Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card

Sara Saedi (Goodreads Author)

3.89 · Rating details · 1,510 ratings · 356 reviews

At thirteen, bright-eyed, straight-A student Sara Saedi uncovered a terrible family secret: she was breaking the law simply by living in the United States. Only two years old when her parents fled Iran, she didn’t learn of her undocumented status until her older sister wanted to apply for an after-school job, but couldn’t because she didn’t have a Social Security number.

Fe ...more

Get A Copy

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published February 6th 2018 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Americanized, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Americanized

Lists with This Book

Otis and Will Discover the Deep by Barb Rosenstock

Juvenile & YA Nonfiction 2018 (Mock Sibert, 2019)

139 books — 43 voters

I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

Non-Fiction Published in Year: 2018

411 books — 146 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

3.89 ·

Rating details

· 1,510 ratings · 356 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Dec 07, 2017 Erin ღYour YA Readerღ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
5 Cookies
My YA Blog!
I was giving this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honestly review
First off. This book was amazing. I honestly should end it at that and call it a day but... I won't allow myself! This book is the first ARC I have rated 5 full cookies. That is saying something! I was in absolute love from page one.

This book is about one teen's experience growing up in America without a green card. I wanted to start with the overall book first then work my way into the characters. S 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
5 Cookies
My YA Blog!
I was giving this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honestly review
First off. This book was amazing. I honestly should end it at that and call it a day but... I won't allow myself! This book is the first ARC I have rated 5 full cookies. That is saying something! I was in absolute love from page one.

This book is about one teen's experience growing up in America without a green card. I wanted to start with the overall book first then work my way into the characters. So here goes: This overall story was incredible. (I still don't understand some of the bad reviews! This book was flawless.) I usually don't go for this genre of books but I'm really glad I did. It was hilarious. I was able to relate to some of the things she went through as a teenager.

This book also was sad. The things this family went through was extreamly sad. But they were an awesome family together. (I'll get into this later!) I really like the way she put in little history tid bits. This was important to me because I really wanted to learn more on this issue specifically. So I give these books two thumbs up. (I would give it more if I actually had more thumbs...)

Now let's address the characters. All the characters that Sarah used in this book are real, and they did influence her life. Now I'm not going to anylyze these characters like in a fiction novel because of this. Now! My favorite character in this book is... Well I technically should say characters but whatever. The family! Why you ask? This family loved each other so much. The parents gave up everything, just so that their children grew up living in America in freedom. There love for their children in this book was apparent. It's really how they showed their love that made my heart melt. This sister relationship was GOALSS!?? Am I right! Loved this relationship as well... Ok. I really liked every single relashinship that involved family and there are too many so I'm just going to leave it as that.

Gosh. Well I think I hit all the points I needed to hit. So that's going to be the end of this review but I cannot stress enough of how much I really love this book. I would totally reccommend this book and everyone should read it! ...more

flag 18 likes · Like · see review

Mar 14, 2018 Mehrsa rated it really liked it

I'm wondering who the audience of this book is--Maybe American teens who don't know anything about Iranians? Maybe American adults interested in a funny memoir? It certainly isn't other Iranians. The book is filled with a lot of quirky and funny tidbits about growing up Iranian. I related with nearly everything in there except for she paints everything and everyone in her life with a lot of optimism and I am probably a bit more cynical. The reason I am hung up on the audience is because I think ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Apr 05, 2018 Morris rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018-favorites, all-time-favorites, recommend, diverse-books, 2018-read

I can’t sing the praises of this book enough. It’s written so that it feels like you’re listening to your friend tell you a story filled with humor and emotion. I learned so much about the immigration process and all of the pitfalls that can happen to families looking for safety and a better life. At this time, it is the perfect book for young and old alike. Let’s start trying to understand one another better. Highly recommended!

This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Feb 08, 2018 Irena added it

Americanized is a non fiction piece of work, written by Sara Saedi, about her life and culture.
She is from Iran and when she was little, her family moved out to USA, but they did not have green cards. We follow Sara and her family through the journey to become USA legal citizens and their fear of being transported back to Iran.

