In My Name Is Harriet Mansoor (NOT Hairy Man Suit!) Iranian Americans Haleh Massey (Say Something, Poupeh Babaee!) and Rashin Kheiriyeh (Two Parrots) offer a comedic and sincere middle-grade story that depicts 11-year-old Hangameh "Harriet" Mansoor as she strives to navigate bullying and family expectations.
Iranian American Harriet's parents moved to the U.S. so she and her older sister, Noosheen, could have more options for their future. Such options include "becoming a doctor or, if worse came to worse, a dentist." Harriet wants to fit into her small Los Angeles suburb; instead she feels like "an awkward Iranian girl who looks like a boy." What's more, classmate Sarah--who dubbed Harriet "Hairy Man Suit" after noticing Harriet's "hairy" legs--is now dating Harriet's crush. Luckily, Harriet has best friend Cathy, an "awkward White girl with stupid brown freckles," to lean on and help Harriet convince her parents to let her go on the sixth-grade camping trip. But Harriet's father tells her and Noosheen that "business is bad" and they may have to move back to Iran. Now Harriet has bullying, a crush, a camping trip, and "brainstorming" a way to stay in L.A. on her plate.
Kheiriyeh's cartoonish black-and-white spot drawings amp up the humor, depicting figures with exaggerated facial expressions and body language. Massey notes at novel's end that this work was inspired by her own experience, which may explain the text's straightforward candor. Massey thoughtfully expresses the worries of a tween and uses moments with Harriet's family, as well as cultural details such as Farsi phrases and Iranian dishes, to add layered authenticity to her story. --Hadeal Salamah, blogger, librarian, freelance reviewer