Everything Sad Is Untrue Explained

Genre:Young adult fiction, middle grade fiction, autobiographical novel
Isbn Note:Hardcover
Isbn:9781646140008
Pages:268
Media Type:Print (hardcover and paperback), e-book, audiobook
Release Date:August 25, 2020
Publisher:Levine Querido/Scholastic Corporation
Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story)
Language:English
Country:United States
Author:Daniel Nayeri

Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story) is a young adult/middle grade autobiographical novel[1] by Daniel Nayeri, published August 25, 2020 by Levine Querido. In 2021, the book won the Michael L. Printz Award,[2] Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature,[3] and Middle East Book Award for Youth Literature.[4]

Background

Nayeri has stated that Everything Sad Is Untrue is "entirely biographical" and that "the first version ... was a nonfiction essay for adults." Because "[t]he heart of the story was from the perspective of a pre-teen," he selected his pre-teen self as the narrator, "changed some names, and ... invented dialogue." Aside from these changes, however, Nayeri thinks of the book as a memoir.

Although he began writing the book in his twenties, Nayeri says he had been contemplating it since he was ten years old because, as an immigrant from Iran to Oklahoma, he often found himself explaining himself.[5]

In terms of Everything Sad Is Untrue's guiding principle, Nayeri noted, "The book is immediately asking the reader not to lie to themselves. Not to dare believe they are any better. Not to omit themselves from the guilt. And from there it sets out to convince the reader that strictly speaking, all our memories are lies we tell ourselves."

Reception

Everything Sad is Untrue was generally well-received, including starred reviews from Booklist,[6] The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,[7] Kirkus Reviews,[8] Publishers Weekly,[9] and School Library Journal.[10]

In various reviews, the book was called "[m]esmerizing and hard-hitting," "a modern epic," "impressive,"

Booklist's Ronny Khuri noted, "Nayeri challenges outright what young readers can handle, in form and content, but who can deny him when it's his own experience on display? He demands much of readers, but in return he gives them everything," and ultimately called the book "[a] remarkable work that raises the literary bar in children's lit."

BookPage,[11] The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,[12] The New York Times,[13] NPR,[14] Publishers Weekly,[15] Today,[16] and The Wall Street Journal[17] named Everything Sad is Untrue one of the best books of the year.

Awards and honors for Everything Sad Is Untrue!Year!Award/Honor!Result!Ref.
2020Booklist Editors' Choice

Books for Youth

Selection[18]
2021Booklist's Best Books for TweensTop 10[19]
Christopher Award for Young PeopleSelection[20]
Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's LiteratureWinner
Michael L. Printz AwardWinner[21]
Middle East Book Award for Youth LiteratureWinner
Walter Dean Myers AwardHonor[22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gaetano. Siân. 2020-06-03. Daniel Nayeri and the Entirely Biographical Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story). 2022-02-10. Shelf Awareness.
  2. Web site: 2022-01-24. 2021 Printz Award. 2022-02-10. Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). en.
  3. Web site: 2021 Judy Lopez Award Winners. 2022-02-10. WNBA-LA.
  4. Web site: Youth Literature Honorees Middle East Book Award. 2022-02-10. Middle East Outreach Council. en.
  5. Web site: Goddu. Krystyna Poray. 2020-08-06. Q & A with Daniel Nayeri. 2022-02-10. PublishersWeekly.com. en.
  6. Web site: Khuri. Ronny. July 2020. Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story). 2022-02-10. Booklist.
  7. Web site: July 2020. 2022-02-10. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. en-US.
  8. Web site: 2020-05-05. Everything Sad Is Untrue. 2022-02-10. Kirkus Reviews.
  9. Web site: Children's Book Review: Everything Sad Is Untrue (A True Story) by Daniel Nayeri. Levine Querido, $17.99 (368p) ISBN 978-1-64614-000-8. 2022-02-10. PublishersWeekly.com. en.
  10. Web site: Writt. Hilary. 2020-07-01. Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story). 2022-02-10. School Library Journal.
  11. Web site: 2020-11-10. Best Books of 2020: Young Adult. 2022-02-10. BookPage. en-US.
  12. Web site: 2020 Blue Ribbons. 2022-02-10. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. en-US.
  13. News: 2020-12-02. The 25 Best Children's Books of 2020. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-02-10. 0362-4331.
  14. Web site: NPR. Best Books 2021: Books We Love. 2022-02-10. NPR. en-US.
  15. Web site: Best Books 2020: Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly. 2022-02-10. PublishersWeekly.com.
  16. Web site: 25 of our favorite books for kids, tweens and teens in 2020. 2022-02-10. TODAY.com. en.
  17. News: Gurdon. Meghan Cox. 2020-12-10. The Best Books of 2020: Children's Books. en-US. Wall Street Journal. 2022-02-10. 0099-9660.
  18. Web site: 2021-01-01. Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2020. 2022-01-10. Booklist.
  19. Web site: Smith. Julia. 2021-04-15. Top 10 Novels for Tweens: 2021. 2022-02-10. Booklist.
  20. Web site: 2021-04-14. Awards: Hugo Finalists; Christopher Winners, NYPL Young Lions Fiction Shortlist. 2022-02-10. Shelf Awareness.
  21. Web site: Gaetano. Siân. 2021-01-28. Daniel Nayeri: 2021 Michael L. Printz Award Winner. 2022-02-10. Shelf Awareness.
  22. Web site: Gaetano. Siân. 2021-03-15. Walter Dean Myers Awards. 2022-02-10. Shelf Awareness.

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