This book is so educational. We learn a lot about Iran and Persian people and their culture.
Also, so many history facts were mentioned here and I can not tell you how grat ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Jan 25, 2018 Kelly added it

Shelves: read-in-2018, non-fiction

A really humor-soaked memoir about life as an illegal immigrant in America. Sara is older than me, but her voice is relatable enough to young readers that teens will enjoy this one without a problem, especially if they love Mindy Kaling style humor. We get a great look at Saedi's family, her relationship with her sister, and the lengths that her parents went to to obtain green cards for them all. Sprinkled throughout the story are FAQs about Iranian culture and tradition which are written in a r ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Jan 15, 2018 Critterbee❇ rated it liked it

Shelves: sbtbprev, netgalley, f, aroundtheworld2018

Americanized is the memoir of a young girl brought to the United States for safety and freedom when she was two years old, and her experiences growing up 'undocumented.' The trials of teenage years and her fear of being deported to a land she does not remember are honestly and humorously expressed. An addictive read, fun and serious at the same time.

Recommended.

*eARC Netgalley*

ATW 2018 Iran

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Apr 23, 2018 A.R. Hellbender rated it it was amazing

I would like to preface this review by saying that I am half Iranian. I’ve sadly never been to Iran, but my mom was an immigrant to the US at age 18.

This book taught me things I didn’t even know about the Iranian culture, and made me smile about the aspects I was familiar with. I also learned a lot about what it’s like to be an undocumented immigrant and applying for citizenship, which is not a perspective that I had read much from. Because this story is told from someone who actually had that ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 13, 2018 Bookphile rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018, amazon-vine, memoirs, politics-and-current-events, ownvoices, young-adult-nonfiction

I have mixed feelings about this. I could relate to a lot of it because I was also a teenager in the 90s, so a lot of what Saedi writes about resonates with my own experience, but this wasn't quite what I expected it to be. Since this is a memoir, I'm not sure that a spoiler warning makes sense, but I will talk at some length about this book's specifics.

I think one of my main problems with this book is that it feels awkward at times. I could feel Saedi reaching from the page and wanting to grab I have mixed feelings about this. I could relate to a lot of it because I was also a teenager in the 90s, so a lot of what Saedi writes about resonates with my own experience, but this wasn't quite what I expected it to be. Since this is a memoir, I'm not sure that a spoiler warning makes sense, but I will talk at some length about this book's specifics.

I think one of my main problems with this book is that it feels awkward at times. I could feel Saedi reaching from the page and wanting to grab me or her presumed teen audience by using colloquialisms or coming across as irreverent, but those parts felt stilted to me. I didn't see the need to try so hard when there were elements of her story that could more than stand on their own two legs. I wish she would have trusted that rather than practically grabbing her readers by the collar and shouting, "See? I can relate to the kids of today!"

Another thing I didn't much like was how heavy-handed this book felt at times, which is awkward for me to say. Since I'm not a PoC, I'm not comfortable evaluating a book by a PoC on those grounds, but I think that element tries into the whole trying too hard bit. I didn't need Saedi to outright say, "While regular teenagers were doing x, I had to worry because I was an illegal immigrant." I could already feel the difficulty there. I think what I didn't like about her sometimes overt approach was that it pulled me out of the narrative, which didn't work for me because when I was immersed in the narrative I was walking in Saedi's shoes and feeling plenty sympathetic for her plight.

I have to admit, the casual references to pot in this book also gave me pause, since the science about the effect of pot on teen brains isn't very solid but does indicate some areas for concern. On the one hand, I did think it was valuable that Saedi didn't try to "clean" things up for her readers, and that she was upfront about things like recreational drug use, drinking, and sex, but I also wish there'd been some more nuance here. I mean, she casually mentions family members getting her drunk when she was only 13 and I...just wasn't okay with that.

Now, that aside, there are also some very strong aspects to this book that I very much admired. As I said, when I was walking in Saedi's shoes, I felt a great deal of empathy for her and her family. There's a section in the book where she talks about a blow up she had with her parents that was born of frustration on both sides with the immigration process. Saedi does a nice job of showing how the stress was affecting her differently from her parents and how that resulted in a big misunderstanding that ended up in her gaining insight into her parents. I mean, what teen doesn't fail to recognize their own parents as human beings from time to time? Yet as strong as this passage was, I was a little confused by it as well because she mentions a screaming fight yet no fight takes place. Instead, she's describing the aftermath. I'm not saying I needed to see the fight on the page, I just found the narrative setup confusing. Why not just say that she had a fight with her parents that made her see things from a different point of view, rather than making it sound like the chapter was going to be about that fight?

