Daniel Nayeri

Daniel Nayeri
BornIran
Alma materNew York University
Notable worksEverything Sad Is Untrue
Notable awards
RelativesDina Nayeri
Website
www.danielnayeri.com

Daniel Nayeri is an Iranian-American author. His 2020 autobiographical novel, Everything Sad Is Untrue, received a Michael L. Printz Award, a Walter Dean Myers Award, a Christopher Award, and a Newbery Award.

Biography

Nayeri was born in Iran, and fled the country with his sister Dina, and their mother, a doctor, after a Fatwa had been issued against her.[1][2][3] They lived for three years in refuge camps in Dubai and Rome before settling in 1990—when Nayeri was eight years old—in Edmond, Oklahoma.[1][2] Nayeri attended Edmond Memorial High School, and New York University, where he studies writing.[2]

Nayeri was publisher of Odd Dot, a children's publishing group at Macmillan Publishers, before leaving in 2020 to pursue full-time writing.[4]

Nayeri lives with his wife and son in New Jersey.[2]

Works

Nayeri's printed works include:[5]

  • Mirror Town, 2023
  • The Many Assassinations Of Samir, The Seller Of Dreams, 2023
  • Everything Sad Is Untrue, 2020
  • Sasha And Puck And The Brew For Brainwash, 2020
  • Sasha And Puck And The Potion Of Luck, 2021
  • Sasha And Puck And The Cure For Courage, 2019
  • Sasha And Puck And The Cordial Cordial, 2019
  • The Most Dangerous Book : An Illustrated Introduction To Archery, 2017
  • How To Tell A Story, 2015
  • Another Jekyll, Another Hyde, 2013
  • Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow, 2011
  • Another Pan, 2010
  • Another Faust, 2009

Awards

In 2020, Everything Sad Is Untrue received a Michael L. Printz Award for best book written for teens,[6] and was one of two honorees in the younger readers category for a Walter Dean Myers Award.[7] In 2021, the book received a Christopher Award in the young adult category,[8] and was a finalist for an Audie Award for Young Adult Title.[9] In 2023, the book was nominated for a Young Reader's Choice Award.[10]

Everything Sad Is Untrue was listed as one of the best children's books of 2020 by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Today, and Booklist Editors' Choice.[11][12][13][14]

In 2024, The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams was selected as a Newbery Honor book.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b Culver, Galen (September 4, 2020). "'Everything Sad is Untrue' – What it was like for an Iranian refugee to grow up in Oklahoma". KFOR.
  2. ^ a b c d Murdock Nichols, Maggie (July 18, 2023). "Everything Sad is Untrue: Growing up as an Iranian refugee in Edmond". Nondoc.
  3. ^ Nayeri, Dina (June 18, 2017). "My Father, in Four Visits over Thirty Years". The New Yorker.
  4. ^ Kantor, Emma (February 25, 2021). "Nathalie Le Du Named Publisher of Odd Dot as Daniel Nayeri Departs". Publishers Weekly.
  5. ^ "Daniel Nayeri". Library of Congress. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Kirch, Claire (January 26, 2021). "Daniel Nayeri: Celebrating with a Champagne Shower". Publishers Weekly.
  7. ^ Zeng, Cady (Jan 21, 2021). "Walter Dean Myers Awards Announced". Publishers Weekly.
  8. ^ "'The Way Back,' 'Pray,' Dolly Parton special win Christopher Awards". Catholic Review. April 26, 2021.
  9. ^ "2021 Audie Awards". Audio Publishers Association. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  10. ^ "YRCA 2023 Nominees". Pacific Northwest Library Association. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  11. ^ "The 25 Best Children's Books of 2020". The New York Times. December 2, 2020.
  12. ^ Cox Gurdon, Meghan (December 10, 2020). "The Best Books of 2020: Children's Books". The Wall Street Journal.
  13. ^ Tolin, Lisa (December 11, 2020). "25 of our favorite books for kids, tweens and teens in 2020".
  14. ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2020". Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  15. ^ Roback, Diane; Kantor, Emma; Jones |, Iyana. "Eggers, Harrison, King Win 2024 Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.