At the end of the novel, Daniel wonders if the reason why his mother has put up with so many difficult scenarios is because of “[t]he hope that some final fantasy will come to pass that will make everything sad untrue” (346). What does he mean by this? Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question:

• What sacrifices has Sima made for her children?
• How is Sima, in many ways, the hero of this novel?
• How does Daniel view his mother in comparison with his father?

Teaching Suggestion: Sima and Daniel’s relationship is a subtle element in this novel, as Daniel relays many family stories, but because the novel is told from his perspective, students may not always realize that the hero could be someone outside of the narrator. Encourage them to think about Sima from this perspective and think about why Nayeri titled the book the way that he did.

Differentiation Suggestion: For visual learners, students could draw what they imagine is a happy outcome for Daniel and his family. Encourage them to imagine a world where everything sad is untrue.