Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib KhorramMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Darius the Great Is Not Okay is written from the perspective of a Persian-American teenage boy who struggles with depression and anxiety. It's a young adult novel, but it says plenty of good things for adults as well.
The story starts with Darius at home in Portland, Oregon, where he doesn't seem to fit. Teased by his peers, uncomfortable with his father, unpopular at school, overweight, feeling neither truly Persian or American...he's got plenty of reasons to feel out of place. Then his family takes a trip to his mother's home in Iran, which is stressful but also gives him a different perspective, the opportunity to meet family in person for the first time, and where he finds a friend for life.
I know something about being a teenager who doesn't feel like he fits in - don't we all? Some of the situations Darius finds himself in, and his reactions, were extremely familiar. But other parts - Darius' split heritage, his treatment for depression - stood out to me as they hadn't been part of my own experience. Khorram does an excellent job of helping the reader understand how those aspects of Darius' life impacted everything, from how he relates to his family to his ability to communicate to his peer interactions.
This book was a quick read for me, and Khorram's simple and clear writing style is great. There's plenty of humor to balance some of those heavy psychological topics. For me, the fact that Darius' thoughts are laced with references to Star Trek and Lord of the Rings was a big plus. There are also a lot of discussions of tea, for those heavily into that.
I'd recommend that everyone read Darius the Great Is Not Okay. If your personal experience has parallels with that of Darius, you'll find a story that hits close to home. If not, then you'll find a window into a world of split cultural heritage and living with depression. An excellent experience either way.
