Darius is a Persian American teenager who is just discovering his place in this wonderful novel about family, friendship and belonging. When Darius' parents decide to visit his ailing grandfather in Iran, Darius strikes up a friendship with Sorab- possibly the first and best friendship he has ever made. Meanwhile, he learns more about the Persian side of his family and their proud history in Iran.

There were so many wonderful things about this book. Darius is a very real teenager with very real and believable insecurities. His relationship with his father is fraught with tension, and his life is complicated by his clinical depression. Darius' voice is by turns humorous, moving, and heartbreaking. I laughed often when reading his descriptions of "Persian Casual" and the "Souless Minons of the Orthodoxy." His friendship with Sorab was both moving and heartbreaking with BOTH boys making mistakes along the way. I loved Sorab's insistence that Darius had ALWAYS had a place with his family- it's just that "your place was empty before." Darius learns to step into this place, and to be a part of his family, with struggles along the way.

This was perhaps the best teen novel I have read this year. I have already bought it for my library, and told teens how excited I am about it. Absolutely wonderful.

Let's start off with the only negative thing I'm going to say so we can get that out of the way, which coincidentally is something that's, I'm pretty sure, of no importance to you: the formatting of the e-ARC. I'm still going to mention it here because it definitely did influence my reading-experience. The e-ARC was formatted in a way where a line in the book took up one and a half lines on my e-reader. It's a bit hard to explain, but the effect was that there were added pauses to the sentences which interrupted the flow of the book. This is one of the reasons why I really want to reread it as a final copy, because I'm sure the book would've been even better if the formatting of the e-ARC had been correct.

I really loved the way mental health was explored in this book. Darius and his dad are both depressed and take medication, and just seeing them talk about it, seeing Darius' dad remind him to take his medication... that was so incredibly special and important and meant the world to me. 

The dynamics between Darius and his dad were super interesting to read about. Darius often feels like a failure compared to his dad, who, in his eyes, is The Ultimate Man, and he is convinced that his dad doesn't like him. But then a conversation happened at the end of the book that made me sob. Literally sob. I cry often at books, but it doesn't happen very often that I actually sob. Wow. 

The other family dynamics in this book were incredibly interesting to read about as well. In the book, Darius visits his family in Iran for the very first time and suddenly he has this whole group of people that care about him and he doesn't really know what to do with that. He also deals with feeling not Persian enough for the first time, after always feeling too Persian when he's in America. You can see Darius grow a lot throughout his stay in Iran, and that was amazing to see. 

I'm a huge sucker for food descriptions and this book was full of amazing food and yummy tea, and it was the best. This was that kind of book where I had to stop halfway through a sentence just to google a certain dish and bookmark a recipe, and I just love that. 

Honestly, I could go on and on about how much I loved this book and how special it is to me, but please, just pick it up and see for yourself. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Overall, I thought that this was an good story. This was told in vignettes and they weren't very long. While the story isn't a stellar one I would recommend it. There were parts when the story seemed to drag but this was overall a good book.

This YA book was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed learning about Persian culture and the setting in Iran is definitely unique in teen books. But I often felt Khorram was attempting to write in the style of John Green. While there were some literary idiosyncrasies I enjoyed (dad is always referred to as "Stephen Kellner" I feel Khorram was mostly unsuccessful in finding an authentic teen voice as Green does so well. Some of the narrative is excellent but at other times it felt overly expository and dragged a bit. I will buy it for our high school library and recommend it to students interested in these types of stories. Not a "must read" but definitely an author to follow going forward.

