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Publication
Dial Books (2018), 320 pages
Description
Clinically-depressed Darius Kellner, a high school sophomore, travels to Iran to meet his grandparents, but it is their next-door neighbor, Sohrab, who changes his life.
User reviews
LibraryThing member fingerpost
High school student Darius Kellner isn't happy with much in his life. He's bullied at school. He thinks he can never please his father. He's sure his little sister, much younger, was conceived as a replacement for him, because he was such a disappointment.
Darius' maternal grandparents are Iranian,
Almost the entire book takes place in Iran, but the humanity of the story is universal. Coping with clinical depression; trying to live up to a father's wishes; loving people but not knowing how to tell them or show it; feeling inadequate; finding a friend who truly seems to understand you... These are what this book is about. It moved me deeply, and although I am about a Persian as a cheeseburger, I related to Darius and his family completely.
Darius' maternal grandparents are Iranian,
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and while he has chatted with them over the computer, he has never met them. But when his grandfather develops an incurable brain tumor, the whole family goes to Iran to spend a couple of weeks with his mother's family, while his Babou is still alive. There he also meets Sohrab, a boy his age who is a family friend. The two almost immediately become the best friend the other has ever had.Almost the entire book takes place in Iran, but the humanity of the story is universal. Coping with clinical depression; trying to live up to a father's wishes; loving people but not knowing how to tell them or show it; feeling inadequate; finding a friend who truly seems to understand you... These are what this book is about. It moved me deeply, and although I am about a Persian as a cheeseburger, I related to Darius and his family completely.
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LibraryThing member booklover3258
Before I start let me just say that Darius sneezes a lot throughout the book and says "Um" way way too many times! That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Darius is getting teased at school and feeling underloved by his dad. His grandfather has a brain tumor so the family goes to Iran to
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visit him. That's where the story takes off and Darius "grows" up, meets his best friend and connects with his dad. It was funny and sad and everything in between. Show Less
LibraryThing member Faith_Murri
I received this ARC from Dial Books via BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion in any way.
"It's okay not to be okay."
Okay, so this was strangely really relevant to my entire life. And to my family reunion vacation I was on as I read this. Creepy.
Thing number
Thing number two: Darius struggles with depression and friendships. My entire life I've had friend issues, and recently (last night actually), I was even talking to my sister and her husband about this very topic.
Thing number three: Darius has a grandfather who he cannot really connect to who is terminally ill. While not my grandfather, and not someone I never met in person (I actually grew up going to his house every summer), my mom's brother in law is grandfather aged and a very similar person to Babou, which made my heart just seize every time he was on the page. And I was literally with my Tío last night. Creepy, right?
Now, here's some things that are more book review and less me talking about how Adib Khorram might be my stalker.
The book is written in a pretty unique, voice heavy narrative style that I really liked but sometimes got a tiny bit in my nerves tbh. It's a debut though so I'll let it slide.
The plot was good, I was really invested, and it read quickly. If I hadn't been at a family reunion, I could have read it in one sitting.
Darius is (as previously made clear) pretty darn relatable. He's awkward and self deprecating, but quirky and likes science fiction and fantasy, particularly Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings.
I loved Mamou!!!!! She's an angel and I want her to be my grandma! She's warm! She listens to ABBA! She's perfect!
The one thing I didn't like about this was the instalove friendship (with some borderline homoerotic elements). If you wanted to write a book about homosexuality, you totally could have, Adib. The market is definitely there. Why can't guys just be friends? I love friends. I love healthy platonic relationships in literature, because I struggle with healthy platonic relationships. I want a realistic portrayal of fast friends. I don't want insta-friendship. That's "you just have to wait for Mr. Right" ideology and it never works.
All in all, freaking fantastic, but not something that will necessarily astound you tbh. It's great. It's more than okay.
"It's okay not to be okay."
Okay, so this was strangely really relevant to my entire life. And to my family reunion vacation I was on as I read this. Creepy.
Thing number
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one: Darius is a Fractional Persian who doesn't speak Farsi and goes to Iran for the first time. I'm half Chilean, have never been to Chile, and don't speak Spanish.Thing number two: Darius struggles with depression and friendships. My entire life I've had friend issues, and recently (last night actually), I was even talking to my sister and her husband about this very topic.
