ARC Review: Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Summary: 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.

Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He's about to take his first-ever trip to Iran, and it's pretty overwhelming--especially when he's also dealing with clinical depression, a disapproving dad, and a chronically anemic social life. In Iran, he gets to know his ailing but still formidable grandfather, his loving grandmother, and the rest of his mom's family for the first time. And he meets Sohrab, the boy next door who changes everything.

Sohrab makes sure people speak English so Darius can understand what's going on. He gets Darius an Iranian National Football Team jersey that makes him feel like a True Persian for the first time. And he understand that sometimes, best friends don't have to talk. Darius has never had a true friend before, but now he's spending his days with Sohrab playing soccer, eating rosewater ice cream, and sitting together for hours in their special place, a rooftop overlooking the Yazdi 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. When it's time to go home to America, he'll have to find a way to be Darioush on his own (via Goodreads.com)

Pages: 312

Release Date: August 28th, 2018

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review:

I was fortunate enough to read an advanced copy of Darius the Great is Not Okay, which I absolutely loved. Daruis the Great is Not Okay follows an Iranian-American teen struggling with his cultural identity and clinical depression. As a biracial teen he finds himself in situations where he is too Persian to fit in with white kids, but also where he is too white to fit in with Persians. To me, Darius the Great is Not Okay truly encases what it is like to be a teenager. While I cannot relate to being biracial, high school is a difficult period for some and I deeply related to Darius. 

Darius the Great is Not Okay also featured an amazing friendship and family dynamic. Many Young Adult novels choose to focus on romantic relationships instead of friendships and family relationships. While I have no problems with romantic relationships being featured in Young Adult books, it is also important to showcase friendships and family relationships. 

Darius and Sohrab's friendship was adorable. They had their occasional problems, like any friendship, but they were both extremely supportive of one another. I loved reading the developments of their friendship and also the progression of their character developments. They were both fantastic characters and I am disappointed that this is a standalone novel. I wish I would be able to read more about them. 

Another crucial part of the story was Darius' family. On his trip to Iran, he meets his mother's family for the first time. While he has talked to them over Skype previously, he has yet to meet them in person. Although he fears that they will be disappointed in him, he finds his place among them and discovers what a supportive and loving family he has. Throughout the novel, Darius' strained relationship with his father is also explored. Both he and his father suffer from depression and are only able to bond over their mutual love of Star Trek. Darius believes his father is disappointed in him while his father fully embraces his younger sister, Laleh. Although he feels a strain with his father, he does love his sister dearly and is a fantastic older brother. He would do anything for Laleh and it was enjoyable seeing their banter. It was also nice seeing the progression of Darius and his father's relationship. While their relationship was strained at times, the problems of their relationship were explored and truly developed.

Darius' mental illness also plays a large role in the story. While he is properly medicated, his symptoms are still present to the reader. His depression feeds into his self-doubt and insecurities. It was also interesting how mental illness was expanded through a cultural lens. While Americans are relatively tolerant to mental illness, Persians are not. In Iran, Darius' family and Sohrab act as though depression is something he can shake off. I knew that other countries were not as accepting of mental illnesses as the United States, but it was still shocking to read about. 

I may have described Darius as a rather depressed and insecure character, but I need you to realize that he has his uplifting moments. While he suffers from depression, he is also a teenage boy who is conscious of his acne and is rather awkward. He is such a lovable character that always uses Star Trek references and could talk to you about tea for hours. I would love to have the opportunity to get tea with him one day. He is quite the expert and I know he would never leave me astray. I absolutely adore his character and I wish I had more than one book with him.

While I have never visited Iran, I truly felt like I was there. In order to show Darius and Laleh their heritage, Darius and his family travel throughout Iran to places such as Persepolis and the Towers of Silence in Yazd. It was interesting learning about Persian culture and the Zoroastrian faith. Current events in Iran are not always positive in the news; however, it was refreshing to hear about Iran in a loving and immersive environment. Iran might not be perfect, but Persians are extremely proud of their culture and heritage.

Darius the Great is Not Okay is one of my absolute favorite books of 2018. I laughed, cried, and everything in between. I wish I had more time with Darius, Sohrab, and his family. It was a beautiful story about family, friendship, and cultural identity. I highly recommend Darius the Great is Not Okay. The book is much more than okay. Adib Khorram did an amazing job on his debut, I fell in love with his characters and storytelling, I cannot wait to see what he writes next.