An Impossible Thing to Say

by Arya Shahi

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 Shakespearian 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?

Genres: Young Adult, Poetry, Historical Fiction, Novel In Verse, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary

416 pages, Hardcover

First published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[Hannah]

Well, I absolutely had to read this book because Arya and I went to high school together, so I went into it extremely excited not just to support a former classmate/theatermate but also because I wanted to read way too far between the lines to tease out any nods to our real high school and teachers and classmates (I must say I find the fictional Nova insufficiently weird compared to our extremely fuckin weird actual school, but I also have a hard time believing anyone would believe many actual things about the real school, so there's that. StG is simply unexplainable). I also had to swallow some bile when I labeled this historical fiction, but it takes place just under the "official" historical fiction mark of 25 years ago and the time it takes place is extremely salient because it deals with 9/11, so yes, fellow millennials, our lived experiences are the stuff of historical fiction now, sorry.

Aaaaaanyway. This is very good! Cheers to soft, sensitive, awkward boys in YA. This book gave me all kinds of adolescent feels, so I was both crawling out of my skin but also smiling and being all "awww, kiddo," but also had that sort of saudade-cringe I get when a thing is so heartfelt and earnest but deeply embarrassing to think about as an adult with the benefit of hindsight and retrospect--in other words, it felt very authentically teen to me, which YA has honestly been struggling to do lately as it has been pandering to 30somethings instead. Also really appreciated the way complex questions of race and ethnicity and US government designations of those things were explored without feeling like anachronistic wokesplaining (since honestly the thing that I feel most differentiates say, my niece's current adolescent experience from my own two decades ago is that Zoomers have the language for the things that my generation was feeling choked by but didn't know how to articulate).

I am already sad about the legions of white librarians who will absolutely compare this to Darius the Great is Not Okay, which it has slight similarities to (sensitive Persian American teenage boys going through shit) but which they will be calling readalikes for exclusively Hidden Fences reasons instead of real reasons, but just...I have not been reading a lot of YA these days for work and dissertation and "why are you writing this for millennials instead of actual teens" annoyance reasons, and it was so so so nice to get back into the literature category I have loved for so long with such a truly standout debut.

[Chandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow… wow! I wanted to write down so many quotes from this book while listening. I will definitely be going back through the book when I get a physical copy. This book made me think about being a teenager, about being a family member, human connection, friendship, how to express oneself, the power of language, and what it is that makes me feel the most like myself. It made me want to have another go at both reading Shakespeare and listening to rap. It caused me to ruminate on bigotry, racism, generational trauma, immigration, and systems of power. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, but as I mentioned before I need to own the physical book. Did I mention… wow!

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Libby app, Overdrive was better *

[Alaina Sucro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful. This is not my normal read because I typically like to escape the real world with fantasy. And yet I was captivated from start to finish. I finished this book in 24 hours. It’s incredibly sophisticated writing and yet somehow such an easy and smooth read. It’s light hearted and yet heartbreakingly deep. I highly recommend this to anyone of any age.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lyrical and poignant coming-of-age story in verse. This was superb.

[SnowFlash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Perfect mix of coming-of-age, exploring the nexus of being Iranian American, and incredible confluence of Persian, English and American poetry (including rap!). I highly recommend this book!! And huge bravo to the author for an amazing debut novel!!

[Lizanne Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Impossible Thing to Say is a moving YA novel in verse with an underrepresented voice. Omid is a high school student in Arizona who is finding his voice and understanding his Persian roots. When his grandparents immigrate to Arizona, Omid attempts to connect and communicate with his grandfather and finds it difficult. Is it the language? Should he have spoken Farsi more? At school he befriends the new girl and ends up in a Shakespeare play. Could they be more than friends? He questions why he was cast in his particular role. Amid all of his seeking, the Twin Towers are destroyed, and he has to face a new reality. Shakespeare and rap help him navigate his life as he figures out his place in the world. This is truly a unique story that I look forward to recommending to high school readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, this novel is set in verse and tells the story of Omid, an Iranian-American teenager. Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, he has actually never been to Iran and he doesn't speak much Farsi, although many
people judge him on sight. This is all happening in the days surrounding 9/11. So you see how the family is treated before and after that devastation.

