Haleh Massey

On May 26, 2026, author Haleh Massey’s second middle grade novel, My Name Is Harriet Mansoor (NOT Hairy Man Suit!) (Lee & Low), illustrated by Reshin Kheiriyeh, was released. The novel follows 11-year-old Hangameh “Harriet” Mansoor as she navigates puberty, bullying, and the challenges of growing up Iranian American, while also dealing with family expectations and a potential move back to Iran.

Inspired by the author’s upbringing in the suburbs of Los Angeles, the story is semi-autobiographical. Like Harriet, the author was given the nickname “Holly” by a kindergarten teacher who could not pronounce her given name, and the nickname remained for more than a decade. It was not until she attended UC Berkeley, a campus known for its diversity, that she began to fully accept and appreciate her cultural and ethnic background.

The novel has received favorable reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews.