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Darius The Great Is Not Okay
Book Overview
Darius doesn't think he'll ever be enough, in America or in Iran. Hilarious and heartbreaking, this unforgettable debut introduces a brilliant new voice in contemporary YA.
Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He's about to take his first-ever trip to Iran, and it's pretty overwhelming--especially when he's also dealing with clinical depression, a disapproving dad, and a chronically anemic social life. In Iran, he gets to know his ailing but still formidable grandfather, his loving grandmother, and the rest of his mom's family for the first time. And he meets Sohrab, the boy next door who changes everything. Sohrab makes sure people speak English so Darius can understand what's going on. He gets Darius an Iranian National Football Team jersey that makes him feel like a True Persian for the first time. And he understand that sometimes, best friends don't have to talk. Darius has never had a true friend before, but now he's spending his days with Sohrab playing soccer, eating rosewater ice cream, and sitting together for hours in their special place, a rooftop overlooking the Yazdi skyline. Sohrab calls him Darioush--the original Persian version of his name--and Darius has never felt more like himself than he does now that he's Darioush to Sohrab. When it's time to go home to America, he'll have to find a way to be Darioush on his own.- This item: Darius The Great Is Not Okay$4.46
- On The Come Up$3.49
- Long Way Down$4.00
Frequently Asked Questions About Darius The Great Is Not Okay
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How long does it take to read Darius The Great Is Not Okay?
It takes about 4 Hours and 41 minutes on average for a reader to read Darius The Great Is Not Okay. This is based on the average reading speed of 250 Words per minute.
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What is the reading level for Darius The Great Is Not Okay?
The recommended reading level for Darius The Great Is Not Okay is 7th Grade and Up .
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How long is Darius The Great Is Not Okay?
Darius The Great Is Not Okay is 320 pages long.
- Who wrote Darius The Great Is Not Okay?
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Which number is Darius The Great Is Not Okay in the Darius the Great series?
Darius The Great Is Not Okay is book #1 in the Darius the Great Book Series and comes before Darius The Great Deserves Better
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Which awards has Darius The Great Is Not Okay won?
Darius The Great Is Not Okay won the following awards:
in 2019 Darius The Great Is Not Okay won the William C. Morris YA Debut Award in category .
in 2019 Darius The Great Is Not Okay won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature in category .
Books like Darius The Great Is Not Okay
Book Reviews (6)
Great representation
Derived From Web , Sep 17, 2021
For an advanced copy of this book, thank you to the Penguin Young Readers Group, Dial Books and NetGalley. Darius is the child of a Persian mother and an American father, but he has always felt that his Persian side is lacking. He also struggles to connect with his father, though they both deal with depression and have a mutual love of Star Trek. When his grandfather is sick, Darius and his family go to Iran to spend time with him. While there, Darius makes a friend who accepts him as he is. Darius the Great is full of representational health, PersianMiddle Eastern and LGBTQ+ representation.
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Recommended to buy:
Yes
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Wonderful coming of age story.
Derived From Web , Jun 2, 2021
Audible Review 4.5* Overall 4 out of 5 stars Performance 5 out of 5 stars Story 4 out of 5 stars Terrific coming of age story. Darius the Great is Not Okay... was more than okay! It was educational and heartfelt and poignant and insightful. I loved being with Darius in Iran and learning about the culture and history of the area. This book was heavy on relationships and not all good. Although there was hope for some at the end of the book. I really enjoyed this story, much more than I expected. I look forward to hearing the follow-up, Darius the Great Deserves better. I think Darius is such a compelling character that he stole my heart a little. I thought the narration was fantastic, I'm very glad I listened to the audiobook. Michael Levi Harris did a wonderful job with all the different voices and there were a lot of them!
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Recommended to buy:
Yes
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Nice coming-of-age story
Derived From Web , Jan 4, 2021
Darius feels out-of-place with his family, at school, even on his job. When his family travels to Iran to stay with his grandfather, who is dying of a brain tumor, Darius has the chance to figure out who he is and who he wants to be. This was a beautiful coming-of-age story and I enjoyed watching Darius grow up and in particular seeing how his relationship with his father changed. The cultural aspects gave this a lot more depth than is typical of this genre, and it does a great job of showing his troubles as an Iranian in America, but also as an American in Iran. My only complaint was that it felt a little too easily resolved with his father and his friendship with Sohrab, although in the young adult genre it is not unusual.
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Recommended to buy:
No
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Darious is not ok- but the book is great.
Derived From Web , Aug 31, 2020
Book of ya is good! Addresses fatherson relationship, not often covered and close boy friendship, also rarely covered. I learned a lot about Iran, how beautiful it is and about the minority of the B’hai faith. The writer did not address, however, how conflicted the speaker would feel about his home country once he learns about the mistreatment of his friend's family. He seems to accept it simply as it is. This part was a little problematic. Otherwise, the writing was right on the mark with the complexity of family and intergenerational relationships.
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Recommended to buy:
Yes
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Culturally Insightful; Mediocre Writing
Derived From Web , May 21, 2019
I bought this book for my elementary school classroom. I read it before putting it on the shelves, though. For this reason, I appreciate the insight into the Iranian culture and I want it on my shelves for my students. The writing itself is, however, not particularly engaging. It is quite simple and frankly mediocre. The main character, too, is supposed to be one that draws out compassion, but I did not find myself investing really in him.
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Recommended to buy:
No
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Slow, boring according to my 15 yo
Derived From Web , Apr 22, 2019
Based on the reviews, I bought this hardcover, now I wish I had only a used or Kindle version. He is midway and is usually entranced by a praising grown-up book by now. But this time he is simply not engaged by the story or characters in this book... and that is rare for him.
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Recommended to buy:
No
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