From the international bestselling author of The Book of Fate comes
the story, based on real events, of a four-year-old boy who cannot speak
and the shame it brings upon his family in modern-day Iran.
Four-year-old Shahaab has not started talking. The family doctor
believes there is no cause for concern; nevertheless, Shahaab is
ridiculed by others who call him "dumb." Young Shahaab doesn't
understand what the word means and thinks it is a compliment, until one
day his cousin plays a trick on him to prove to everyone that the boy
truly is the neighbourhood idiot.
When his mother recounts the incident to her husband, Shahaab is crushed
to learn that his father also thinks the boy's speech impediment
indicates that his son is an idiot and thus brings shame on the family.
He begins to lash out, taking childish revenge on those around him,
encouraged by his two imaginary friends, Esi and Bibi. No one in the
family can understand Shahaab's wild behaviour except his maternal
grandmother, who seems to possess the understanding and the kindness he
so desperately craves. Their growing bond leads to a deep friendship in
which Shahaab is able to experience some happiness and finally find his
voice.