Equally strong were the sections exploring her family background, especially with regard to her grandparents. Saedi interrogates her grandmother's life, showing her unconventional a woman her grandmother was, and exploring its impact on the way it shaped her family on down the line. There's probably a whole book there, in just that story alone. Saedi also talks candidly about how sorry she is that she didn't try to find more common ground with her grandmother while she was still alive, and I think this is a valuable lesson for people of all ages. Our family members are living examples of both our family and cultural histories, and I share some of Saedi's regret at not having appreciated that in my own life when I still had the option.

The book lost me when it delved a lot into Saedi's typical teen angst, even though I found myself in a lot of those passages as well. I think those sections might resonate more with young people who are in the midst of the same dramas, but they didn't work as well for me, who has the benefit of decades of hindsight with regard to those particular episodes.

In the end, this book ended up being a mixed bag for me. I'd been really drawn in to certain chapters, invested in Saedi's family background and their plight as immigrants, and then get to a chapter where she'd talk at length about her teenage romance problems, which would make me lose interest. Like I said, I don't fault the book for this because I do think those sections would resonate more with teenagers, who would see that even as Saedi was dealing with her family's precarious situation, she still had to deal with the same stuff every teenager does. Since this book isn't targeted at people my age, I think it's good those parts have been woven into the book. But to me the really strong parts are when Saedi sits back and lets her story take precedence without trying to be quippy about it, and I think if the whole book had been like that, it would have been stronger. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 09, 2019 Joan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bio-and-autobiography, nonfiction, herstories-history-of-women, ya-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm hoping this wins the Printz but that might be expecting too much. At least I hope it wins the YALSA nonfiction award as well as the Siebert Award. Maybe I'm expecting too much in hoping both Front Desk and Americanized win awards but that is what I'm hoping for. If this trend keeps up, I may have to start a shelf on Immigrant titles. Unlike Front Desk, this is definitely autobiographical. Sara, (pronounced Sahrah and don't forget that!) is the middle kid of a loud and loving immigrant family I'm hoping this wins the Printz but that might be expecting too much. At least I hope it wins the YALSA nonfiction award as well as the Siebert Award. Maybe I'm expecting too much in hoping both Front Desk and Americanized win awards but that is what I'm hoping for. If this trend keeps up, I may have to start a shelf on Immigrant titles. Unlike Front Desk, this is definitely autobiographical. Sara, (pronounced Sahrah and don't forget that!) is the middle kid of a loud and loving immigrant family from Iran. Sara was 3 at the time. She discovered they were illegal aliens when she was 13, her sister breaking the calamitous news to her. This is the story of her teenage years after the discovery of illegal aliens label. It is hilarious. She gleefully blows up many stereotypes along the way. She's worn a scarf in public one time: to get her passport card from Iran renewed. spoiler alert: this was before she achieved citizenship in the United States. Her mother doesn't wear a hijab either, and a photo shows her as being downright cute. Ditto for her older sister. Sara is a lot more concerned with finding out if Clearasil is a scam practiced on desperate teenagers but she does spend a lot of time obsessing about the label. This book is hilarious and incredibly frank. If you are expecting generational misunderstandings and bitterness, you better not read this book. She absolutely no ifs or buts, LOVES her parents, sister and brother! She loves being part of a loud family that lives life to the full. Her parents moved to California to give their daughters a good chance of life after the rebellion in Iran (they weren't concerned about their son, since he wasn't born yet and was automatically an American citizen due to the birth being in California). Her parents DID have an arranged marriage but it was one they entered into happily, and they love each other....even during the divorce. Not saying more. Read the book, it is one of the more hilarious sections. She talks about her sexual inexperience and how her Mom found out that she had lost her virginity. Her Mom was more worried about whether she was using birth control than the virginity part. Her Mom was also the one who asked why she would want to try to make up with a guy who said he didn't love her when she called in tears about the relationship breaking up. In short, this is the story of a happy talented young lady who is discovering what life is all about with additional complications of illegal alien status. She does turn serious towards the end and emphasizes that she might joke but a lot of this was a heavy expensive burden for the family. She also says definitely that she had it easy compared with illegal aliens in trump time and passes on solid simple advice from her second cousin the immigrant lawyer. Likely the two most important: you DO have rights and never ever open the door to an ICE agent at the door till they slide a warrant under the door to you.
Highly recommended and I hope it wins some award! So nice to see a YA with a positive attitude towards life! ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