Thing number three: Darius has a grandfather who he cannot really connect to who is terminally ill. While not my grandfather, and not someone I never met in person (I actually grew up going to his house every summer), my mom's brother in law is grandfather aged and a very similar person to Babou, which made my heart just seize every time he was on the page. And I was literally with my Tío last night. Creepy, right?
Now, here's some things that are more book review and less me talking about how Adib Khorram might be my stalker.
The book is written in a pretty unique, voice heavy narrative style that I really liked but sometimes got a tiny bit in my nerves tbh. It's a debut though so I'll let it slide.
The plot was good, I was really invested, and it read quickly. If I hadn't been at a family reunion, I could have read it in one sitting.
Darius is (as previously made clear) pretty darn relatable. He's awkward and self deprecating, but quirky and likes science fiction and fantasy, particularly Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings.
I loved Mamou!!!!! She's an angel and I want her to be my grandma! She's warm! She listens to ABBA! She's perfect!
The one thing I didn't like about this was the instalove friendship (with some borderline homoerotic elements). If you wanted to write a book about homosexuality, you totally could have, Adib. The market is definitely there. Why can't guys just be friends? I love friends. I love healthy platonic relationships in literature, because I struggle with healthy platonic relationships. I want a realistic portrayal of fast friends. I don't want insta-friendship. That's "you just have to wait for Mr. Right" ideology and it never works.
All in all, freaking fantastic, but not something that will necessarily astound you tbh. It's great. It's more than okay.
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LibraryThing member electrascaife
Darius struggles with depression, bullies at school, his relationship with his father, and his place in his family and the world during a visit to Iran to meet his grandparents.
There are lots of things I liked about this one, and I would have loved it, but I couldn't get to a place where I wasn't
There are lots of things I liked about this one, and I would have loved it, but I couldn't get to a place where I wasn't
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annoyed by the main character. There were also a few little, niggling things that irritated: the constant references to Star Trek - a show Darius and his father watch together - and the Lord of the Rings, which he is reading while in Iran. I think they could have worked well, but both were too frequent and way too heavy-handed; I felt like the author was elbowing me in the ribs with every reference, trying to make sure I understood the clever undercurrent. A shame, really, because the topics dealt with are really important ones, but I am comforted by the thought that seem to be in the minority with my quibbles - it won more than one YALSA award this year and that does make me happy. Show Less
LibraryThing member ewyatt
Darius is a kid who loves tea and is picked on by the "soul-less minions of orthodoxy" at his high school. When he takes a family vacation to meet his dying grandfather, his whole perspective and life changes.Diagnosed with depression, like his dad, Darius has internal struggles. When he meets his
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first real friend, discovers soccer, and starts to connect with his Persian side, it seems like Darius will find a way to be okay. Show Less
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
Darius feels like an outsider everywhere -- being half-Asian, half Caucasian leaves him feeling not quite in sync with either culture. At school, he feels like there is a target on his back for which bullies are always aiming. When his maternal grandfather is diagnosed with a fatal tumor, Darius
This book has received a lot of acclaim and well deserves it. The writing style runs smoothly and easily; Darius's voice feels very authentic both in his speech patterns and his inner running narrative. The other characters also feel realistic and well-rounded on the whole. The author explains some parts of Iranian culture by seamlessly weaving information into the text without ever feeling didactic. Darius's depression is deftly woven into the story, playing a big role but without feeling like a PSA about mental illness. I'm sure that many young readers will be able to identify with Darius's struggles, even if they are not an exact mirror of their own. The story's ending is hopeful without being too 'pie in the sky.'
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and his family travel to his mother's hometown in Iran to see family members he's never met in person before. In the course of the weeks he spends in Iran, Darius grapples with numerous emotions about himself, his family (immediate and distant), and more.This book has received a lot of acclaim and well deserves it. The writing style runs smoothly and easily; Darius's voice feels very authentic both in his speech patterns and his inner running narrative. The other characters also feel realistic and well-rounded on the whole. The author explains some parts of Iranian culture by seamlessly weaving information into the text without ever feeling didactic. Darius's depression is deftly woven into the story, playing a big role but without feeling like a PSA about mental illness. I'm sure that many young readers will be able to identify with Darius's struggles, even if they are not an exact mirror of their own. The story's ending is hopeful without being too 'pie in the sky.'
