The Girl From Revolution Road is based on the author's experiences growing up in New Zealand as an immigrant from Iran. It is part memoir and part story told with humour and drama while exploring the idea of living in-between.
The stories range from a childhood in war-torn Iran including the trauma of a night spent in prison as a four-year-old to learning English in order to make friends in the suburbs of Auckland to dating in the days of Corona. It is about growing up as a young woman torn between her immigrant roots and her desire to be like everyone else.
The humour is sometimes off-cut with the more sombre reminder of the racism that has always existed in this country from misguided quips ('Is Saddam Hussein your dad?') to more serious stories of harassment including an altercation at a fast food joint on the streets of Glenfield. There are reflections on the impact of world events such as 9/11 and more recent mosque attacks and how they show that more than ever, marginalised voices are needed in our cultural discourse.
Gazaleh's is an important new voice, with her writing exploring ideas surrounding homeland, ethnicity and identity. Through her accessible and humorous story-telling the migrant experience is brought vividly into focus.