Omid is crushing on a new girl in his class and ends up joining the school play because of her. He also gets into rapping, which he's really good at. But then his grandfather disappears. So Omid and his mom set off to find him

This book is all about finding yourself and being okay with who you are and where you come from.

.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend! Novel in (mostly) verse involving first crushes, Shakespeare, rap/hip-hop, and 9/11. Debut author Arya Shahi manages to seamlessly weave together these topics and more to create a teen novel that is compulsively readable with a lot of heart.

[Sheila Dufau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute gem and among my top favorite 📖. I absolutely loved it. I loved the message it gives of family, roots, and a genuine hearty bond through decades of culture. 😊

Can’t wait for another release 📖

[Sarah Krajewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omid is an Iranian-American 10th grader in Tucson, Arizona who struggles to speak his mind. His anxious nature leaves him at a loss for what to say quite often, whether it’s trying to speak Farsi with his grandparents, who recently arrived from Iran, or a new girl at school that he has a crush on. It’s July of 2001, and Omid longs to have many strong friendships like his younger brother Amir, and he desires his best friend Sammy’s confidence. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, Omid searches for a way to feel seen in a world that sees him and his family as a threat.

A sweet coming-of-age story about what it’s like to identify with two different cultures in America. Words truly shape Omid and who he is.

[Rayanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

this gutted me. we love that pipeline of Shakespeare straight to eminem, with all the references in between. we also enjoy a jimmy eat world shout out.
notable quotables:
“How can a belief be illegal?”
“In nature you can be whoever you want to be.”
“What if it wasn't all meant to be? What if our fortune wasn't fated? What if it happened by accident, and now we're here, full of knots, and only sometimes happy?”
“I like to think whenever someone tells a story, even an old one, they put a piece of themselves inside it. And that piece makes the whole thing new.”

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Persian 90s gangsta rap loving teen self needed this book 😆🥰 I especially loved how the MC observes and reports on the inner workings and nuances within his own culture as a half-insider, half-outsider, which is really how it felt growing up for me as well.

At first I was skeptical about the format because sometimes I feel like authors do this to be post modern or just to be edgy which is annoying lol but once I got into the story and the elements of Shakespeare and rap in it I it clicked for me and the format just made sense. Really enjoyed this!

[Babak Dabagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hit me harder than I expected (in a good way), as a first generation Iranian American as well. I definitely could find myself relating to a lot of the day to day aspects, and some of the struggles around language and communication.

Definitely worth a read, for the unique prose and writing structure alone.

[Nya Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-have in middle and high school libraries. This story focuses on an Iranian-American boy in the early 2000s, trying to live his typically difficult teenage life, while also dealing with being “different”. Beautifully written in verse as well as poems throughout.

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Not the exact quote) Knowing a language is the reward of being heard with the risk of being misunderstood✨

Exploring the idea of language through the personal story of immigration and reflections on poetry + Shakespeare + hip hop. A delightful story of a Persian high school boy exploring identity, family, love and social structures. This would be a great book for high schoolers to read or to use in a book club! So many great quotes and themes to explore. Audiobook was amazing! 4/5 ⭐️

[maht0m · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. I saw so much of myself in this main character as a shy, quiet, Persian-American who was a HS freshman during 9/11, a language barrier that prevents full expression and communication w some family members, is tripped up by his own internal turmoil of whether to speak or stay quiet and fell in love w hip hop as a youth. man I didn’t expect this book to hit me like this but I’ll be thinking abt it for a long time bravo arya shahi

[Tara Mickela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omid is a sophomore in high school and just wants to be different this year and for his life to feel important. His Iranian parents bring his grandparents over to live which is very difficult for his grandfather. Meanwhile Omid meets a girl in his class that means more to him every day and when he makes the school play with her he’s sure it will be perfect. Until 9/11 happens. And because it’s Arizona the reactions are different and fewer but most certainly there. Soon Omid finds the only way he can express all of his complicated feelings is through writing rap.

