fossilreads 's review for:

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

4.5

emotional hopeful reflective tense

Plot or Character Driven: Character

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"And it had felt like a tourist thing, going to visit the ruins of Persepolis. Even if they were part of our family history. Even if they were our heritage. 
How could I be a tourist in my own past?"

I picked this book up by chance at the library and don't regret the choice at all. I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster by deep issues and feeling so understood in my multicultural family experience.

Darius is a nerdy teen, who feels out of place wherever he is. Mos of his Star Trek references went over my head because I've never watched the show but that didn't cause any issues in the full experience. It was like talking with a friend who happens to like a different show than you.

I felt so seen in Darius' experience of meeting your extended family abroad for the first time when you're slightly older and don't even know the language that well. It's difficult feeling out of place in one way and then suddenly feeling out of place the exact opposite way.

I loved the friendship he found in Sohrab and even when there were some tough times, they grew, actually apologised and were better in the future. Darius also needed to navigate very differing views on his depression.

As a whole this book was complex and very emotional, from sadness to laughter and grief to relief, there was so much to feel through every chapter.