May 19, 2019 Jenna rated it it was amazing

clever humor.
well written memoir about being an "undocumented immigrant" during adolescence in the U.S.
things were broken down easily to understand b/c this was targeted to the YA audience. I think adults would also like it.
the memories of her teen years are relatable to all of us who've gone thru puberty.
it's also a great story about being Persian/Iranian, adolescence, understanding your parents/family after you've become an adult yourself & look back.
i liked that there were pictures incl ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 20, 2019 Kara Belden rated it liked it

2.5 - Interesting info about illegal immigration and living in the US without a green card. Beyond that, I didn’t much enjoy Saedi’s stories of becoming “Americanized.” Though her experiences contain SOME staples that could be considered the “American experience” (i.e. prom), most of her stories contained unnecessary(IMO) shock value content and experiences that don’t necessarily equate to being an American teen. I’m sure many teenagers enjoy this memoir! :)

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 27, 2019 Hailie Roblyer rated it it was amazing

Just brilliant! An authentic, empathy-building memoir told with grace and just the right amount of humor. This book shows how complicated, frustrating, and slow the process of becoming a permanent legal resident is in the U.S. The author is honest and relatable, and she destroys stereotypes about Iranian people one anecdote at a time.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 14, 2018 Ricki rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction

I really like this book, and my students love it, too. They particularly like how accessible it is. Sara Saedi was born around the time that I was born, so I felt nostalgic reading about all of the pop culture references. I was worried my 20-year-old students wouldn't like it for this reason, but they really did!

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 26, 2018 Megan rated it it was ok

Shelves: nonfiction, children-s-literature, memoir, minority-authors

Parts of this book were really interesting. I enjoyed hearing about the experiences of Saedi's grandparents in Iran, and the challenges she and her parents overcame as they immigrated to the United States and (after nearly twenty years) received documentation. It's eye-opening and very accessible, especially in the current climate.

However, parts of this book dragged a little. First, it's written in an elliptical style, with Saedi covering the same chronological time period from different angles ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 23, 2018 Lisa Mandina rated it really liked it

4.5 Stars: As a child of the 80s, this book was a real eye-opener to me about political issues and other history that took place during that decade, as well as the ones before and after. I remember hearing a lot of the terms discussed in the book, but growing up as a white, middle-class child, those were things I heard on the news, that I never watched, and hated the fact that my parents made me turn off whatever afternoon show I would rather watch, or even switch off MTV during a video I loved ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 26, 2017 Sarah Ressler Wright rated it it was amazing

Awesome. So much of my experiences were similar and yet the threat of deportation so different. Love the ‘Big question’ sections and everything is explained so well-never dumbed down, yet never dull. Also made me realize my crazy teenage thinking all over again. So great!

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 04, 2018 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult-teen, teen-nonfiction

Read for review in the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/02/bo...

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 30, 2018 Rachel (Life of a Female Bibliophile) rated it really liked it

See even more book reviews on my blog: http://www.lifeofafemalebibliophile.com/

Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card is a memoir that reads like a diary. The author talks to her readers in a casual tone and does a good job at explaining history points and her cultures traditions. There are footnotes placed throughout the book, for additional info about Iranian history, Persian culture, and more at the end of each chapter. It gives readers lots of background for those who might be unfamiliar w See even more book reviews on my blog: http://www.lifeofafemalebibliophile.com/

Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card is a memoir that reads like a diary. The author talks to her readers in a casual tone and does a good job at explaining history points and her cultures traditions. There are footnotes placed throughout the book, for additional info about Iranian history, Persian culture, and more at the end of each chapter. It gives readers lots of background for those who might be unfamiliar with these topics.

The book has an easygoing tone for the most part while tackling heavy issues and sentimental stories of her family. Often Saedi includes lots of photos for context, giving the book that personal touch while connecting with her readers. A journal entry from her old diary precedes each new chapter as well as within the text. While relishing in her culture, she also pokes fun at stereotypes at it too. It gave the memoir a comedic aspect on top of the awkward, embarrassing stories of her youth. While I did like the tone of the narrative I felt the overall writing style was a bit lackadaisical which sometimes took away from the book. It reads like diary more than a memoir in the beginning, but this improves as the book goes on.