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LibraryThing member ainjel
Saying that books about friendship are hard to find sounds weird, but it's true. Many books feature friendship, but most don't make it the central driving force of the plot. Darius the Great Is Not Okay does, alongside the theme of family, with particular attention to the relationships between
It's the subtleties and complexities that make Darius the Great a book that stands out. The character voice is strong yet uncertain, and so familiar for anyone who has ever been someone trying to find their place in the world. The friendship is beautiful in its ease, but it's never simple. And the attention to detail in describing setting, including the food, is so lush you feel like you have to be there. It's a wonderful book that I highly recommend.
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fathers and sons. The treatment of these things is absolutely lovely, addressing toxic masculinity, mental health, and the pressures of boyhood without making the story *about* these things. Then, there are so many other issues that are dealt with subtly yet effectively: there are issues of culture, and heritage, and bullying, and homosexuality, and legacy. Yet, when it comes down to it, that's not what this story is about. It's about Darius, and his relationship to his father. It's about Darius, and his relationship to his grandfather. It's about Darius, and his relationship to his first true friend. It's about Darius, and his relationship to himself.It's the subtleties and complexities that make Darius the Great a book that stands out. The character voice is strong yet uncertain, and so familiar for anyone who has ever been someone trying to find their place in the world. The friendship is beautiful in its ease, but it's never simple. And the attention to detail in describing setting, including the food, is so lush you feel like you have to be there. It's a wonderful book that I highly recommend.
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LibraryThing member Charlotte_Kinzie
This is a beautiful book. All teenagers struggle to find their place in the world. That may be even more difficult for a young person with depression.
I love the way that we get taken along with Darius as he hints for the place he fits and struggles to figure out how to meld his Persian and
In addition to being heart-warming, this was educational! I learned some Farsi and a lot of things about Iranian history!
I love the way that we get taken along with Darius as he hints for the place he fits and struggles to figure out how to meld his Persian and
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American worlds. In addition to being heart-warming, this was educational! I learned some Farsi and a lot of things about Iranian history!
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LibraryThing member Beth.Clarke
Darius the Great deals with some heavy YA topics in a way that is lighthearted, funny, and real. Darius's depression weighs heavily on him, but with his new friend, he finds he doesn't have to change who he is. Being himself is enough. A great YA theme. This book took me on an emotional roller
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coaster which is probably the way a lot of teens feel. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jessika.C
Darius is a biracial teenager who has depression. Even though he doesn’t speak Persian like his little sister Lali does, he’s just as proud of his heritage as a half Persian. He has somewhat of a relationship with his father. They get along but they’re not close. They watch Star Trek together
In time Darius learns to like himself and appreciate even more the place where his namesake came from. His relationship of pure adoration towards his little sister changes and his mutual understanding with his dad becomes something deeper.
While I’m not Persian nor biracial, I could relate to Darius feeling like an imposter when it came to claiming his culture. I struggle with mental illness as well and it’s also looked down upon in my culture. It was really nice to see how he was willing to embrace the culture when sometimes I read stories where teens are reluctant to claim their culture because they’ve been ‘Americanized’.
Sometimes is hard to understand where you stand with your parents when you see how they act or treat your other siblings. It broke my heart whenever Darius felt that his dad felt like his little sister was a do-over from the mistakes he made with Darius. The road to bonding with your parents stretches into years before you start to realize that most of the time it’s not that one or the other is the favorite but like yourself, they have a different kind of relationship with everyone. It was lovely to see that family dynamic being played out in this story.
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but it’s not like they bond over it, Darius drinks his tea and his father eats his snacks and they just watch it together every night without fail. When Darius’ Persian grandfather is diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor, his parents decide to take the kids all the way to Iran so they can meet their family and see up close where they came from. Right away Darius feels out of place and awkward but somehow he manages to become friends with the coolest kid he’s ever met. In time Darius learns to like himself and appreciate even more the place where his namesake came from. His relationship of pure adoration towards his little sister changes and his mutual understanding with his dad becomes something deeper.
