Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

61 reviews

roxanned's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Bullying

Moderate: Racism, Body shaming, and Terminal illness

Minor: Death of parent and Suicidal thoughts

aformeracceleratedreader's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved this. I related so hard to both being a mixed person with an immigrant mom who has gone back to the motherland a few times and also as a person with mental illness. That feeling of being too other in the U.S. and then being too other/not enough in the motherland is a difficult feeling to deal with. And family/friends making fun of you in what they consider normal per their culture while in yours it is rude/hurtful/a sensitive topic because you are hyper self conscious of certain things. Darius trying to navigate his relationship with his family in Iran IRL was also something I have done when I go back to the motherland.

When I tell you I bawled, it was full ugly crying. This is quite emotional and so wonderful. This is a book I def needed when I was younger but still resonates so strongly with me now as an adult. I connected so strongly with Darius throughout the whole book. Many of his thoughts and feelings I have experienced/do experience even now.

Informative in so many aspects about Iran and Iranian culture as well. I definitely want to go to Iran to see everything and eat everything!
I'm glad we didn't get told about Babou's illness progression past Darius leaving Iran because I don't think I could handle even more crying. Definitely look at content warnings because along with mental illness, there is some brief discussion on Babou's illness, and some discussion of Iran's political climate.
There is just so much in this book for me that made it 10000% worth my time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Racism, Mental illness, Bullying, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Dementia, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Police brutality

emhunsber's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Fatphobia, and Mental illness

Minor: Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Death, and Cancer

yoursupremereads's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Khorram has written something truly special with this book. Centered around a young queer Persian boy going to his mother's hometown to see his grandparents for the first time, Darius The Great Is Not Okay does a lot of work in a short amount of time. Add to it that the main character Darius is a complete nerd/weeb who interjects with sci-fi puns and comparisons in every chapter kept me smiling the whole way through. Khorram also did something incredible in giving Darius a new best friend that results in one of the best platonic male relationships I've seen in a book in a while. This story also tackles mental illness, but in a way that doesn't define Darius as his one facet, it's there, he acknowledges it, it is forever present, but it's just a sliver of who this sweet boy is. Plus, he loves tea, his abject love for tea is downright adorable. And Khorram takes the time to teach you not only about different kinds of tea that Darius loves, but also about Persian tea and customs that Darius is getting to learn about with you the reader while going to see his grandparents. All in all. A precious story and another wonderful addition to the YA queer canon. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Body shaming, Grief, and Mental illness

Minor: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, and Death

loverofvenus's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

maybe i'm biased because a second-gen immigrant of color with depression but i love this book sm, man. it explores issues i struggle with irl: depression, body-insecurity, being poc, not being sure how to interact with family. also he's lowkey queer so. slay. (also, for fellow indians, the author did a thing with jasmines & it did get me teary-eyed for a sec.)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming

imstephtacular's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Dementia, Bullying, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming

Minor: Alcohol, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Islamophobia, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism

jamieschecter's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Bullying

Moderate: Cancer, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Terminal illness, Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Body shaming, and Death

Minor: Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Cursing, and Forced institutionalization

nitya's review

emotional funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Read for MLIS elective

This book is stuffed with Lord of the Rings and Star Trek references, which delighted my nerdy heart, but I get that not everyone will enjoy them.

I also loved the focus on friendship and Darius' journey in exploring his heritage and family bonds. Definitely checking out the sequel!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Ableism, and Racism

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Death of parent

maya_reads_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Body shaming

thereaderfriend's review

challenging emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Bullying, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, and Racism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

Didn't like it at first bc i thought the character was cringy with all the Star Trek references he mentioned but it lessened as the story went on. I’m glad to see depression rep the way it was shown in this story—how it didn’t take up his whole life. The character development was really great. I loved the bonds between his family and his best friend too. Seemed realistic and likeable. Can’t wait for the sequel!