While I’ve read many fiction stories about immigration, this was my first non-fiction read. Reading the book through Sara’s eyes made everything feel real and more personal like when she talks about the sacrifices her parents made for her and her siblings:

“My focus on school was a side effect of battling stage-four ICGC, also known as immigrant child guilt complex. This is a chronic disorder that affects only children of immigrants, who experience a constant gnawing guilt for the multitude of sacrifices their parents made to bring them to the United States.”

It was touching to read all her stories and the evident love she has for family. I was especially touched by the close bonds with her siblings at which she makes a point in the later chapters to tell her readers to cherish them dearly. I also liked that she added commentary on relevant issues within her stories. Throughout the book she talks about immigration policy, DACA, and other issues happening within the government.

This book made me heavily reflect on immigration. I couldn’t imagine going through some of the things Sara explained. It also helped me learn more about how the system works and the process of becoming an US citizen. While it was an entertaining memoir, Sara’s story was also informative and eye-opening.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 27, 2018 Lindsay Ercanbrack rated it really liked it

Shelves: social-justice, young-adult

"But my nose is undeniably Persian, and changing it would feel like rejecting the most significant part of myself." Sara Saedi tells an honest teen's perspective of living in the United States as an undocumented citizen. She plays to the dramatics of a teen's experiences with zits, boys, and the love/hate relationship with siblings while interspersing what set her apart as an Iranian girl living in California. I connected with her story as we are close to the same age and experienced cultural an "But my nose is undeniably Persian, and changing it would feel like rejecting the most significant part of myself." Sara Saedi tells an honest teen's perspective of living in the United States as an undocumented citizen. She plays to the dramatics of a teen's experiences with zits, boys, and the love/hate relationship with siblings while interspersing what set her apart as an Iranian girl living in California. I connected with her story as we are close to the same age and experienced cultural and societal changes around similar time periods, which she references frequently in the book.

I read this book to find connections on social justice to include on a book list for my high school language arts students. Saedi does tell of the unsettling life her family lived in Iran prior to coming to the US, but she also tries to educate readers that Iran has a rich culture of family, music, art, and happiness. While reading it won't expose any major atrocities or shocking stories of female oppression typically linked with Iran (in fact, she does reference how Sally Field is not well received in their country), it did paint a fairly good picture for other teens on what its like living as an immigrant from a country with many misconceptions and what she did through the book to clear some of them up. It also brought to light immigration issues in our country, and the effects it has on those trying to make the U.S. a permanent home. She says, "Today when I grip my passport and walk through airport security to travel overseas, knowing I'll be allowed to return, I always remind myself that this privilege came at a high cost."

A quote I want to remember in relation to what our country SHOULD stand for: "In that moment, being surrounded by a diverse group of ethnicities--all of us about to become citizens together--I realized that this is what I loved about America. This was why I was proud to be here. I was about to become part of a country that was much more rich and interesting because it had no walls built around its perimeter." ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 08, 2019 Christie Maliyackel rated it it was amazing

I was thinking of giving this four stars, but after a bit of contemplation, I changed to five stars because this kind of story needs to be heard / read / elevated.

Sara Saedi tells her story growing up with the most American lifestyle as an undocumented immigrant. Her writing style is totally conversational so I felt like she was just telling me her story over a drink or two. Not only that, but she’s hilarious - I was giggling aloud at various parts - which provided a nice balance to the serious ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 29, 2019 JoLee rated it really liked it

Shelves: intellectual-recreation, young-adult, diverse-books, e-book, non-fiction, review-copy, 2019

Featured in "Reading on a Theme: Daughters of Immigrants" on Intellectual Recreation.

Sara Saedi immigrated to the United States with her family just after the Iranian Revolution. She didn't find out that she was living in the country illegally until she was thirteen.

Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card is the memoir of Sara's teen years. As she participated in the coming-of-age rituals of an average American teen, worries about deportation were a constant undercurrent.

