The House on Sun Street by Mojgan Ghazirad is a deeply moving and literary exploration of a young girl’s coming-of-age amidst one of the most turbulent times in Iranian history. Narrated by Nikki Massoud, the audiobook immerses you into the heart of Iran during the 1979 revolution, a period when everything that Moji, the young protagonist, has ever known is abruptly upended.

From the very start, the story captivated me with Moji’s innocent yet curious perspective on the world. As she navigates the lush garden of her grandparents' home, life feels magical and full of possibilities, especially as her grandfather tells stories from One Thousand and One Nights. But the political upheaval brewing in the country soon shatters that idyllic existence, and the narrative pulls you into the crushing weight of revolution and its consequences.

Through the eyes of Moji, we witness the seismic shift in Iran’s political landscape, the hardships of displacement, and the heartbreaking consequences of the 1979 revolution. As she goes from being a hopeful six-year-old to a 13-year-old grappling with the realities of war, oppression, and loss, I was struck by the resilience of Moji and her family. One of the most poignant scenes for me was when Moji, in her innocence, is forbidden from playing with a friend simply because of her nationality. That scene, among others, served as a gut-wrenching reminder of how politics and power dictate the lives of innocent people.

What makes The House on Sun Street stand out is its blend of personal and historical storytelling. Moji’s journey through the tumult of her family’s changing dynamics, the loss of personal freedom, and the clash between cultures is both specific to her situation and universally relatable. The cultural shock and oppression felt deeply personal and resonant, especially considering the current global landscape. The question of how political decisions affect innocent lives and force them into situations beyond their control is a theme that runs throughout, making it a thought-provoking read that I can’t shake off.

The use of the One Thousand and One Nights references adds an enchanting layer to the narrative. It provides a comforting contrast to the heavy themes of violence, loss, and displacement, while also reinforcing the power of storytelling as a means of survival. Moji’s ability to find solace in stories, despite the horrors around her, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Although it was at times a painful listen, especially with everything happening in the world today, I found the book to be a powerful exploration of how a family, particularly a young girl, deals with unimaginable loss, cultural upheaval, and a changing world. The portrayal of women’s changing status post-revolution, combined with the universal struggles of adolescence and love, makes this a multifaceted and enriching experience.

Overall, The House on Sun Street is a heart-wrenching and beautifully written book that will stay with you long after the last page is turned. It’s a timely reminder of how politics can shape our lives in ways that are often invisible until it’s too late, and how the power of stories can keep us going when everything else falls apart.

Note to publisher and Netgalley: I reviewed this book during the winter yet somehow it has remained in my list of books still to be reviewed. This is the fourth time in 11 years this has happened. so I'm just going to say that I really enjoyed this book. The narration by Nikki Massoud was terrific. I used to lived in the Bay Area so it was fun hearing all the streets and places that I know well. The mystery was believable and the shroud of silence around the Chinese is something we in the Bay Area know without a doubt exists.

This is a fantastic book about identity and culture, focused on a young girl growing up during the Iranian Revolution. I also loved the topic of the power of stories within this book, <spoiler> as our main character Moji begins to read other banned texts after she notices missing books in her school library.</spoiler> If you love inspiring historical reads, I'd highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

THE HOUSE ON SUN STREET by @mojgan.ghazirad is a beautiful and also heartbreaking queer coming of age story set against the backdrop of the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution. As the monarchy is overthrown, Moji and her younger sister Mar Mar are terrified by the violence erupting in their area. They flee to America to escape the chaos, Moji laments that she will be so far away from her grandparents home on Sun Street in Tehran that has served as a sanctuary for their family and where her grandfather regaled them with stories from A Thousand And One Nights.

☀️☀️☀️

Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher, @dreamscape_media for the audio-ARC.

☀️☀️☀️

This book is so beautifully written and the descriptions of Tehran and warm memories of Moji's family gatherings brought me so much warmth juxtaposed with the terror and confusion that envelopes the character as her home city becomes forever changed. Moji learns that it is dangerous to be a girl in itself but her love if other girls is particularly forbidden under this new, religious regime. When visiting family members back in Tehran after moving to America with her immediate family, she also learns that the people and culture are changing along with the political regime and she is no longer sure where she stands.

