An unforgettable debut novel of young love and coming of age in an Iran headed toward revolution.
In this poignant, eye-opening and emotionally vivid novel, Seraji lays bare the beauty and brutality of the centuries-old Persian culture, while reaffirming the human experiences we all share.
In a middle-class neighborhood of Iran’s sprawling capital city, 17-year-old Pasha Shahed spends the summer of 1973 on his rooftop with his best friend Ahmed, joking around one minute and asking burning questions about life the next. He also hides a secret love for his beautiful neighbor Zari, who has been betrothed since birth to another man. But the bliss of Pasha and Zari’s stolen time together is shattered when Pasha unwittingly acts as a beacon for the Shah’s secret police. The violent consequences awaken him to the reality of living under a powerful despot, and lead Zari to make a shocking choice.
“Refreshingly filled with love rather than sex, this coming-of-age novel examines the human cost of political repression.” –Kirkus
“Charmingly romantic…Seraji captures the thoughts and emotions of a young boy and creates a moving portrait of the history and customs of the Persians and life in Iran.”
–Publisher’s Weekly
(Group read suggestion from Sue Attalla, book club moderator.)