While I’m not Persian nor biracial, I could relate to Darius feeling like an imposter when it came to claiming his culture. I struggle with mental illness as well and it’s also looked down upon in my culture. It was really nice to see how he was willing to embrace the culture when sometimes I read stories where teens are reluctant to claim their culture because they’ve been ‘Americanized’.
Sometimes is hard to understand where you stand with your parents when you see how they act or treat your other siblings. It broke my heart whenever Darius felt that his dad felt like his little sister was a do-over from the mistakes he made with Darius. The road to bonding with your parents stretches into years before you start to realize that most of the time it’s not that one or the other is the favorite but like yourself, they have a different kind of relationship with everyone. It was lovely to see that family dynamic being played out in this story.
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LibraryThing member hfuhriman
Darius is a Persian-American, high-school sophomore with clinical depression. He is bullied at school and can never seem to please his father, who also has depression. When Darius's mother learns that her father's cancer is worse she decides it's time to visit to Iran and and bring the family with
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her. Darius is nervous because he's only ever met his mom's side of the family through Skype. He's afraid that they won't accept him because of his depression. Shortly after Darius and family arrive at his grandparents' he meets their neighbor, Sohrab, and his life begins to change. He makes a friend, gains confidence, and finally talks to his father. This brilliant debut novel by Adib Khorram, winner of the 2019 Morris Award, captures the feelings of inadequacy beautifully. The way he addresses the issue of depression makes it very understandable to the reader. Everyone should read this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member SandraBrower
Darius The Great Is Not Okay was more okay than he thought he was throughout the whole book.
Did this young man have problems and go through so much?! Sure, however, he was so much tougher than I have seen a lot of young men handle themselves lately.
I found the book real, fascinating and
I would recommend this book to anyone who needs an uplift. Someone who wants to disappear into a reality that is so different from their own and yet so similar you could stay in the pages and wander around Iran hopefully without being harmed.
Read this book, you won’t forget it.
Did this young man have problems and go through so much?! Sure, however, he was so much tougher than I have seen a lot of young men handle themselves lately.
I found the book real, fascinating and
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heartfelt. Sohrab has a way of helping Darioush see life that helps even when he’s in the throes of his really bad days of depression. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs an uplift. Someone who wants to disappear into a reality that is so different from their own and yet so similar you could stay in the pages and wander around Iran hopefully without being harmed.
Read this book, you won’t forget it.
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LibraryThing member deslivres5
Loved it! Both as a former student of Persian and a fan of Star Trek, this one made me smile. I listened to it as an e-audio and the narrator, actor and noted hyperglot Michael Levi Harris, did a wonderful job. The novel also gave me a new perspective on depression and anxiety.
LibraryThing member Faith_Murri
I received this ARC from Dial Books via BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion in any way.
"It's okay not to be okay."
Okay, so this was strangely really relevant to my entire life. And to my family reunion vacation I was on as I read this. Creepy.
Thing number
Thing number two: Darius struggles with depression and friendships. My entire life I've had friend issues, and recently (last night actually), I was even talking to my sister and her husband about this very topic.
Thing number three: Darius has a grandfather who he cannot really connect to who is terminally ill. While not my grandfather, and not someone I never met in person (I actually grew up going to his house every summer), my mom's brother in law is grandfather aged and a very similar person to Babou, which made my heart just seize every time he was on the page. And I was literally with my Tío last night. Creepy, right?
Now, here's some things that are more book review and less me talking about how Adib Khorram might be my stalker.
The book is written in a pretty unique, voice heavy narrative style that I really liked but sometimes got a tiny bit in my nerves tbh. It's a debut though so I'll let it slide.
The plot was good, I was really invested, and it read quickly. If I hadn't been at a family reunion, I could have read it in one sitting.
Darius is (as previously made clear) pretty darn relatable. He's awkward and self deprecating, but quirky and likes science fiction and fantasy, particularly Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings.
I loved Mamou!!!!! She's an angel and I want her to be my grandma! She's warm! She listens to ABBA! She's perfect!
