Nayeri wins Christopher Award for "Everything Sad is Untrue"

Jersey City, N.J.-based author Daniel Nayeri has won a Christopher Award for Everything Sad is Untrue: (a true story), (Young Adult, Levine Querido). It is one of 12 books for adults and young people by 17 authors and illustrators honored as the Awards mark their 72nd year. The authors join creators of 10 winning TV/cable and feature films.

Inspired by Persian folk tales and Nayeri's family history, the autobiographical novel tells the story of a middle schooler who tries to win over his classmates by telling them about his family’s escape from Iran after his mother converted to Christianity, a capital offense in that country. The book is a winner of the 2021 Michael L. Printz Medal and was named one of the best books of 2020 by NPR, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal among others.

The #ChristopherAwards were created in 1949 to celebrate authors, illustrators, writers, producers and directors whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit,” and reflects The Christophers' motto, “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness,” said Tony Rossi, director of communications.

The story takes place in an Oklahoman middle school. Khosrou, (whom everyone calls Daniel), shares with his classmates the tales of his family's history stretching back centuries. Readers learn how the family became refugees—including escape to Italy from the Iranian secret police by plane at midnight.

Nayeri was born in Iran and was a refugee before immigrating to Edmond, Oklahoma at age eight. He is the former publisher of Odd Dot, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, which made him one of the youngest publishers in the industry. He has been a guest speaker at the Boston Book Festival, Texas Book Festival, Festival of Faith & Writing, Book Expo of America, and Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators [SCBWI] Conferences.

In addition to Everything Sad is Untrue, he also wrote several books for young readers, among them Straw House, Wood House, Brick House Blow: Four Novellas (Candlewick Press). He is a former professional pastry chef, and if he’s not writing or baking, he’s likely playing board games, or riding motorcycles.

The Christophers, a nonprofit founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity. The ancient Chinese proverb—“It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness”— guides its publishing, radio, and awards programs. More information about The Christophers is available at www.christophers.org.