I really enjoyed r ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 22, 2019 Kylee Young rated it really liked it

This was a very informative book on the ways of life for a girl named Sara Saedi and her life in American. Its starts by her parents not telling her or her sister that they are all undocumented immigrants in this country because Sara's sister one day wants to apply to an after school job and is denied from not having a social security card/number. She was 2 years old when they moved to the states and was now 13, so her family had kept this a secret for a long time. The book describes her journey ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 07, 2018 Shane rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: political, family, adult, non-fiction, immigration

I usually stay clear of memoirs because they usually don't hold my attention, but I'm so happy I took a chance with Saedi's story. It turned out to be quite an eye-opening experience that I could relate to on various levels, even though we're both from different countries.

This book is perfect for readers who are looking to better understand the life of immigrants and the immigration process and to also see things from the perspective of someone from the Middle East, Iran to be exact. It's defin ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 11, 2018 Jacinth Valera rated it really liked it

I decided to read this book due to the events that are sadly occurring in our nation. Although I was naturally born as an American citizen, I grew up in a whole different country. I did go through the discrimination once and it does affect how I am now.

I don't usually like to read stories like these because it wasn't as relatable but I took a chance with this book since it was a memoir.
I love the idea that every audience had a glimpse of an Iran culture and history.

The word "Americanized" real ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 22, 2018 Penni rated it it was amazing

What a beautiful gem of a book! I laughed, I cried, and most importantly, I related. No I did not grow up Iranian. No I did not grow up an “illegal alien.“ But I did grow up an anxious rambunctious teen in San Jose California., just like Sara.

At times touching, at times funny, at times thoughtful, this raw, honest biography about chasing the American dream while still holding onto your culture is a must read for everyone. Not just blue states that share her ideals, but red states that think the ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 31, 2019 Shawn Smith rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 10, 2018 Vicki rated it really liked it

Shelves: diverse, ya, gradschool, pocmaincharacters, feminist, nonfiction

I initially struggled with the tone of this book - it seemed a little too glib/flippant/cutsey. Soon, however, I really identified with many of Sara's teenage struggles/angst. This wasn't as much about immigration as it had seemed, and I guess I expected more of it to be explicitly about that. She describes a humanizing portrait of being a normal, everyday person who wants to live in America permanently but struggles greatly because of our country's nonsense rules and regulations.

Toward the end ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 28, 2018 Riya Shah rated it did not like it

Shelves: 9th-grade

Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card
By: Sara Saedi
1 out of 5 stars

This book is about a thirteen year old girl named Sara Saedi. She uncovered a terrible family secret: she was breaking the law simply by living in the United States. Only two years old when her parents fled Iran, she didn’t learn of her undocumented status until her older sister wanted to apply for an after-school job, but couldn’t because she didn’t have a Social Security number. She was always worry that they would get depor ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 22, 2019 Scott Aldrich rated it really liked it

This was an informative and entertaining look into the life of a typical teenage girl who happens to be an undocumented immigrant. The story of her family and their LONG journey to become citizens while still functioning as everyday Americans provides a thoughtful look at those people who are so often in the news but whose story is rarely told and whose truths are rarely given credence.

I think many young people (and a number of adults) would benefit from reading her story and better understandi ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 15, 2018 Bjipson rated it liked it

The beginning of this book is a witty, engaging history of Iran that could certainly serve as an introduction for any 9th grader who is interested in this as a topic for research. Or any grade, for that matter. The memoir is fun to read all the way through; Saedi's story of growing up in California, especially her middle and high school years. Some, but not all, affected by her non-green card status. More of it consists of her insights into the complicated equation of living and being educated i ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Autobiography > Memoir

95 users

Nonfiction

95 users

Biography

30 users

See top shelves…

About Sara Saedi

Sara Saedi

151 followers

Sara Saedi was born in Tehran, Iran smack-dab in the middle of a war and an Islamic Revolution. She received a B.A. in Film and Mass Communications from the University of California, Berkeley and began her career as a creative executive for ABC Daytime. Since then she's penned three TV movies for ABC Family and a pilot for the Disney Channel, won a Daytime Emmy for What If..., a web series she wro ...more

Books by Sara Saedi

More…

Trivia About Americanized: Reb...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Americanized: Reb...

“Iran is not pronounced i-RAN; it’s pronounced e-RON. Spread the word. Tell all your friends. Tweet it. Shout it from the rooftops. Correct people. It’ll make you sound smart and cultured. On behalf of my fellow Iranians (e-RON-ians), we thank you.” — 2 likes

“In my not-so-humble opinion, I believe that immigrants are the true American patriots. We never take living in this country for granted.” — 2 likes

More quotes…