Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card

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​Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedi is a memoir about life as an Iranian immigrant to the US, but it is also an account of being a teenager that anyone can relate to if they have fought with their parents, had friends who don’t understand them, or struggled with grades and SAT prep. As an Iranian American myself, I connected especially closely with Saedi’s story and loved how she discussed the overlaps and differences between her Iranian and American identities -- she was proud of her family, but at the same time wanted to be more like her friends, a dilemma most people our age have experienced.
 
Even though every immigrant group in the States faces unique issues and experiences, this book is a good read because it addresses a lot of negative stereotypes about immigrants and Middle Eastern people. It is also written in a way that does not force information on the reader, but brings it up in a natural, fun manner with excerpts from her old diary. Because Saedi’s writing is so approachable, I think anyone who picks up this book will get something out of it, and may finish the book with a more open mind toward some issues.
 
If you are left interested in learning more about Iranian culture or history, https://bahai-library.com/walbridge_history_culture_iran is a good source!
 
Published by Alfred A. Knopf (Random House)
279 pages
Ages 13+
Author info - http://sarasaediwriter.com/
 
Damien D., EO Smith Blogger 

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