Americanized Summary

In 1993, a young girl nearing her thirteenth birthday discovers a family secret: they are undocumented immigrants, living in the Bay Area. Despite having lived there for over a decade, they face the constant threat of deportation, adding to her typical teenage worries. The girl's parents, originally from Iran, had left their home country in the midst of political turmoil and war. They'd entered the United States on tourist visas, settling in San Jose, California where relatives had already established themselves.

In America, the girl and her older sister integrate into their new environment, assimilating through television, music, and school. Despite typical sibling squabbles and teenage angst, the sisters find their places in school and their social circles. Their younger brother, eight years the girl's junior, idolizes his sisters and keeps their secrets, even when they involve school crushes. While dealing with the ups and downs of high school, the girl is constantly aware of her family's precarious immigration status and the ever-present fear of being deported.

The family's struggles extend to their extended family, a network of relatives who are privy to their secret and offer support. Through interactions with her extended family, the girl learns to appreciate her Persian heritage. In her teenage years, she experiences her first heartbreak, gets her first boyfriend, and faces the realities of moving house due to financial strain. The family's immigration issues come to a head when her sister is on the verge of aging out of the system. An immigration lawyer helps them secure green cards for the sister and mother, while the girl and her father must wait longer. Eventually, in 2005, she becomes an official U.S. citizen, transcending her dual identity as both Iranian and American.