Darius the Great is Not OKAY by Adib Khorram

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).