Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card

by Sara Saedi
Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card cover
Good Books rating 4.14
Biography and Memoir
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  • ID: 7286
  • Added: 2025-12-13
  • Updated: 2025-12-14
  • ISBN: 9780525578451
  • Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
  • Published: 2018-02-06
  • Reviews: 4

Americanized is a captivating memoir that chronicles the life of a young Iranian girl who moves to America and struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The book is filled with hilarious and heartwarming anecdotes about cultural differences, family dynamics, and the challenges of growing up in a new country. Through her journey, the author explores themes of identity, belonging, and the search for self-discovery. The book is not just a story about immigration, but also a celebration of the unique experiences that shape us into who we are. It is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or struggled to find their place in the world.

Reviews
School Library Journal · 2025-12-14
insightful 4.00

The memoir tackles complex topics of immigration, sex, alcohol, cultural stereotypes, and what it means to navigate life between two cultures. The author's personal experiences provide a unique perspective on these issues.

This memoir is a deep dive into the complexities of immigration and cultural identity. The author's personal journey offers a unique perspective on what it means to navigate life between two cultures. The book is both educational and engaging, providing insights into the challenges faced by immigrants in the United States. The author's experiences with immigration, cultural stereotypes, and personal struggles are presented in a way that is both relatable and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    The memoir tackles complex topics of immigration, sex, alcohol, cultural stereotypes, and what it means to navigate life between two cultures.

    The author's personal experiences provide a unique perspective on these issues.

    The book is both educational and engaging, providing insights into the challenges faced by immigrants in the United States.

The Storygraph · 2025-12-13
delightful 4.10

This breezy memoir offers a lighthearted yet profound look at the Iranian American experience, highlighting the family's struggles with legal status. The author's witty and engaging style makes the serious subject matter accessible and enjoyable.

The Storygraph reviewer found this memoir to be a delightful read, appreciating the author's ability to blend humor with serious topics. The narrative is shot through with the family's ongoing struggles to secure legal status, providing a backdrop of tension and uncertainty. The reviewer particularly enjoyed the author's candid and relatable portrayal of growing up in Northern California, making it a memorable and impactful read. The book's breezy style makes it accessible, while the deeper themes ensure it leaves a lasting impression.

Quick quotes

    This breezy memoir about growing up Iranian American in Northern California is shot through with Sara's family's struggles to secure legal status.

    The author's witty and engaging style makes the serious subject matter accessible and enjoyable.

    The narrative is shot through with the family's ongoing struggles to secure legal status, providing a backdrop of tension and uncertainty.

Bickering Books · 2019-08-14
engaging 4.20

The author's narrative voice is compelling and relatable, making this memoir a standout in the realm of non-fiction. The story offers a unique perspective on the immigrant experience, blending personal anecdotes with broader social issues.

Bickering Books reviewer found the author's narrative voice to be particularly engaging, making it easy to connect with the story despite the challenges of non-fiction. The memoir offers a relatable and insightful look into the immigrant experience, highlighting the author's journey and the broader social issues at play. The reviewer appreciated the author's ability to weave together personal stories with a critical examination of immigration policies, making the book both informative and emotionally resonant. The narrative is a powerful reminder of the human impact of these policies, making it a must-read for anyone interested in immigration stories.

Quick quotes

    Non-fiction is always difficult for me but Saedi's narrative voice won me over.

    Her story is relatable on so many levels.

    This is a book that offers a unique perspective on the immigrant experience, blending personal anecdotes with broader social issues.

University of Illinois Library · 2018-12-19
engaging 4.25

This is a good memoir for people of all ages to read, especially those who want to know more about US immigration policies. A few parts made me laugh out loud.

This memoir is a compelling read for anyone interested in understanding US immigration policies. The author's personal journey and experiences provide a unique perspective on the challenges faced by immigrants. The book is both informative and engaging, with moments of humor that make it a enjoyable read. The author's storytelling skills bring the narrative to life, making it relatable and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    This is a good memoir for people of all ages to read, especially those who want to know more about US immigration policies.

    A few parts made me laugh out loud.

    The author's personal journey and experiences provide a unique perspective on the challenges faced by immigrants.

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