There is so much history, introspection and gorgeous descriptors in this book and the narration by @nikkima1776 was spot on! Highly recommend this historical fiction coming of age story wrapped in middle eastern folklore.

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A very good historical novel which is steeped firmly in local Iranian culture.

The story is told from the perspective of Moji from the time of the Iranian revolution (at the time she was 6 years old). Moji reminisces about how their grandfather used to read stories from ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ to her and her sister. The revolution brings stress due to the family’s ties to the previous government (Shah regime). Their father first goes over to America, and the family are forced to first go to Europe and getting to America from there proves to a challenge. The family returns to Iran from America after a few years and find a very different country. I liked the sections which describe how many believed that the revolution would usher in happy times and even defended many of the actions of the new establishment (led by clerics). This soon gives way to disenchantment and what follows is repression and curtailment of liberties, especially for women. The war with Iraq forms a good part of the backdrop as well.

The circumstances and characters are very well described. The differences between the life & liberties they had before the revolution and after comes out very well as part of the conversations among family, friends, and acquaintances. And the sense of helplessness people feel, when they know they have no power to bring about change, as retribution from the establishment follows. The story is very political – more than what I expected, but I like the conviction with which the author drives home her points through her characters. A good strong set of characters give voice to what most readers would regard as the most widespread viewpoints. I found many sections to be more matter of fact than what I would have expected with a story like this, nevertheless, the thoughts, motivations and views of the characters are very well explained.

The narration of the audiobook by Nikki Massoud was excellent.

The narrative skillfully creates a compelling story that delves into resilience, familial bonds, and the enduring power of storytelling.

The book started slow for me, but I was interested in learning more about a culture and history I knew little about. I loved the connection to the book 1001 Nights. By the time Moji got to high school the pace picked up and I was invested in the story. I wonder if I am the only one who ponders the parallels to the Iranian Revolution and the ongoing push for Christian Nationalism in the US. My favorite part was Moji’s love and respect for books. I hope this book is read my many of all ages and religions. Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook and opportunity to listen and review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really liked it, stuck with me & would recommend
For the curious and imaginative Moji, there is no better place to grow up than the lush garden of her grandparents in Tehran. However, as she sits with her sister underneath the grapevines, listening to their grandfather recount the enchanting stories of One Thousand and One Nights, revolution is brewing in her homeland. Soon, the last monarch of Iran will leave the country, and her home and her family will never be the same.

I loved Moji's childhood perpective of The Iranian Revolution. The isolation of her family, the fear, the extreme change in her daily life are described with great empathy and care.

I really enjoyed Moji's grandfather's weaving of the story of One Thousand and One Nights, throughout, representing the historical, culture rich, heritage of Iran. It's contrasted with the extreme cultural change imposed on all levels of lranian society, even down to what young girls, like Moji can and does study. Her parents, her uncle, her grandparents, and her friends within the story expressed a facet of the extreme shift in ideology and its repercussions.

The narrator, Nikki Massoud, did a good job, I had no trouble understanding who was saying what, where, when, and with what expression/intension. I don't know the traditional pronunciations, but I did like how Massoud enunciated the Farsi words and phrases.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and author Mojgan Ghazirad
for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The House on Sun Street is out January 23, 2024.

I quite enjoyed this story of Moji and her sister in the midst of the Iranian Revolution. The story of Moji mixed with her grandfather's storytelling of "One Thousand and One Nights" was captivating. I would have preferred to read rather than listen to this book due to the names and places which were unfamiliar to me. Despite this, I felt the narrator was excellent.

Such a beautifully written story. I thoroughly enjoyed the familial aspect and would definitely read from this author again.

In a Nutshell: A historical autofiction based on a young girl’s recollections of what happened in Iran during and after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Not as traumatic as I had expected, which is both good and bad. Impactful in its writing. Disliked the final quarter or so, but the rest was great.

