Teens in Iran

Global Connections

by David Seidman, Faegheh Shirazi, Alexa Sandmann

The young people of Iran are growing up in a nation filled with restrictions and rules of conduct. Though they love the fashions and entertainment of other cultures, Iranian teens feel extremely patriotic about their own conservative country. Looking toward the future, they will decide how to balance modern lifestyles with traditional values. Teens in Iran is part of Global Connections, a series that uncovers the challenges, pastimes, and customs of teens around the world.

96 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

David Seidman is a Los Angeles–area journalist, editor, and author who often writes nonfiction for teens. He comes to the topic of atheism with empathy
for teenagers and for people in the religious minority, but he’s nobody’s advocate. He has written on topics as diverse as a US president, civil rights, teens
in Iran, and holiday lights displays.

Reviews

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I choose this book because Iran’s been in the news a lot lately. With news coverage about politicians, policies and oil, it’s hard for people to remember that normal, everyday teens live there or to know what those teens lives are like. This book does a decent job of telling the reader about the triumphs and struggles facing Iranian teens. It sometimes skews a little Western, but the author does his best to discuss the realities Iranian teens face under Shira law without being negative about Islam, a tough feat for many Westerns. I learned a lot, especially about the relative freedom Tehrani and other urban women have in dress and career choices.