The one thing I didn't like about this was the instalove friendship (with some borderline homoerotic elements). If you wanted to write a book about homosexuality, you totally could have, Adib. The market is definitely there. Why can't guys just be friends? I love friends. I love healthy platonic relationships in literature, because I struggle with healthy platonic relationships. I want a realistic portrayal of fast friends. I don't want insta-friendship. That's "you just have to wait for Mr. Right" ideology and it never works.
All in all, freaking fantastic, but not something that will necessarily astound you tbh. It's great. It's more than okay.
"It's okay not to be okay."
Okay, so this was strangely really relevant to my entire life. And to my family reunion vacation I was on as I read this. Creepy.
Thing number
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one: Darius is a Fractional Persian who doesn't speak Farsi and goes to Iran for the first time. I'm half Chilean, have never been to Chile, and don't speak Spanish.Thing number two: Darius struggles with depression and friendships. My entire life I've had friend issues, and recently (last night actually), I was even talking to my sister and her husband about this very topic.
Thing number three: Darius has a grandfather who he cannot really connect to who is terminally ill. While not my grandfather, and not someone I never met in person (I actually grew up going to his house every summer), my mom's brother in law is grandfather aged and a very similar person to Babou, which made my heart just seize every time he was on the page. And I was literally with my Tío last night. Creepy, right?
Now, here's some things that are more book review and less me talking about how Adib Khorram might be my stalker.
The book is written in a pretty unique, voice heavy narrative style that I really liked but sometimes got a tiny bit in my nerves tbh. It's a debut though so I'll let it slide.
The plot was good, I was really invested, and it read quickly. If I hadn't been at a family reunion, I could have read it in one sitting.
Darius is (as previously made clear) pretty darn relatable. He's awkward and self deprecating, but quirky and likes science fiction and fantasy, particularly Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings.
I loved Mamou!!!!! She's an angel and I want her to be my grandma! She's warm! She listens to ABBA! She's perfect!
The one thing I didn't like about this was the instalove friendship (with some borderline homoerotic elements). If you wanted to write a book about homosexuality, you totally could have, Adib. The market is definitely there. Why can't guys just be friends? I love friends. I love healthy platonic relationships in literature, because I struggle with healthy platonic relationships. I want a realistic portrayal of fast friends. I don't want insta-friendship. That's "you just have to wait for Mr. Right" ideology and it never works.
All in all, freaking fantastic, but not something that will necessarily astound you tbh. It's great. It's more than okay.
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LibraryThing member elenaj
This is a wonderful book.
Do note, however, that despite it being shelved as LGBTQ by a number of folks, there is no explicit queer content, although the subtext is pretty strong.
Do note, however, that despite it being shelved as LGBTQ by a number of folks, there is no explicit queer content, although the subtext is pretty strong.
LibraryThing member Noeshia
This book had me crying through the last few chapters. It was so powerful, especially in its description of what depression and anxiety are like from the point of view of the person experiencing them. Please give this a try if you have someone with these disorders in your life. It might help you
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understand a bit better. Show Less
LibraryThing member DrFuriosa
A candid and moving coming-of-age story about a young man living with depression and visiting his family in Iran. Darius is someone you want to succeed, even if he gets in his own way. I appreciate what Adib Khorram brings to YA lit, and I hope he writes more!
LibraryThing member Sarah220
Before you start reading this book, look up a good Persian restaurant near you. There are so many descriptions of food in this book, you will be starving by the end. On a more serious note, Darius is Persian American and is visiting Iran for the first time because his mother's father has a brain
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tumor. Darius (like his father) struggles with depression and has a hard time fitting in and feels like he is a constant disappointment to his family. The author reveals in the afterward that he also struggled with depression growing up and that struggle adds a depth and visceral realness to Darius's experiences that totally affected me as I was reading. It was very easy to get smothered by Darius's fear, frustration, anger, and feelings of inadequacy. But it made for a very powerful read. Darius is also a bit of a nerd and his allusions to Star Trek and Lord of the Rings were fun and revealing. Show Less
LibraryThing member Iudita
I loved the cultural element in this book.
LibraryThing member bookwren
One of the most realistic and beautiful family novels I've ever read.