Story Synopsis:
In 1978, six-year-old Moji and her younger sister love nothing more than to visit her grandparents’ house on Sun Street and listen to their grandfather narrating stories from ‘One Thousand and One Nights’. They do not yet know that the seeds of revolution have already begun to spring up, and very soon, the Shah (the monarch of Iran) will leave his country, changing all their lives.
Through Moji’s eyes, we get to see the days during and after the 1979 revolution, with a glimpse of their brief stint in the US where Moji’s dad had been studying during the uprising.
The story comes to us from Moji’s first person perspective, and covers her life from age six to thirteen.


As an OwnVoices work, the story offers a genuine glimpse of Iranian history, culture, and thinking. We get to see life in Iran before the revolution as well, where women were free to wear what they want, pursue education, and have an individuality outside of the men in their lives. The changes after the revolution impacted women the most, as is always the case in a restrictive regime. The contrast between before and after is stark. Many historical events come up in the course of the story, though only in the background: the US hostage crisis, the Ayatollah Khomeini regime, and the invasion by Iraq in the early 1980s. There is also a small track about racism in the US. There is a lot of Iranian food mentioned in the story, all of which sound mouth-watering.

As the main characters come in two distinct categories: Shah sympathizers and Islamic loyalists (including some extremists), we see the tussle between their ideologies and the extent of political brainwashing on both sides. It is a clear (and scary) representation of what happens when politics mixes with religion, or perhaps I should say: when religion interferes with politics. At the same time, I really appreciate how the writing doesn’t criticise the faith itself but the extremists who misinterpret it out of their own narrowmindedness.

It is interesting to see such a drastic change of lifestyle through the eyes of a young girl, who comes of age during the revolution. As she is just six at the start of the book and it ends with her aged thirteen, we get to see a somewhat simplified version of the new theocracy, but it is still striking enough to make the historical picture clear. I expected to be more emotionally wrought after reading this book, but the choice of narrator kept my emotions firmly in control.

As Moji’s narration is in first person, the general tone of the story feels light, even though it is disturbing to read about some horrifying events from a child’s point of view. At times though, the vocabulary in the dialogues didn’t match Moji’s age; it was too highbrow. I wish the dialogues were more consistent in this sense. (I am reminded here of another compelling child narrator: Scout from ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. Moji is not at the same level, but she is still impactful, at least for the first three-quarters of the book.)

Storytelling has a strong role to play in the story, whether it is the grandfather’s habit of entertaining his granddaughter with stories, or Moji’s passion for books and her tendency to take inspiration from stories, and later, even penning a story. I loved the use of the Arabian book of ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ in the plot. Every chapter begins with a quote from a different story of this classic, with most titles being new to me.

The only *major* flaw for me was the final section, which focussed on Moji’s growing awareness of her sexuality, making the book suddenly seem like a YA novel. Even if the events herein were based on actual incidents – as it is a semi-autobiographical novel, we cannot be sure which parts are fictionalised – it still does not fit into the core plot as the events seem to go off on a tangent. The relationship between the two characters involved and Moji’s age further added to my discomfort and dissatisfaction.

The epilogue was also somewhat disappointing as it took a very big jump - going from Moji aged 13 to contemporary adult-married-parent Moji, with nary an explanation of what happened in the interim. I didn’t like it at all as it created queries instead of providing closure.

Until this final section, I was still confused whether to rate the book 4 or 4.25 stars. But the denouement made my decision easy.

🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 28 min, is narrated by Nikki Massoud. She handles the narration well. I’d definitely recommend the audio version even to newbie listeners as the timeline is linear and the cast, minimal.


All in all, this is a good book for most of the way. In fact, the final section also will be liked by many, but to me, it really killed the spirit of the main storyline. My rating would have been higher had the final scenes been edited or cut off.
Recommended to those interested in reading an OwnVoices Iranian historical work that has its roots firmly in reality.

3.75 stars.

