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intonewrealms's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
CW: depression; side effects from medication; suicidal thoughts; body confidence issues; (undiagnosed) anxiety; chronic illness
Darius has always lived in the uncomfortable position of being seen as too different by his American classmates but also too American when compared to other Persians. His mum said she didn’t see any point in speaking Farsi to him growing up but this clearly isn’t truthfully the reason because she has spoken it to his little sister, who is now pretty fluent. That leaves him and his dad united in feeling awkward at family gatherings, but united is perhaps not the word as Darius feels a world away from his dad most of the time too, except when they perform their nightly ritual of watching Star Trek together.
When his babou gets very sick, the family travels to Iran for the first time. Here Darius gets to be the Persian version of himself, Darioush, however it’s still a lot more difficult than he had anticipated. He really loves his sister, in the playing doll tea parties together not just the being a macho older brother way, but he struggles with intense jealousy over the fact that she fits in perfectly both at school in America and in Iran. He’s struggled with depression since he was young, but here in Iran he feels even worse about it because there is constant confusion from those around him about why he is depressed when he has never “had anything bad happen to him” and what his pills are doing to his body.
It was really interesting to learn about Persian culture and Farsi both from what Darius already knew and what we learn with him. I really like the content of this book but I just didn’t really vibe with the style in which it was told. The fact that there was so much repetition really pulled me out of things, and I didn’t personally like the way Darius described everything as ‘level _’, again it was very repetitive. However, that could just be something that bugs me personally, and I am very invested in the story, and intrigued about the next one as I know that it deals more heavily with his sexual identity, which wasn’t ever really a focus here as that wasn’t a part of Darius that he was really exploring at this stage of his life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
20sidedbi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
thecasualbooknerd's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.0
This book was so cute! And as a ‘half-n-half’ myself I related so much to Darius and his time visiting “home”.
This book made me feel feelings 🥰
Definitely one to reread & recommend!
This book made me feel feelings 🥰
Definitely one to reread & recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Racism
Minor: Fatphobia and Grief
menomica's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
“Your place was empty before. But this is your family. You belong here.”
Aaaahhh.
I love the Bahrami family. Everyone is so sweet and loving and supportive. I love Darious. I thought this would be a romance novel but it’s really just the story of a boy navigating his identity and his depression. He’s so sweet and creative, and such a good brother 🥺.
I love the Bahrami family. Everyone is so sweet and loving and supportive. I love Darious. I thought this would be a romance novel but it’s really just the story of a boy navigating his identity and his depression. He’s so sweet and creative, and such a good brother 🥺.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Body shaming
Minor: Fatphobia, Xenophobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
jennikreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Confinement
booksbutmakeitgay's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Bullying, Death of parent, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Bullying
Moderate: Racism, Body shaming, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death of parent and Suicidal thoughts
briochemondays's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Religious bigotry
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
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.
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.
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Fatphobia, and Mental illness
Minor: Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Death, and Cancer