Notably, Abtahi introduces central characters that are queer, a topic Iranian Americans are only beginning to discuss openly. Of course, in the era of Trump, these experiences were not unique to the Iranian-American community, many disenfranchised groups felt a similar, if not worse, sense of insecurity.Ībtahi is able to explore these microaggressions and uncertainties in a way that does not take away from the simple story of a young girl, just trying to figure out who will ask her to the homecoming dance. and Iran, the discriminatory impact of the Muslim ban, and the rising bigotry of Islamophobia and anti-Iran sentiment among some Americans. However, at other times, we are reminded of the challenges Iranian Americans experience in the face of political turmoil between the U.S. In some cases, the reader is subtly reminded of Parvin’s Iranian identity, like when she quips about hair removal and enjoys Persian food with her friends. Though Parvin’s Iranian identity is not the crux of the story, as many Iranian Americans-and immigrants of all backgrounds-can surely attest to, her culture and heritage run as an important thread throughout the novel. We follow young Parvin through the excitement and sorrow of learning about love, family, and friendship. With an Iranian father and American mother, Abtahi’s central character, Parvin, must grapple with her dueling identities, the growing pains of youth, and exploring a sense of belonging in a political and social climate that is too often hostile to her Iranian heritage.
A filmmaker and writer, Abtahi weaves together a story that is not only fun to read, but is also a moving coming of age story fit for our times. with an Iranian father and an Argentine mother, Abtahi herself is a reflection of the increasingly diverse Iranian diaspora.
In her debut novel, Perfectly Parvin, author Olivia Abtahi tells the story of 14-year-old Parvin Mohammadi, a second-generation Iranian American who navigates the trials of adolescence with the added complexity of growing up with different cultures.
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