National Kids - Taking Cover - One Girl's Story of Growing Up During the Iranian Revolution

Author’s Note

To write my story, I relied upon my personal memories and those of my parents. I have changed the names of all of the individuals in this book, and in some cases, I modified details to protect loved ones.

Note About Language

The narrative includes a crude insult, the word “whore,” which is used to frighten a teenage girl. This offensive word demonstrates part of the hostility the author experienced. It was included in the narrative to keep the authenticity of this true story.

Acknowledgments

My thanks to:

Lori Epstein, for taking a chance on her neighbor and handing my book proposal to the right people.

My wonderful editor, Martha E. Kendall, for her candid input and for always responding to my questions with so much patience and insight.

National Geographic, for providing me this platform.

Sheila M. Trask, for reading my story and telling me it had potential.

Everyone in my creative writing classes, and friends who read my manuscript and gave me their honest opinions about it.

My loving family.

Text Copyright © 2019 Nioucha Homayoonfar

Compilation Copyright © 2019 National Geographic Partners, LLC

Published by National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

Since 1888, the National Geographic Society has funded more than 12,000 research, exploration, and preservation projects around the world. The Society receives funds from National Geographic Partners, LLC, funded in part by your purchase. A portion of the proceeds from this book supports this vital work. To learn more, visit natgeo.com/info.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and Yellow Border Design are trademarks of the National Geographic Society, used under license.

For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com, call 1-800-647-5463, or write to the following address:

National Geographic Partners

1145 17th Street N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036-4688 U.S.A.

Visit us online at nationalgeographic.com/books

For librarians and teachers: nationalgeographic.com/books/librarians-and-educators

More for kids from National Geographic: natgeokids.com

National Geographic Kids magazine inspires children to explore their world with fun yet educational articles on animals, science, nature, and more. Using fresh storytelling and amazing photography, Nat Geo Kids shows kids ages 6 to 14 the fascinating truth about the world—and why they should care. kids.nationalgeographic.com/subscribe

For rights or permissions inquiries, please contact National Geographic Books Subsidiary Rights: bookrights@natgeo.com

National Geographic supports K–12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Hardcover ISBN: 9781426333668

Reinforced library binding ISBN: 9781426333675

Ebook ISBN 9781426333682

The publisher would like to thank the following people for their work on this book: Priyanka Lamichhane, senior editor; Julide Dengel, art director and designer; Dawn McFadin, designer; Lori Epstein, photo director; Molly Reid, production editor; and Anne LeongSon and Gus Tello, design production assistants.

v5.4

a

Dedication

To Maman and Baba, for giving me these stories

To Sophie and Sawyer, the loves of my life

To Stew, for always being there

CONTENTS

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Text Copyright © 2019 Nioucha Homayoonfar Compilation Copyright © 2019 National Geographic Partners, LLC Published by National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Since 1888, the National Geographic Society has funded more than 12,000 research, exploration, and preservation projects around the world. The Society receives funds from National Geographic Partners, LLC, funded in part by your purchase. A portion of the proceeds from this book supports this vital work. To learn more, visit natgeo.com/info . NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and Yellow Border Design are trademarks of the National Geographic Society, used under license. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com , call 1-800-647-5463, or write to the following address: National Geographic Partners 1145 17th Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036-4688 U.S.A. Visit us online at nationalgeographic.com/books For librarians and teachers: nationalgeographic.com/books/librarians-and-educators More for kids from National Geographic: natgeokids.com National Geographic Kids magazine inspires children to explore their world with fun yet educational articles on animals, science, nature, and more. Using fresh storytelling and amazing photography, Nat Geo Kids shows kids ages 6 to 14 the fascinating truth about the world—and why they should care. kids.nationalgeographic.com/subscribe For rights or permissions inquiries, please contact National Geographic Books Subsidiary Rights: bookrights@natgeo.com National Geographic supports K–12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit natgeoed.org/ commoncore for more information. Hardcover ISBN: 9781426333668 Reinforced library binding ISBN: 9781426333675 Ebook ISBN 9781426333682 The publisher would like to thank the following people for their work on this book: Priyanka Lamichhane, senior editor; Julide Dengel, art director and designer; Dawn McFadin, designer; Lori Epstein, photo director; Molly Reid, production editor; and Anne LeongSon and Gus Tello, design production assistants. v5.4 a

Dedication Dedication To Maman and Baba, for giving me these stories To Sophie and Sawyer, the loves of my life To Stew, for always being there

FOREWORD by Firoozeh Dumas

CHAPTER 1: FURY, 1986 (Part 1)

CHAPTER 2: REVOLUTION, 1979

CHAPTER 3: ACTING, 1980

CHAPTER 4: RETREAT, Summer 1980

CHAPTER 5: REBELLION, 1980–1981

CHAPTER 6: WAR, 1981

CHAPTER 7: EXPECTATIONS, 1982

CHAPTER 8: SPACES, 1983

CHAPTER 9: HIDING, 1984

CHAPTER 10: LOVE, 1984

CHAPTER 11: FURY, 1986 (Part 2)

CHAPTER 12: DEPARTURE, 1987

AFTERWORD

Map

Timeline

Photo Gallery

Credits

High school was a pivotal time in my life, not for anything that happened at school, but for what happened on the other side of the world. Many evenings during my freshman year, I took my place on the sofa next to my parents as we watched the Iranian revolution unfold on the evening news. We lived in California, far away from the actual events, but we thought and spoke of nothing else. Still, if a fortune-teller had told us what the future held for Iran, we would have laughed in his face.