Wonder World Book Cafe

Title: An Impossible Thing to Say

Podcast Episode: 74

Author: Arya Shahi

Publisher: Harper Collins (also listen to a sample)

Tags: coming of age, Persian family, Shakespeare, rap, first crush, post 9/11

Setting: Tucson, Arizona

Intended Audience: young adult

More: LIsten to the author here  and tips from the author on writing and performing poetry, TeachingBooks 

Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors Rudine Simms Bishop

Quote

“Every time they take attendance,

“Omid” becomes a speed bump,

A proceed with caution,

Or even a stop sign.

But “Geoff” is full speed

And blue skies ahead.

His phonetic obstacles

Are hurdled with ease.

“G-E-O-F-F” becomes, “Jeff,”

A normal word,

A normal person,

Instantly

But Omid gets butchered, shortened, or stretched.

It becomes an “ohm” or an “ummm?”

My name becomes a question I must answer” (205).

Here’s just a tiny glimpse into Omid’s world as navigates highschool in Tucson, Arizona as a Persian American.

Intro

Welcome to episode 74 featuring a novel in verse, An Impossible Thing to Say written by Arya Shahi for a young adult audience. Just over 407 pages will speed by in this unforgettable story and favorite format of so many readers.

Summary

It’s July 4, 2001 in Tucson, Arizona as Omid, who is a first generation Persian American, is at the airport welcoming his grandparents, Baba Joon and Maman Joon, who are moving to the U.S. from their homeland, Iran. Omid has never met his grandparents in person and says, “They stepped off the plane, stepped out of the pictures in their frames, and right into our lives (1).

Omid’s parents met in the U.S.; both came right before Iran’s Revolution in 1979. If they’d stayed in Iran, it would have been illegal for them to marry. Mom’s family is Baháʼí. Dad’s family Muslim.

With Baba Joon and Maman Joon here now, Omid is thrilled to know more about their history which is his, too. Omid’s first language was Farsi; he worries that he’s forgetting it, but with new Sunday family gatherings he feels so connected to his past, and he gets to speak Farsi.

Only a few short months after welcoming his grandparents, the U.S. faced 9/11. Like so many immigrants across the United States, Omid’s parents are shocked and worry about Omid and his younger brother’s safety, comparing this to the 1979 hostages taken in Tehran. Now, he and his family are coping with the aftermath and what it brings to them as an Iranian family living in the U.S.

 But, school goes on as usual where Omid loves his honors English class and is intrigued with the opportunity to perform in Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Omid loves to read and write, loves words, and loves Shakespeare, and especially “how Shakespeare plays with words” (43). But, he’s shy, and Omid doesn’t have any words when he really needs them in English or Farsi. So, it's surprising when he asked the new girl, Emily, if she’d like to audition with him. She agrees. He’s thrilled. From here, their relationship seems to be growing. Emily gives Omid a CD with some favorite songs, and he connects to the lyrics. They get together to rehearse their lines for the play over and over. As is often the case with teens, he has to contend with peer pressure counter to his own values, and jealousy creeps in about Emily.

Omid’s best friend, Sammy, scoffs at Emily’s song choices, so Sammy makes him a CD of his own, filled with rap music. (Eminem, P. Diddy, Jay Z…) A huge turning point as Omid connects these songs with Shakespeare’s works.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that rap music opens up Omid’s world and finally gives him his own speaking voice, one he couldn’t quite find in either Farsi or English. Omid begins writing about his life through rap.

Through this new found gift of having the right words, he uses the lyrics to delve into his feelings about 9/11 and the aftermath he and his family endure. But it feels so good to finally get it out. He’s embracing his Persian roots and time spent with his grandparents. And, he’s receiving all kinds of encouragement for the outstanding effort he’s putting toward his part in the play.

Omid’s world is looking brighter, finally. Then, in a moment of anger, Omid makes a quick decision that may threaten his part in the play AND and he learns a close family member has disappeared.  

I hope this small glimpse into Omid’s life in An Impossible Thing to Say is enough to to pique your curiosity.

Since not every story is for every reader, I’d like to mention…

There are anti-Arab aggressions some leading to destruction of property. Some sparse curse words are used.

Who might be interested in this story?

So many readers will resonate with Omid. He’s funny, sarcastic, and so genuine. He may just be able to put into words what some readers can’t just yet.  First generation Americans may just connect to Omid’s experiences while other readers learn what it’s like to straddle two cultures while not wanting to lose the former. Shakespeare fans? Fans of rap music? Fans of stories written in verse? An ancestral connection? There’s a wide audience for this story.

I LOVE knowing author's backgrounds and seeing what pieces of their own lives they weave into the stories they create for us. There is a lot of Arya Shahi’s life here. He is an author, playwright, and rapper. Just like Omid, he's Persian and grew up in Tucson, Arizona. While this story is fiction, Arya Shahi  says that he took about ten years worth of events that happened to him and put them into the four month span of this book. To quote him, “The way rappers are using language is beautiful.” He grew up listening to Persian poetry. And he made the connection to rap music naturally. I wandered onto his website and loved watching videos of him performing his poetry and rap! I highly recommend you take a look.

On these pages, there’s much to love!

The friendship between Omid and Sammy is genuine.

I loved learning a little about Persian culture which Omid does a beautiful job of describing, especially mehmooni, their every Sunday family gathering.

The references to Persian poets, Rumi and Hafez  are lovely.

Omid’s rap music. Just wow. The audio version of this story is outstanding, read by the author himself, and it really brings Omid’s voice to life.

There were so many times I reread lines. Arya Shahi is a gifted writer.

Take a look at the episode notes if you’d like a transcript and other resources related to An Impossible Thing to Say, including a video of the author performing one of his poems from this story.

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