Dan the Man
Daniel goes by an American name at school, but this is his Persian birth name
Khosrou
This teacher allows Daniel to stand before his classmates and tell his stories.
Mrs. Miller
Daniel's mother, whose conversion to Christianity sets the family's escape in motion
Sima
In Daniel's earliest memory, Baba Haji kills this animal.
Bull
Daniel, Sima, and Dina flee this country.
Iran
Daniel's beloved childhood stuffed animal has this wonderfully redundant name.
Sheep Sheep
Daniel's family eventually settles in this U.S. state
Oklahoma
This 17-year-old Kurdish refugee becomes Daniel's friend while the family is in Italy.
Ali Shekari
Daniel's father remains in Iran when Daniel, his mother, and his sister flee.
Massoud
Daniel compares his storytelling to this legendary storyteller who keeps herself alive by leaving stories unfinished.
Scheherazade
Their journey takes them first to this city before they reach Italy.
Dubai
Daniel treasures a cap featuring this NFL team, despite knowing little about football, Miami, or dolphins.
Miami Dolphins
Daniel is in love with this classmate even though she doesn't return his feelings
Kelly J.
This boy is Daniel's friend and a Dolphins fan.
Kyle
This grandfather dominates Daniel's earliest memory by slaughtering a bull.
Baba Haji
In the Persian story Daniel tells, King Khosrou wants springtime so badly that he has one of these created with gold, silk, and gems.
rug/carpet
In Italy, Daniel's family stays in this large concrete refugee facility.
Hotel Barbra
During a struggle with Wes over that Dolphins hat, Daniel breaks this part of his body.
Thumb
Kelly J. Actually crushes on this boy.
Tyler L.
This youth pastor teases Daniel about liking the Dolphins and later signs Daniel's cast.
Jonboy
This is the name of Daniel's sister, who escapes Iran with Daniel and Sima.
Dina
Farhad is falsely told that this woman has died, leading him to leap from a mountain.
Shirin
At Hotel Barbra, this meal is the dreaded food day: dry, overboiled, and served without buns.
Hot Dog Day
When Daniel's family flees Iran, Sima has one suitcase. Daniel is forced to leave this treasured companion behind.
Sheep sheep
Daniel is so desperate to avoid this bully that he deliberately changes his morning routine and school schedule.
Brandon Goff
This classmate makes an Aladdin joke about Daniel and repeatedly reacts rudely to his stories.
Jared S.
This great-grandmother grew up near saffron fields, lost her land after her father's disappearance, and was married to Hassan.
Aziz
A baker in one of Daniel's stories must prepare these for the wedding of the woman he loves—and his tears supposedly make them taste better.
Cream Puffs
This older Kurdish refugee refuses to eat those hot dogs, an act that makes him a hero in young Daniel's eyes.
Ali Shekari
Years later, Massoud unexpectedly brings Mr. Sheep Sheep to Oklahoma. By the next morning, this has happened to him.
his head has nearly fallen off/the stitching around his head has come loose