An Impossible Thing to Say -- Arya Shahi, Hardcover

The Poet X meets A Very Large Expanse of Sea in a bold novel-in-verse starring a Persian American teen navigating his first crush, his family's post-9/11 dynamics, and the role of language in defining who we are.

"A dazzling story with a whole lot of heart. Read it." --Michael L. Printz Award winner Daniel Nayeri, author of Everything Sad Is Untrue

Omid needs the right words to connect with his newly met grandfather and distant Iranian heritage, words to tell a special girl what she means to him and to show everyone that he truly belongs in Tucson, Arizona, the only home he's ever known. Neither the school play's Shakespearean English nor his parents' Farsi seems up to the task, and it's only when Omid delves into the rhymes and rhythms of rap music that he starts to find his voice. But even as he does so, an act of terrorism transforms familiar accents into new threats.

Then a family member disappears, and it seems everyone but Omid knows why. When words fail altogether and violence takes their place, what will Omid do next?

Praise for An Impossible Thing to Say:

"Funny on one page, poignant on the next, and often both at the same time, this beautiful tale of a tender, bewildered, and generous teen will find its way into readers' hearts." --#1 New York Times bestselling writer and Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park, author of A Long Walk to Water"An Impossible Thing to Say is tender, honest, and unforgettable, filled with characters that delight, verses that shine, and moments that took my breath away. Few books have ever made me feel so seen." --Adib Khorram, award-winning author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay"Arya Shahi just blew the door down on how we are allowed to tell our stories. Words are clearly his jam." --Firoozeh Dumas, New York Times bestselling author of Funny in Farsi and It Ain't So Awful, Falafel

Author: Arya Shahi
Publisher: Allida
Published: 09/26/2023
Pages: 416
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.19h x 5.83w x 1.18d
ISBN: 9780063248359
Age Range: 13-UP

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2023
Publishers Weekly 07/24/2023
Booklist 09/15/2023 pg. 47