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Darius the Great Is Not Okay

Book 1 in the series:Darius The Great

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Darius the Great Is Not Okay is a heartwarming YA novel that follows the story of Darius Kellner, a high school sophomore struggling with depression and feelings of inadequacy. When his grandfather in Iran is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Darius and his family embark on a trip to meet his mother's side of the family for the first time. In Iran, Darius forms a deep bond with a local boy named Sohrab, explores his Persian roots, and starts to navigate the complexities of family relationships, cultural identity, and mental health. The book beautifully captures Darius's journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and finding his place in the world, all while dealing with the challenges of growing up and battling inner demons.

Adib Khorram's writing style in Darius the Great Is Not Okay is praised for its authenticity, emotional depth, and humor. The novel skillfully weaves together themes of family dynamics, friendship, cultural heritage, and mental health, offering a poignant and relatable narrative that resonates with readers. Through Darius's perspective, the book tackles sensitive topics such as depression, bullying, toxic masculinity, and the struggle for acceptance, delivering a powerful and moving story that celebrates resilience, friendship, and the journey towards self-acceptance.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Darius facing internal and external challenges, and supportive relationships impacting his journey.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines relatable humor with cultural depth, creating an engaging narrative that reflects Darius's inner thoughts.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows Darius, a biracial teenager dealing with depression, as he travels to Iran and discovers his cultural roots and the importance of friendship.

Setting:

The setting shifts between the familiarity of American life and the cultural richness of Iran, enhancing Darius's journey.

Pacing:

The pacing allows for deep character exploration and gradual development of themes, leading to a reflective narrative.
Some people said Dad had Aryan looks, which always made him uncomfortable. The word Aryan used to mean noble—it’s an old Sanskrit word, and Mom says it’s actually the root word for Iran—but it means s...

Notes:

Darius is a biracial teenager, half Persian and half Caucasian, struggling with his identity.
He has clinical depression and faces bullying at school.
The story revolves around Darius's first trip to Iran to visit his sick grandfather.
Darius does not speak Farsi, unlike his younger sister Laleh, creating a cultural chasm.
He forms a meaningful friendship with Sohrab, a boy his age, in Iran.
The book explores themes of mental illness, family relationships, and cultural identity.
Darius uses pop culture references from Star Trek and Lord of the Rings to connect with his feelings and experiences.
The author, Adib Khorram, incorporates Persian culture, including traditions such as Chaharshanbeh Suri and taarofing, throughout the narrative.
Darius learns about acceptance and self-love during his journey in Iran.
The narrative portrays depression as a part of life, affecting relationships but not defining them.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include discussions of depression, bullying, terminal illness, fatphobia, racism, and strained family relationships.

From The Publisher:

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.

Ratings (13)

Incredible (3)
Loved It (6)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (29):

Read It (14)
Want To Read (11)
Not Interested (4)

3 comment(s)

Loved It
3 days

I'd go to war to protect Darioush and Sohrab.

 
1 month

This is a good example of the kind of book it is (YA that is slowly about feelings and relationships) but not really my kind of book.

 
Loved It
2 months

such an amazing book! taught me new things about a culture different from my own! <3

 

About the Author:

Adib Khorram lives in Kansas City, Missouri. When he isn't writing (or at his day job as a graphic designer), you can probably find him trying to get his hundred-yard freestyle under a minute, learning to a Lutz jump, or…

 
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