How It All Blew Up

Interrogation Room 37

Amir



First, let me get one thing straight: I m not a terrorist. I m gay. I can see from the look on your face that you re skeptical, and I get it. People like me aren t supposed to exist, let alone make an admission like that in a situation like this. But I assure you, I m real. I m here. I m Iranian. And I m gay. I just needed to get that off my chest before we started, since you asked why my family and I were fighting on that plane. It had nothing to do with terrorism and everything to do with me.

Okay, I ll assume from the way you re clearing your throat that I should probably stick to the questions. Sorry, sir. I didn t mean to be disrespectful.

My name is Amir Azadi. I m eighteen years old.

I was in Rome for about a month. Yes, like Italy. I don t know exactly how many days I was there.

I lived in multiple apartments in Rome. I can get you the addresses if you d like. My family found me in the Italian countryside yesterday. I willingly went back with them. I can t really say why it happened so fast and then we fought on the plane, which is, I guess, why I m in here.

It was such a huge whirlwind of emotions that I didn t even notice when the flight attendants started pulling the four of us apart. They put us in separate parts of the plane. One of them was actually really kind to me. Family can take a while, he said as he buckled me into a pull-down seat in the aircraft kitchen. He had an earring in his nose. Slick blond hair. Trust me, kid, we ve all been there. He even let me have one of those snack packs with the hummus and pita chips, which was nice, considering I was being detained.

As soon as we landed, Customs and Border Protection took our passports and escorted us from the plane to a holding room in the airport. Soraya my little sister kept asking what was going on, and my mom kept telling her to be quiet.

Arvin Ahmadi

Raves for How It All Blew Up:

Arvin Ahmadi has written a novel that is authentic, hilarious, and heart-wrenching all at once. A unique point of view combined with riveting storytelling, How It All Blew Up will grab you from the first page and won t let go. Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give and On the Come Up
 
Arvin Ahmadi s dazzling and ingenious new novel crackles with the terrifying exhilaration of facing up to who you are and who you want to be. Amir s journey leads him from the confines of the closet to the bacchanal of Rome, to an airport interrogation room, and, ultimately, to his true self. Gayle Forman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay

I was so stunned and moved and absolutely gobsmacked by this mas­terpiece of a story. Every single beat was perfect, and oh, how it blew me away. I truly believe we ll be talking about this book decades from now as a classic.   Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Arvin Ahmadi's finest hour is here with How It All Blew Up. The compelling cast, heart-in-your-throat tension, eye-opening joy, and epic discoveries count down to a dramatic ticking time-bomb of a finale that will leave readers astonished. Adam Silvera, New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

Filled to the brim with heart, wit, tenderness, and hope, How It All Blew Up had me savoring every page. Like a fine Italian meal, it left me so utterly satisfied, I don t know how anything can compare. This book is perfect.   Adib Khorram, award-winning author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay
 
A story brimming with honesty, passion, and strength. Sara Farizan, award-winning author of If You Could Be Mine

* "A funny and propulsive read, nuanced and full of heart." SLJ, starred review

"Ahmadi s writing is gripping, taking readers through the myriad emotions a