This book was sad that how her father was executed without faith and without mercy and his children left all alone and they had to make it on their own.

I have finished this book recently and I really felt I need to say something about it! interestingly I am doughter of a teacher and colonel of the last regim too, who retired after the revolution, no problem at all. However, I do not want to say that those who were executed were all guilty. Her father had other chances too.
And sending Afshineh and her sister to Austria in that age and the aftermath of this decision just because the schools were running under the new regime, is so funny! there were and are great number of peolpe in Iran who have studied in that situation but could as well study English and music and anything if they could afford it (and it seems Latifi family well could) and go to study overseas when they finish high school. It was not like that because of the new regime there was no chance of good education. so this is basically causing the problem: Was is really that neccessary to send two girls abroad like that just for education reasons? I guess there was an urge to leave the country for this family that was beyond education.
Another thing is lots of false information like sending the 13 year boys to the military service! that rubbish. My husband who is the same age as the writer never recalls such a thing! and things like that are not exceptional in the book.
As some of the other people mention the book is good if you read it as a "fiction". Of course for those who left Iran after revolution and have no idea about living and growing in post-revolutionary Iran and become a great educated person and not neccessaily religious at the same, it might look "real", as well as non Iranians who do not know Iran very well. For me however and I think for many like me, who went to school and high school in Tehran after revoluton and grew in a family who was not that wealthy that can afford to send me overseas to study! but was very fond of good education (I was sent to the best schools available, English classes and I could go by myself overseas and study and get PhD after high school in Iran and be a successful woman)it does not seem to tell all the "real" story. it is not all of it. Do not take it as an information desk.

I just finished this book and loved it. If you like reading about different culture and enjoy non-fiction this is the perfect book for you. Its true, sometimes the author's admission of crying over clothes and Barbies is shocking - but I see it as admission of truth and lack of understanding. The author isn't patting herself on the back for these traits - but showing the reader how, as a child, she didn't fully comprehend the gravity of her family's situation. She was not careless and selfish individual, but a confused and frightened child.

I just finished reading this book and I thought it was excellent! It was very well written and a great true story! I felt that Afschinehs story was very interesting and I could see myself reading this book over again. I can't say enough good things about this book!