My thanks to Dreamscape Media for the ALC of “The House on Sun Street”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Revolution is brewing in Iran as the monarchy is overthrown and young Moji’s life is about to change.

Raised in an apartment in Tehran with her parents and younger sister, she and her family move to Alabama when her father retires early from the Shah’s army to continue his education. Life isn’t easy as the Iranian hostage situation is happening while they are overseas, and many Americans look at them as enemies of the state. They get by by telling everyone they are from Jordan, but eventually home calls, and they return to Tehran.

Upon their return they have found Ayatollah Khomeini has taken over Iran, and under his theocratic government womens lives look much different than when they left. Believing Moji’s father is still loyal to the Shah, the current tenants of their apartment in Tehran refuse to leave, and they are forced to move in with her grandparents on Sun Street. While their world is in upheaval as the Iran-Iraq war is gearing up, Moji finds solace in her grandfather’s stories from One Thousand and One Nights.

The House on Sun Street is a semi-autobiographical story of the author’s upbringing in Tehran. Ghazirad tells some of her story through the character of Moji a girl coming of age during the Islamic Revolution and then the Iran-Iraq war. Raised in a Westernized Iran that worked to secularize and modernize the country, Moji was surprised to the see the changes before her eyes as the hijab become compulsory after the revolution. Already filled with angst as a girl dealing with changes in her body, the changes in her country became harder and harder to understand.

Many parts of this book were tough as power and politics dictated the direction of young Moji’s life. Her family dealing with the terror of bombings hit hard with all that is going on in the West Bank right now. As someone who was too young to understand the Islamic Revolution, I appreciated seeing it through an innocent’s eyes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and of course the author Mojgan Ghazirad for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The House on Sun Street is out now. All opinions are my own.

The House on Sun Street by Mojgan Ghazirad is a beautifully written story of Moji, a girl growing up during and an Islamic Revolution. It is a coming-of-age story that is deeply rooted in the culture of Iran. I learned so much about Iran and its people from this book. I think everyone should read this captivating story.

Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Nikki Massoud
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars

Moji and her sister Mar Mar live in Tehran. They love the stories from The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night that their grandfather reads to them. Right before the Islamic Revolution, the father goes to study in America, and the family is supposed to go with him. But they can't go to America from Iran. The family travels to Europe and tries to get to America from there. After several attempts, they succeed and join their father. Later, the family returns to Iran and finds everything much changed after the revolution.

At the beginning of each chapter, there are excerpts from The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night. The House on Sun Street is autobiographical and tells the story of young author Mojgan Ghazirad and her memories of the Islamic Revolution. I liked the novel and the history and culture of Iran woven into this story.

The narration by Nikki Massoud is excellent.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media for the advance copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

The House on Sun Street is, in every sense of the phrase, a coming-of-age novel, uniquely told from the perspective of a young Iranian girl, Moji, at age 6 through age 13. I appreciated the approach to telling such a young character's story because coming-of-age stories are often relegated to adolescence, when the truth is that (a) we each mature vastly differently and (b) younger children are sharper than they are given credit for. Moji, though very much unaware of the complexity of politics swirling around her, is keenly aware of the things that are amiss, the things that lend a stifling air to her and her family's existence in Iran, then American, and Iran again against the backdrop of the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the birth of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I didn't love the way this book ended, with Moji's tentative exploration of her sexuality and body being the highlight, but the sudden and intense developments with the teacher being disconcerting. I think this would've fit into the broader commentary on womanhood in post-Revolution Iran really well if we'd had more time to unpack Moji's questions, but ultimately it felt sudden and haphazard in the last 15%.

Thank you to @NetGalley for letting me listen to the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book was very informational in regards to the Iranian culture change from before and after the revolution. I liked the descriptive launguage of her family, friends and her community before the revolution as well as after. Her questions and understanding of the changes was fantastic for a child her age.

However, where the author lost me was the sudden changes involving her teacher. There wasn't much build up to it, to then have such a sudden ending, was not my cup of tea. It almost felt like whip lash.