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really lovely verse novel! It is the kind of book that makes me wonder if it would be more appealing to millennials than teens--it's so centered around that pre- and post-9/11 cultural moment. But I know that Gen Z is curious about 9/11 as historical moment, so.

The Shakespeare + rap stuff does kind of give "made for classroom assigned reading" but as a nerd I enjoyed it and I'm sure some nerdy readers will too.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

really beautifully written and weird on purpose.

“Farsi is all about the vowels, round sounds that travel long distance with ease. Mom speaks swift and smooth like language was something no one ever struggled to learn. Dad speaks loudly whenever he speaks but especially when he's on the phone with Iran. Like he can't trust the microphone to do its only job.”

“I keep thinking how lucky we are to be Americans. Because the revolution in America happened so long ago that the ground has stopped shaking. We can try to build something nice here without worrying about the country falling right back down.”

“Carry yourself with confidence? It means you walk around with your head held high, pretty proud about life. But doesn't it also mean that you're carrying something around. Like maybe some stronger part of you is carrying some weaker part of you from place to place.”

“Everything gets easier, baba, as long as you never quit.”

“The room erupts then exhales. We collapse into each other. Snapping fingers, slapping backs we mourn the thing we almost had. And then we settle in and wait for another chance…Babajoon puts his arm around me and I suddenly feel so much closer to him. Not just because he’s half hugging me but because we just went through something pretty ordinary together for the first time. I’ve never watched soccer with my grandfather before. There’s so much we haven’t done together yet. That’s when he turns to me and says in shaky English ‘It’s okay Omid. We get another shot.’ and I think he’s still talking about the game. But maybe he’s not.”

“I’m afraid that I will break him. That I will take a wrong step and hurt him so bad that he’ll never be able to walk again. He’s come so far from where he started. Why do I feel like I’ll be the reason he can’t keep going.”

“This desert does not know who you are. It had no expectations of you. It cannot judge you. It can only be by your side… There are no people, no strangers, no systems out here. And where there are no people there are no roles to play, no rules to define you. In nature you can be whoever you want to be.”

“Does that mean she might leave? That I could lose her as quickly as I met her? That hurts and it hasn’t even happened yet.”

“As much as I don’t like taarof, I would never not taarof in a taarof-worthy situation.”

“She is always cooking, always trying to fill our plates, to never leave us empty.”

“Besides, once a rule is broken, what’s the point in putting it back together.”

“When people are mad they sound like they’re about to burst. When people are hurting they sound like they’re about to break.”

“Being bored is a special kind of sad, like a low grade diet soda sadness. But I haven't been bored in a bit and yet here it is. I am overcome with the feeling of being full of nothing.”

“They love America for different reasons… Your dad came to America to be rich. Your mom came to America to be free.”

“But we haven’t talked like that in so long. We don’t talk on the phone like we used to. Those two people we used to be are disappearing.”

“Like it’s a resuscitation. That’s a word that comes from Latin by the way. Suscitare means to raise up. Re means again. Raise up again. Raise them up again.”

“Through his tears he sees his oldest son stuck. A boy made entirely of tightly woven knots.” (right after talking about the knots that make up Persian carpets)

“My heart sank, my stomach jumped. And as the two reached out to touch each other, I felt it. I knew it.”

“What if it wasn’t all meant to be? What if our fortune wasn’t fated? What if it happened by accident and now we’re here full of knots and only sometimes happy?”