As we greet new students at the start of the school year, I am reading a new YA novel called DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY by Adib Khorram which definitely makes me think about how difficult it can be to fit in, especially as a teen. Of course, this is especially true if, like Darius, you happen to be markedly different from classmates. Darius calls himself a Fractured Persian, because his mother is from Iran, but his Dad is a white American. Darius is a frequent target for bullies at his school and from his own commentary it is possible to see that Darius struggles with social cues and with accepting his appearance since gaining some weight as a result of the anti-depressants he takes. The novel shares events as Darius and his family, including a much younger sister named Laleh, head to Tehran to be with his very ill grandfather. Once there, Darius experiences completely new aspects of his mother's culture, plays soccer with other young men, including new friend Sohrab, and works at improving his relationship with his Dad. This is a story about learning to belong and coming of age to which readers will relate while also learning much about another place and religion.

Khorram’s memorable debut received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal (for grades 8 and up). With an uplifting message, DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY also contains information on mental health resources like NAMI, ADAA, and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255). 4.5 stars

Review: Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
Darius the Great Is Not Okay

Darius Kellner is just trying to figure out his place in the world. He’s what he calls a Fractional Persian, half white, half Persian, who can’t speak Farsi and has never visited Iran. The closest he’s come to walking it’s streets is through a screen, during conversations with his grandparents. Darius is a pretty relatable guy, he’s quirky, loves Sci-Fi and is self-deprecating. He also suffers from depression, and is constantly concerned about being a disappointment to others, especially his dad. When life seems like it can’t possibly get any more confusing, he learns that his Persian grandfather has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and he and his family are quickly heading to Yazd, Iran. It is there, that Darius meets Sohrab, his first real friend, and finally starts to find himself.

My favorite part about Adib Khorram’s debut novel, is how he depicts Persian culture. There is a huge gap in YA Fiction where this is concerned, and it needed this book; I NEEDED this book. Why? Because I honestly can’t tell you if I have ever read a book that painted such a vivid picture of Persian culture and life in Iran. Khorram plucked me right from my seat and transported me into the scenes he created. He took his time to educate readers, and did so in such an eloquent way. Would I have known about Yazd or the ancient city Persepolis without reading this book? I can’t say for certain, though I do know that I can never predict what I’m going to stumble upon or have asked of me while working at the library, so it’s likely. BUT would I have this feeling, comparable to a rope tugging me by the heart, and a soul deep desire to travel there? Probably not.

These feelings, this emotion, is why diverse books are so IMPORTANT and fundamental to our growing together as a society. They open your eyes and introduce you to the daily lives, hardships, customs, etc. of cultures that are different from your own. They allow you to view the world from another’s perspective, empathize with them, and embrace those who are different.

Darius the Great Is Not Okay is a coming-of-age story about not really knowing where you fit in, and figuring out who you truly are.

A huge thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the digital review copy.

Make sure to get yourself a copy, you won’t regret it!

Darius Kellner has never really fit in into Chapel Hill High-School, not just because he is half-Persian but also because of his depression which makes it hard for him to make friends. When is grandfather gets seriously ill, his whole family is flying to Yazd for the first time: his father, whom he considers an “Übermensch” because he is perfect in every respect, his beloved mother and his 8-year-old sister Laleh. Even though Iran is much less different from his home than expected, Darius, or Darioush as he is called there, makes masses of new experiences. He finds a good friend in Sohrab, plays football successfully and with fun, he tries out great Persian food and the family relationships somehow shift and allow him another look at how things are between himself and the rest of his family. When he returns, he is not the Darius he was before anymore, a bit of Darioush the Great has come with him to the US and he accepts that at times it is ok just not to be okay.

Adib Khoram’s novel presents a very different perspective on many things we know from novels. First of all, it is not an immigrant who comes to the US and has to adjust, but vice versa, an American boy, who even though he has a Persian mother is not speaking any Farsi, who discovers a country and its people of the Middle East. Khoram doesn’t play on clichés here, luckily, Darius does not come with too many ideas about his mother’s native country and enters it rather open-mindedly. Additionally, Darius is at the age where he could have his first girl-friend, but it is not a girl he meets and falls for, but a boy with whom he makes friends. And thirdly, the novel does not present a happy-end where everything is cured and everyone is fine. Darius still suffers from depression and has to fight for every little step in his life. Just travelling to Iran and back does not change everything.