LibraryThing member reader1009
diverse teen/adult fiction (Fractional Persian/Persian-American deals with clinical depression, visits his Zoroastrian grandparents in Iran, makes friends with Baha'i neighbor. Lots of talk about tea, and Star Trek, and Tolkien).
character-driven novel with realistic portrayal of how depression
Parental note: Penises come up in conversation after other boys observe that his is uncircumcised in the locker-room, and the main character refers obliquely to his refraining from going "number three" in his grandmother's house. There is a joke about "hel/Hell" and "damming/damning," and another joke about literal dog "shit."
character-driven novel with realistic portrayal of how depression
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affects some people, also rich in cultural details. There is some LGBTQA interest (he seems attracted to his new Iranian friend, but doesn't explore or talk about or act on those feelings), but this is more a story about a person connecting with his roots and his family and learning to talk to his dad about his depression; it is not a love story. Parental note: Penises come up in conversation after other boys observe that his is uncircumcised in the locker-room, and the main character refers obliquely to his refraining from going "number three" in his grandmother's house. There is a joke about "hel/Hell" and "damming/damning," and another joke about literal dog "shit."
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LibraryThing member PagesandPieces
Darius is an awkward 16 year old boy who loves tea, Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings, and doesn't quite fit in because he is half Persian. He also suffers from depression, has a strained relationship with his father, and deals with bullying in school. His family has to take a sudden trip to Iran to
Though the book deals with bullying, political controversy, death and decline of elderly, LGBTQ themes, and deals with mental health, I don't find any of it concerning for teens to read. I think books that realistically deal with the real-life issues provide both a blueprint and a support system for teens who encounter these issues every day. We can not shield our young adults from real life, so we might as well provide them with resources to help them work through life in a sensitive manner.
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visit his mother's family in order for Darius to meet his grandfather who is dying from a brain tumor. Aside from the regular travel concerns and nerves about interacting with family he has never met, Darius also has to worry about discrimination at the airport when he arrives in Iran. This special story is thematically about love for family, friendships, family history, and mental health. Though the book deals with bullying, political controversy, death and decline of elderly, LGBTQ themes, and deals with mental health, I don't find any of it concerning for teens to read. I think books that realistically deal with the real-life issues provide both a blueprint and a support system for teens who encounter these issues every day. We can not shield our young adults from real life, so we might as well provide them with resources to help them work through life in a sensitive manner.
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LibraryThing member Jenniferforjoy
I went into this knowing very little of what to expect, and it was perfect that way. The fact that this book takes place mostly in Iran was a delightful surprise.
LibraryThing member chrisblocker
Before we begin, let me say upfront that I am not your average YA/children's reader (some of you have undoubtedly heard this before). For one, I don't have the same degree of nostalgia for the books of my younger years as many avid readers have. (I'm not sure why this is. Perhaps I should ask my
What I liked... I wanted to read Darius the Great Is Not Okay because I knew it tackled mental illness, religion, and Star Trek. That's enough to make an easy sell with me. Of the three topics, I thought Khorram's approach to religion was the least simplistic: I didn't feel like he was trying too hard to constantly explain matters of faith to the reader, and this is a huge plus. I also enjoyed how the author handled the various relationships within this story. The bonds that Darius shared with his parents, grandparents, and friend (Sohrab) were explored with some care and introspection, providing the reader with different approaches to each.
What I didn't like so much... There were three elements I saw repeated here that I often see in stories written for a younger audience. And of course, they annoyed me. The first was the repetitiveness. There's this thing in children's and YA books where the same terms and phrases have to be drilled into the reader's brain. I don't know why this is, but it's a thing. One such phrase in Darius the Great... (though there were several) was "soulless minions of orthodoxy." I love that the author gave a nod to Deep Space Nine (my favorite of the Trek series), particularly when the Trek in this novel is very TNG-centric, but there's a point when it's excessive--and that was probably the third utterance of the aforementioned phrase.
The other two patterns I saw in this novel was a need to simplify everything (I know the average reader may not be not fully developed, but must everything be explained?) and a primary focus on plot (this story was better than many, but it was still very plot-centric). But see, here I go being nitpicky...