[Tracy Shouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

A really sweet coming of age story. Omid’s voice and experiences are beautifully portrayed as he struggles with growing up as an Iranian/American teen in Arizona. Sometimes it's hard finding books with a male narrator and this one does. All in all, I think it’s a good story but it’s slow and I’m not sure young adults would stick with it enough to make a connection with Omid. I liked the 9/11 connection, but teens today weren’t born yet and I’m not sure they can relate with the discrimination that persisted afterwards. I agree that the tie-in to music and poetry through rap is awesome, but it comes so late in the book that I feel many will have given up before they get to that part.

[Sally Kruger]

Omid has been living in the shadow of his parents, his best friend, and even his younger brother. It's time to step into the world in his own way, but it may be easier said than done.

Omid's parents immigrated from Iran. Since 9/11 it has been difficult. He needs to be cautious at certain times and in certain places. He has tried so hard to be American that he is losing his ability to speak Farsi and remember the traditions of his culture. When his grandparents move to live near him in Arizona, he thinks maybe he can recover some of what he has lost.

Having a crush on Emily is also turning his world upside down. When she convinces him to try out for the school play, Romeo and Juliet, he ends up with a part he loves. Studying his part and listening to a rap CD his friend Sammy makes for him, turns Omid into a poet. He discovers writing rap gives him courage and a voice he never knew he had.

Author Arya Shahi's novel in verse takes readers into the life of a confused teenager. There's family drama, humor, peer pressure, and self-discovery enough to satisfy every reader.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a phenomenal voice! Of course you can't help but made some comparisons to Adib Khorram's Darius with the Persian connections to grandparents and language, but it's also uniquely it's own with a heavy dose of theater and Shakespeare (that scene in the Globe was wonderful). The romance was adorable. The friendships were delightful. The building sense of identity was special.

Plus the audio had an extra sparkle.

[Destiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omid took me on a trip back to post 9/11 days in the US. His story reminded me of what it is like to have so much to say as a maturing teen and be so self conscious you say nothing instead. Shahi's book in verse has a hypnotic rhythm you will find yourself tapping your toes to as you read. While Omid finds his rhythm and speaks his rhymes, I had to hold myself back at times from reading out loud so others around me could feel his pain, his growth, and his need for words. I had the hard challenge of picking the next person to hand this book to when I was done. There's so many I want to put a copy in their hand.

[NikkiReads365 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been the fastest book I’ve read in some time. The writing is clear, emotional, and represents a clear labor of love to showcase the life of Omid. I would highly, highly encourage lovers of poetry to read this: it’s just a beautiful voice and brings so much representation into the picture. Only issue? The ending felt more rushed, and honestly, for once, I would have been ok if the book was a tad longer. Maybe I just didn’t want it to end.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deeply personal heartfelt #ownvoices novel in verse featuring an Persian American teen who moves with his family from Iran to America and has to learn how to fit in while still trying to hold on to his culture. Full of family heartaches, intergenerational trauma and a love of rap music, this story spans decades and was great on audio read by the author. Perfect for fans of books like Sabaa Tahir's All my rage.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

We need books like these in our libraries to show students other perspectives, teach empathy and understanding, as well as inform and celebrate other cultures, religions, ethnicities, etc. I found this to be a bit boring personally, but it doesn't detract from its importance.

CW: racism, Islamophobia

[Michelle Tuite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading 2024
Book 182: An Impossible Thing to Say by Arya Shahi

Another of my novels in verse I gathered to read in September. Book 24 of #30booksin30days is a book reviewed for high school readers.

Quick Take: YA novel about a young man struggling to figure out who he is in relationship to his peers, family, school, and society in general. At some points this book was intense, some points goofy, and some points heartbreaking. My rating 4.25⭐️.

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears]

I'm curious to read this considering it's the second novel like this I've come across. I'm interested in how non-Black characters navigate/appreciate a predominantly Black art form without succombing to appropriation and anti-Blackness.

[Kristin SH]

What a beautiful book, about a crucial time in history. Along with The Poet X, this is the best use of hip hop as a storytelling device that I've seen in YA. Also extra points for using Midsummer Night's Dream as a way to explore ethnic stereotyping.