book in a few bullet points doesn’t do it justice. 

Like Daniel says, “The thing is the story of the story. The spending of time…Look how much you know about me.” (p. 301) 

I felt like when I closed the book, I was saying goodbye to another world and a family I knew well.


Reading Guide: This book would appeal to kids 12 and up. Content note: There are descriptions of bodily functions, blood, and injuries. There is mention of drug smuggling, infidelity, divorce, attempted murder, threatening torture, and extreme bullying.

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴🦴🦴

No dogs! But Daniel tells stories the way I chase squirrels—one adventure leads to another. And I loved reading about Mr. Sheep Sheep. He reminded me of Lambie, my stuffed lamb who unfortunately was loved a little too much.

 

 

Notes from the Front Porch:

Have you read a book like Everything Sad is Untrue that left you with a deeper understanding of someone else? 

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

  

If you love Anne and tender, heart-filled stories, you’re always welcome here. Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

MMGM: Gentle WWII Stories for Kids (For Sensitive Readers)

 

When I was homeschooling, the hardest eras to teach were ancient history and the modern age.
How do you explain to a young child—especially a tender-hearted one—those moments when humanity seems to lose its way?

It always troubled my oldest to hear about such things, just as it troubled me when I was young. I still remember having nightmares for years after watching a film in science class about the earth ending someday.

If you have a child like that (or are one yourself), I want to share two gentle stories set during World War II. They don’t avoid hardship, but they offer it in a way that young readers can carry.

For those who’d like to explore the French Resistance: Each and Every Spark

A story of art, courage, and quiet resistance in Paris

Each and Every Spark by Claire Swinarski is a dual-timeline novel told in alternating chapters.

In present-day Paris, Penny Marks has just moved with her family while her mother spends a year teaching art history. Penny misses her friends and her familiar life, but everything changes when she discovers a cryptic note hidden behind a painting. As she begins to unravel its meaning, she finds herself drawn into the past.

In Paris, 1943, Marie Bonnett lives with her older sister, Héloïse. Their father has been forcibly sent to Germany for labor, and their mother has died. When Marie discovers that Héloïse is secretly working with the Resistance—spying on German officers through her hotel job—she chooses to join as well, helping to smuggle paintings out of France.

Why this book stayed with me:

1. Two remarkable heroines. Both Penny and Marie are deeply rooted in family love. Penny’s relationship with her mother felt especially tender, while Marie and Héloïse’s bond carried real courage.

2. A dual timeline that truly works. I never found myself rushing through one storyline to get back to the other—both held my attention.

3. Art at the heart of the story. The author encourages readers to look up the paintings mentioned, which adds a rich layer. I could easily imagine using this as a gentle deep dive into how art was protected during the war.

3. A quiet nod to homeschooling. Penny’s online schooling is simply part of her life, and I loved how her family worked together to solve the mystery.

4. Courage worth remembering. The thread of Joan of Arc throughout the story felt especially fitting.

Reading Guide: This book works well as an independent read for roughly 3rd–7th grade or as a read-aloud. Sensitive readers should know there are references to a terrorist attack (present day), the disappearance of a Jewish classmate (before the story begins), and threats from Nazis and collaborators. These moments are not graphic and mostly occur off-page. There is a light teen romance and a few uses of the Lord’s name in vain.

If you’d like to explore children evacuated during the Blitz: A Place to Hang the Moon

 

 

A tender tale of siblings searching for home during the Blitz

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus feels like stepping into a story written in the 1940s. The omniscient narration gives it a timeless, classic tone.

William, Edmund, and Anna have lost both their parents and, most recently, their grandmother. But they carry with them her gentle hope—that they might find someone who will think they “hung the moon.”
With the help of their grandmother’s lawyer, they evacuate to the English countryside. Along the way, they quietly search for a place to belong. Life is not easy—there are unkind foster families, hunger, and responsibilities beyond their years—but they find a steady light in the village librarian, Mrs. Müller. Yet even she is considered “unsuitable” because her missing husband is German.

Why this book stayed with me:

1. Characters who feel real. Each child is distinct—William the steady peacemaker, Edmund the quick reactor, and Anna the quiet lover of stories.

2. A gentle reminder that worth isn’t tied to circumstance. Though the children have financial means, it doesn’t shield them from hardship. And those who help them are complex and human.