Overall, I thought Darius the Great... was a better-than-average modern YA (yet seemingly written for a not-quite-YA audience?) novel. It tackles some important topics, even if these subjects are heavily coated in sugar for easier swallowing. I almost gave it four stars. And yet, it never takes on the subject that the book seems to be tiptoeing around the whole time... Perhaps I was looking for something that wasn't meant to be there, but I can't help but feel the character of Darius was not allowed to say what he really wanted to say in these pages.
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therapist.) Furthermore, I tend to nitpick many of the common traits of these books that I personally find annoying. I attempt to give these novels a rating that reflects my understanding that I'm reading a book for younger readers; yet I don't think writing for adolescents should be an excuse for sloppy or overly simplistic writing. Still, I read them because I know there are exceptions I want to discover, and because I want to be a widely-read reader. So I say all that to say this: my opinion of this and other similar books is merely the mad ramblings of a cranky, middle-aged man who might tell the neighborhood kids to stay off my lawn if I wasn't so incredibly socially intimidated by them. You can stop reading now.What I liked... I wanted to read Darius the Great Is Not Okay because I knew it tackled mental illness, religion, and Star Trek. That's enough to make an easy sell with me. Of the three topics, I thought Khorram's approach to religion was the least simplistic: I didn't feel like he was trying too hard to constantly explain matters of faith to the reader, and this is a huge plus. I also enjoyed how the author handled the various relationships within this story. The bonds that Darius shared with his parents, grandparents, and friend (Sohrab) were explored with some care and introspection, providing the reader with different approaches to each.
What I didn't like so much... There were three elements I saw repeated here that I often see in stories written for a younger audience. And of course, they annoyed me. The first was the repetitiveness. There's this thing in children's and YA books where the same terms and phrases have to be drilled into the reader's brain. I don't know why this is, but it's a thing. One such phrase in Darius the Great... (though there were several) was "soulless minions of orthodoxy." I love that the author gave a nod to Deep Space Nine (my favorite of the Trek series), particularly when the Trek in this novel is very TNG-centric, but there's a point when it's excessive--and that was probably the third utterance of the aforementioned phrase.
The other two patterns I saw in this novel was a need to simplify everything (I know the average reader may not be not fully developed, but must everything be explained?) and a primary focus on plot (this story was better than many, but it was still very plot-centric). But see, here I go being nitpicky...
Overall, I thought Darius the Great... was a better-than-average modern YA (yet seemingly written for a not-quite-YA audience?) novel. It tackles some important topics, even if these subjects are heavily coated in sugar for easier swallowing. I almost gave it four stars. And yet, it never takes on the subject that the book seems to be tiptoeing around the whole time... Perhaps I was looking for something that wasn't meant to be there, but I can't help but feel the character of Darius was not allowed to say what he really wanted to say in these pages.
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LibraryThing member miss.mesmerized
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
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.
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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.
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Awards
Lambda Literary Award (Finalist — 2019)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 2020)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2021)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2022)
Indies Choice Book Award (Honor Book — Young Adult — 2019)
Garden State Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2021)
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2021)
Lincoln Award: Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Award (Nominee — 2021)
Arkansas Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2020)
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (Winner — Young Adult — 2019)
Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature (Recommendations — 2019)
NCSLMA Battle of the Books (High School — 2021)
Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award (Finalist — 2019)
Virginia Readers' Choice (Nominee — High School — 2022)
Middle East Book Award (Winner — Youth Literature — 2019)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2022)
Westchester Fiction Award (Winner — 2019)
William C. Morris YA Debut Award (Winner — 2019)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2021)
Rhode Island Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2020)
ALA Rainbow Book List (Selection — 2019)
Beste Boek voor Jongeren (2020)
Friends of American Writers Award (Juvenile Book — 2019)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Top Ten — 2019)
CCBC Choices (2019)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2020)
Nerdy Book Award (Young Adult Literature — 2018)
Penn GSE's Best Books for Young Readers (Selection — Young Adult — 2018)
New York Public Library Best Books: For Teens (Top Ten — 2018)
Reading Olympics (High School — 2024)
Just One More Page Recommendation List (Young Adult — 2019)
OYAN Book Rave (2019)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2018
Physical description
320 p.; 8.56 inches
ISBN
0525552960 / 9780525552963