{"product_id":"american-playground-paperback","title":"American Playground - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMichael Isaac Shokrian\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt's 1971, and 7-year-old Mishel Manoucherian's family has packed up their life in Tehran and moved to Los Angeles, launching him headfirst into a disorienting new world of social and schoolyard expectations. At once a witty and warm exploration of the immigrant journey and coming of age tale, \u003cem\u003eAmerican Playground\u003c\/em\u003e illuminates the Iranian American experience through a child's unique perspective.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArmed with a handful of English words, a fiery mother who uses her biting wit to open doors and inspire fear while shunning all things Amrikayi, and an adventurous dad who clumsily chases the Amrikayi Dream, Mishel tries to crack the code of schoolyard politics that feels equal parts \u003cem\u003eBrady Bunch\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eLord of the Flies\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis brown skin gets him thrown in with the school's outcasts, but Mishel wants to run with the Pros - longhaired kids who rule the blacktop in faded Levi's and Pro Keds, radiating the casual yet rugged essence of 70's California Cool. Desperate for a mentor to unravel this dizzying American life, Mishel recruits Bugs Bunny, the only Amrikayi he trusts. Mishel will do whatever it takes to become Amrikayi. He'll have to do it on the only true Amrikayi turf - the playground.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFull of heart, humor and insight, \u003cem\u003eAmerican Playground \u003c\/em\u003eexplores the tensions between assimilation and identity, a child's desperation to pass as one of many, and the age-old conflict between Bugs Bunny and everyone who's out to \"kill the wabbit.\" Bringing a fresh perspective to classic genres, Shokrian's writing recalls the honesty and ferocity of classic Los Angeles writers Fante and Bukowski, with a modern immigrant's twist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 270\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.61 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e May 02, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43476402405511,"sku":"9798992541700","price":16.18,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/2623\/2711\/files\/HIT0lTa1jM9798992541700.webp?v=1763185916","url":"https:\/\/booksby.splitshops.com\/products\/american-playground-paperback","provider":"Books by splitShops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}