3. A love of books woven throughout. Stories become their refuge and anchor in uncertain times.

4. Quiet themes of justice and belonging—and the life-changing presence of one caring adult.

“And thanks for the advice about dragons,” [Edmund] said, stifling a yawn. “I’ll try to be more mindful of them.”

“Right,” [Mrs. Müller] replied. “And I’ll try to be less.”

Reading Guide:
A lovely read-aloud for ages 8–12, or for independent readers around a 5th-grade level and up. Sensitive readers should be aware of some bullying and a brief scene involving rats being hunted.

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴

No dogs in either book—though perhaps it was simply too dangerous for puppies. Still, I wouldn’t mind curling up with William, Edmund, and Anna, or sitting in a quiet café with Penny and Marie.

 

 

 

Notes from the Front Porch:

What World War II stories have you loved—especially ones that feel gentle enough to share?

*Please note: I will be away from social media and the blog next week, spending time with family and friends. See you back here on the 22nd.

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

  

If you love Anne and tender, heart-filled stories, you’re always welcome here. Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

ISWG: Where Do Story Ideas Come From? (And How to Catch Them)

Recently, I was talking to my oldest son, who, in the spare hours he has after his engineering job, is always working on a story. I asked him how it was coming along, and he said he keeps starting things but never finishes them. I could relate. It wasn’t till my late 20s that I completed a story.

But it got me thinking about coming up with ideas. When I was teaching and homeschooling, I found that helping struggling writers (my own kids or students) wasn’t too hard if the problem was difficulty forming the words, grammar, or spelling. But if a child has difficulty coming up with ideas, it’s much more difficult.

Brainstorming or webbing can work, but how do you teach someone how to put together a good idea for a story? Whether you are eight or forty-eight, it’s still a struggle to find the heart of your story.

 

If you don’t already know, I am a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, a wonderful community of authors who share monthly about the winding paths of the creative life. It’s a place to be earnest about our hurdles and celebrate our small victories together.

This month’s question: Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

Catching Seeds

 

My youngest is showing off a butterfly he caught.

For children (and adults), the blank page is intimidating. But what’s helped me is to think not as “coming up” with an idea, but as catching ideas that are already out there, like swirling a butterfly net through the air—and finding a species I’ve never seen before.

My current project: A middle-grade humorous contemporary with Anne of Green Gables vibes (status: final edits)

The seed for this story was thinking about my own love for Anne of Green Gables as a child—and how wanting a bosom friendship just like hers blinded me to the beautiful friends I already had. 

 

Whidbey Island

My next-in-line, a middle-grade magical realism set in the San Juans (status: completed and in early, big-picture edits)

The seed for this story grew out of my trips kayaking in the San Juan and Gulf Islands, memories of childhood friends and enemies, and a work situation where showing love to a difficult person changed everything.

New-new Project (in the planning/brainstorming stage):

I only have a small seed for this one, so it’s currently in the greenhouse, where I’m watering it and patiently waiting for it to grow. The tiny seed was my aunt sending me my great-grandfather’s manuscript, unedited and unfinished. The two most interesting parts sparked an idea—what if these events happened to a kid?

Looking for seeds

 

An acorn hunt with my youngest

If you are sitting beside a young writer who is staring at a blank page—or perhaps you are yourself—here are some places to look for seeds.

We can start with wonder.

What if the hero or heroine of your favorite book made a different choice?

What if a rainy camping trip had a touch of the unexpected?

What if you could step inside that old photo of your grandparents?

I may not have all the answers for my own sons, but the best way to catch an idea is to go after them: take a nature walk, reread a favorite story, and keep a notebook for the quiet whispers. They may just grow into a beautiful plant.

 

Max’s Thoughts

Max, the Reading Dog

 

 

 

 

 

I love plants! Especially carrots and grass. What do you mean, a story? Well, as long as it has a dog, I call it a good one.

 

 

Notes from the Front Porch:

Writers: How do you come up with your ideas? 

Homeschool parents and teachers: What has worked in your family for growing writers?

 

I'm so grateful to be part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group community. 

A special thank you to this month's wonderful co-hosts: 

Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

You can join us here.

 

If you love gentle, heart-filled stories, come sit awhile—I’m writing one, too. 

Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.

Photo credit: All photos by Jenni Enzor, Front Porch photo from Canva