I really enjoyed reading to book. Most of all because it gave a lot of interesting insight in the life in Iran, but also because it doesn’t pretend that life is easy and that everything can be fixed. None of the characters is perfect, they all make mistakes and they all feel awkward at times. In this respect, it is very authentic and convincing. I think it is great for teenagers who struggle with fitting in since the main message for me was that we all at times feel like outsiders and it is absolutely ok, not to fit in and to feel sad at times.

I really wanted to like this book. I tried. I read the whole thing even when I wanted to set it down and never pick it up again. I just could not get behind Darius. I loved the idea of this book; a setting that is seldom used, a new point of view, subtle LGBT+, but try as I might I found Darius to just be annoying and whiney. I would love for someone to unlock the secret on what made them love this book because I would like to! I just can’t.

The book is good, but not the best. For me personally, the queerness was too implicit and not explicit enough, but I understand that is the experience for many queer people. The book is a quick read and is a good representation of mental health issues.

Darius the Great Is Not Okay and neither am I.

I will rave about this book. A lot. I have so many good things to say about it that I need to gather my thoughts before I can write a coherent review. This book took my heart by storm. It made me sad and happy and also very hungry.
When I started this book, I knew that I would get emotional. With some books, you just know. The tension started building up and I could feel the tears pricking my eyes. They were impatiently waiting to be released, and during the last chapters of the book, the dam broke, and I was a complete and utter mess.
I would not say this is a sad book. At least not in the tragic and heartbreaking way that Adam Silvera is known for. More in the silent and nostalgic way of Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Sometimes life is ugly and beautiful at the same time, and Adib Khorram wonderfully captured this feeling.

Darius has an American father (though I did have a feeling that there might be some German roots) and a Persian mother. He loves Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings but not as much as he loves his 8-year-old sister Laleh. At school, he is the weird, chubby loner, who falls victim to his classmates' jokes. And he has to take his medicine every day, or his depression will get out of hand. For all of his life, his Persian grandparents have only ever been pixels on a computer screen, but now he and his whole family are going to visit them in Yazd, Iran for the first time in his life. The only downside is that his grandfather, his Babou, suffers a brain tumour and does not have much time left.

This is where I fell in love with Yazd, with Persepolis, with Persian food and culture. We need diverse books because they help us discover a world that is more than just our own four walls. We need diverse books because they teach us tolerance, acceptance and love. I needed this book because I had never before read a story set in Iran. I never knew that I wanted to taste Quottab, a deep-fried, almond-filled pastry, or Faludeh, a sorbet-like dessert served with rose water syrup. I want to go visit Yazd, I want to see Persepolis and learn about the historic Darius the Great. I loved how elegantly the author teaches the reader about Persian culture and life in Iran.

The only thing I could criticise would be Darius himself, but that would be cruel. Some people might say that they got annoyed with his inability to start a sentence without an "Uh", but I think it simply transmits his shyness and awkwardness around people, especially around people he loves. You also have to keep in mind that Darius has been struggling with depression for years. He fears that he will disappoint everyone around him, especially his father, and he often feels inadequate and unwanted. I think this is something many teenagers and adults can identify with, which is what makes Darius so relatable.

Another aspect that I enjoyed was that the author did not spell everything out. When authors explain each and every detail of their story, when they reveal every secret and leave no room for my own imagination, it often kills the story for me. Books that leave me to wonder and ponder are the ones that stick with me the longest. Darius life does not start and end with this book. There is room for more. There is actually a lot of potential for a sequel that would maybe explore Darius future, his friendship with Sohrab, and also his sexuality.

One more thing: Darius father has two mum's, and the fact that this is portrayed in a basically off-hand way like it is the most normal thing in the world, makes me want to wave rainbow flags and throw glitter. Which defeats the cause, I know.

