Darius doesn't think he'll ever be enough, in America or in Iran. Hilarious and heartbreaking, this unforgettable debut introduces a brilliant new voice in contemporary YA.
Winner of the William C. Morris Debut Award
“Heartfelt, tender, and so utterly real. I’d live in this book forever if I could.”
—Becky Albertalli, award-winning author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He’s a Fractional Persian—half, his mom’s side—and his first-ever trip to Iran is about to change his life.
Darius has never really fit in at home, and he’s sure things are going to be the same in Iran. His clinical depression doesn’t exactly help matters, and trying to explain his medication to his grandparents only makes things harder. Then Darius meets Sohrab, the boy next door, and everything changes. Soon, they’re spending their days together, playing soccer, eating faludeh, and talking for hours on a secret rooftop overlooking the city’s skyline. Sohrab calls him Darioush—the original Persian version of his name—and Darius has never felt more like himself than he does now that he’s Darioush to Sohrab.
Adib Khorram’s brilliant debut is for anyone who’s ever felt not good enough—then met a friend who makes them feel so much better than okay.
Content Warning: Bigot Bullies, Fat Shaming, Ableism against mental health issues,
I love it. LOVED IT. Every character and moment. EVERY PART OF IT. I couldn't stop reading it. I absolutely bawled several times. Like, harder and deeper than any of John Green's work could ever.
I needed this as a teen. I needed this now.
The struggle with depression and not fitting in and feeling like you're just on a whole nother wavelength from everyone else and insecurity with family is SO FUCKING REAL.
It's not a romance. There's no kissing or touching. No declaration or love letters. But there's a connection, a feeling, realization, and hope. It's lowkey quiet type of relationship that just gets each other that's very relatable, especially for queer people.
It's a realistic coming of age where nothing's really different but everything has shifted at the end.
Includes: adorable little sister like Kitty from TATBILB by Jenny Han, meeting long distance grandparents in failing health, bigot bullies, silent tough-love fat-shaming father, resilient affectionate mother, Persian food and celebrations, tons of sci-fi and fantasy references, historical sightseeing, American soccer/International football, locker room bullying,
Absolute must read of YA contemporary fans. I really hope this blows up the way it deserves to and we get more from Khorram as soon as possible!!!
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3 September, 2018:
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