“Bjursten immerses readers in a life, a nation, and an era. . .” —Publishers Weekly, Editor’s Pick “An engrossing tale of a woman’s quest for love in a world threatened by nuclear proliferation and a nation struggling with the aftermath of a bloody revolution. Deceptively easy to read. . .richly layered. . .a real gem.” —MAHBOD SERAJI, author of Rooftops of Tehran “From beautiful images of Iran, Sweden, and the UK to heavily researched historical events and to characters that are deeply human in their joys, mistakes, and dreams, Bjursten has written quite an exceptional book. Half a Cup of Sand and Sky will captivate folks of all genres and ages with its craft, vitality, and wisdom.” —Independent Book Review (starred review) “A wise, beautiful novel featuring a woman facing the eternal challenge: how to create an authentic self. Amineh, our memorable heroine, emerges in a time of revolutionary change—with its hope, fears, and dangers—as well as usual gender expectations. Bjursten writes with subtlety about Amineh’s conflicts, skillfully weaving her into her historical context. I adored this book.” —JOAN STEINAU LESTER, PEN Josephine-Miles Award winning author of Loving Before Loving: A Marriage in Black and White “A captivating story that respects the complexity of Iran and its history and shines a light on the many courageous Iranians striving for democracy, human security, and freedom.” —TRITA PARSI, author of A Single Roll of the Dice and Losing an Enemy