The information was great and pulled me in, but the ending and problems involving her teacher were not written well into the story.

There are some books which, through vivid imagery and writing, end up pleasantly surprising you. I listened to The House on Sun Street by Mojan Ghazirad through @NetGalley. Boy! Am I glad that I decided to request this book?
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It is the story of a young girl, Moji, who, along with her family, is uprooted during the terror of the Iranian Revolution & its aftermath. Through the eyes of a young girl, you see how life changed in Iran for everyone, especially women. The repression and regression, too. The distrust & the brainwashing that led to a society where one misstep could cost your life was depicted through the eyes of curious Moji. Along with the seismic upheavals post-revolution, the danger that exploring love, sexuality & adolescence brought to the fore is also effortlessly portrayed. Through the lens of Moji's innocence, the author masterfully paints a picture of post-revolution Iran. It is nuanced without trying to sermonise. Autobiographical and historical, this book is a beautiful and effortless depiction of the monumental transformation in Iranian society.
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It was a soothing and thought-provoking read. With everything that happened in Iran in the past year, reading this book takes you back to when it all began while putting the post-revolution changes into perspective.
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We often think kids do not understand when drastic changes occur around them. But we are wrong. Those young, impressionable minds often notice the minutest shifts and ask the most uncomfortable questions, which, as adults, we might not. Uncomfortable but important.
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Well, I’m glad I picked this book.

This normally isn’t the kinda of book I go for when I search for a audiobooks. But thanks to NetGalley and the editor and autor I had access to this audiobook and blow my mind. This book is settled during the Iranian revolution a not easy time, and the whole multigenerational portrait of this family. Growing in this time period and in this situation being a child then a adolescent and going throw adulthood was chef kiss. The narrator did a brilliant job, the plot was brilliant too and the character development was something I truly enjoy in this book. In the end it was a beautiful written story I enjoy lots

Set during the Iranian revolution, a time of extreme upheaval, The House on Sun Street illustrates the deep love of a multigenerational Iranian family. The tenderness was made all the more powerful by the stark realities of their situation.

I really loved all the history that this book introduced me to. My curiosity about this era was ignited while reading. I even did some additional research to learn more.

Unfortunately, it got REAL uncomfortable at the 85% mark for seemingly no reason.
It’s possible that it was trying to illustrate the challenge of puberty in a society where sexuality was so shamed, but that is a very challenging and complex topic to try and stick on at the end. Especially when the character is only 12.

Narrator and recording were excellent and high quality.

Thank you Mojgan Ghazirad, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for my gifted audiobook. My opinions are my own.

Plot - 4
Writing and Editing - 4
Character Development - 4
Narration - 5
Personal Bias - 4
Final Score - 4.2

This was a memorable and touching story about Moji and her family growing up in Iran, living her young years inside the beauty of her grandparents’ home in Tehran, listening to her grandfather’s stories with her younger sister.

In the midst of the Iranian revolution, Moji and her family relocate to the US, where she thrives at first, until people’s prejudices create a hostility, completely breaking my heart. Moji is so full of sweetness and a thirst for knowledge, but she and her sister are shunned for their nationality.

Upon returning home, Iran feels different. The places that were normally bustling with happy faces are now drab and desolate, but Moji is thrilled to be back on Sun Street with her family.

Following Moji to yet, another school, it becomes even clearer to the reader, the drastic changes to their education in the wake of political change. But, this is where Moji starts to grow into adolescence, making friends, discovering books secreted away, embracing her love of learning and stories, and discovering herself (that made me uncomfortable… she is twelve and she is discovering her body, which is totally normal, but I was a little disturbed to read about one specific scene).

All in all this was such a beautiful story. The end got a little muddy for me with the turn it takes. It didn’t seem to fit the theme of the rest of the book, but was still valuable in its realistic portrayal.

I adored Moji! She was strong and kind. She loved stories and the beauty of storytelling. I learned things I didn’t know about the Iranian revolution and found that seeing it through the innocent eyes of a child was a powerful experience.