What I want to say is, read this book. I hope you will love it as much as I did.

Thank you to Penguin Random House International and NetGalley for providing me with an uncorrected eGalley!

a good book that showcases what it's like to grow up with mental health issues while still figuring out who you are.

This is a tough book to review because there were so many things I loved about this book but a couple things that irritated me to no end.  Let's start with the positives.  I loved learning about the Persian culture when Darius goes to Iran.  All the food and tea mentioned made my mouth water and the customs and family get togethers the author described had a nice homey feel.  Darius' little sister, Lelah, was my absolutely favorite character.  She was sassy and funny and just plain adorable.  Darius and Lelah's relationship was another of my favorite things about the book.  He looked after her and genuinely wanted to spend time with her.    Ok, now the negatives.  The author had Darius say "Uh" or "Um" at least every few pages.  It was so annoying! I don't understand the purpose of these words so often.  It really distracted from the dialogue.   Lastly, Darius constantly repeating certain phrases and complaints that he was a disappointment to his dad was equally annoying.  I understand part of the plot of the book was for Darius to find himself and feel accepted but the repeated and numerous  mentions of Darius feeling like his dad doesn't love him was ridiculous.  With all that said, I do feel this book is worth reading.  Darius, being biracial, has a lot to deal with at school and home and he doesn't know where he fits in. The book emphasizes the importance of friends and family and how they love us no matter what.  A great message for all ages.

This book! Omg it hit my heart hard. There is nothing I like more than a book that deals with mental illness is a subtle yet truthful way and that’s what I got here. Beautifully written with imperfect and real characters it drew me in from page one.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read Darius the Great Is Not Okay, by Adib Khorram. I learned more about life in Persia, suffering depression, and the angst of being a teenager. Darius, Persian, overweight, and clinically depressed, has a hard time in high school with the bullies.. To top it off, he perceives his father as perfect. When his grandfather in Persia becomes ill, the family travels to Persia to visit the family. Darius discovers his family’s roots through his grandparents, parents, the city, and the one person who changes his life forever, next door neighbor, Sohrab, I hope every teen can find a friend like Sohrab! I learned a lot from him and hope I can absorb his words of wisdom into my friendships. This is a moving, unforgettable book.

Darius the Great is Not Okay really surprised me. I expected to be interested and enjoy the The Hobbit references, but I wasn't really expecting too much more. But I really liked Darius. I liked that he was awkward, but at the same time, still knew who he was.

One of my favorite parts was the relationship between him and his father. It was flawed and authentic. I liked that their relationship reminds us that even though we think we know everything about someone that there are still things to be known.

Darius' relationship with Sohrab was just so charming. Their immediate connection and Shorab's ability to know what to say and do made me smile many times.

I know absolutely nothing about Persian culture. I loved that I was constantly looking things up that were talked about in this book!

I thought this was a well written novel and very heartfelt. I will be recommending to customers who visit our store. I really enjoyed it.

Darius the Great is Not Okay is a charming coming of age story for anyone who has ever felt uncomfortable in their own skin.

I really enjoyed Darius the Great Is Not Okay. It's always nice to read from a different perspective and Darius has a unique voice we don't hear about very often. I also really enjoyed the open communication about mental illness and touches upon who it is seen in different cultures. This was a fast read because I just couldn't put it down and, honestly, I never wanted it to end.

This incredible book had me by the throat from page one! Adib has an incredible voice and I cannot wait to see what he will do next.
Darius is one of my favourite characters of all times. I can't event tell you why I love him so much but he is just wonderful. This story is filled with laughter and tears, incredible joy and incredible heartache, and at all times it feels like you are just one step away, and any moment now Mamou will invite you over for food. Have your tissues ready because you will need them.
I wish the book had a map and a list of the amazing food described in this book. I so want to go back and look up everything, just spend a little more time in this world.
I sincerely hope Darius will find the audience he deserves when the book releases August 28.