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Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
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English
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DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY

Adib Khorram

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.

Adib Khorram is an author, a graphic designer, and a tea enthusiast. If he's not writing (or at his day job), you can probably find him trying to get his 100 yard Freestyle (SCY) under a minute, or learning to do a Lutz Jump. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri. This is his first novel.
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Published 2018-08-28 by Dial Books for Young Readers

Book

Published 2018-08-28 by Dial Books for Young Readers

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This Sunday (8/5) is National Friendship Day, and we're celebrating Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram (out 8/20 in paperback) all day on Instagram! We're working with 9 influencers with a combined reach of 62.7K followers to join us in posting about Darius on Sunday. These are a mix of nano- and micro-influencers who are supporting fans as well as new Darius readers: _forevermint (29.3K) sempiternal_books (9.3K) bookstorm (6.1K) thewrittenwordandtea (6.1K) thebookishfiasco (5.5K) smileitsjoy (1.9K) venus_reads (1.7K) thisstoryaintover (1.6K) bookishsafespace (1.2K) You can join in, too! Post your photo to Instagram on Sunday with the hashtag #DariusAndFriends, and tag @PenguinTeen and author @adibkhorram.

I've never read a book that so powerfully demonstrates how connecting with where you come from can illuminate who you are and help you figure out where you're going. From its deadpan Star Trek humor to its brilliant examination of mental health, Darius the Great Is Not Okay is a supernova of heart and hope that's sure to become a classic.

The Wall Street Journal (circ. 1,180,460 / 43.6 million UVPM) included DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY in their "Children's Books: Best of 2018" roundup. Read more...

Khorram's debut novel is an affectionate portrait of Iran: the food and aromas, the rich traditions and eclectic culture. As Darius's palpable discomfort begins to give way, readers will understand that home can be more than the physical place you live, and that people who make you feel at home can come into your life unexpectedly.

Goodreads (43.6 million UVPM) highlighted DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY in a roundup of "The YA Trends of 2018" Read more...

This is the hilarious and heartbreaking story of Darius: a clinically-depressed, half-Persian lonely American teenage Trekkie who heads to Iran for the first time to meet his mom's family.

DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY is a 2019 Middle East Book Award Winner! (Youth Literature Category) Read more...

DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OK won the William C. Morris Award and the Apala Young Adult Literature Award (an American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Award) The William C. Morris Award honors a book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrates impressive new voices in young adult literature. The APALA Award honors and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit.

Universal is developing the film adaptation of DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY! Kevin Hamedani and Travis Betz will adapt for Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman's Mandeville Films which is producing. Read more...

Darius the Great is not just okay - he's wonderful. A story about learning who you are, who you want to be in the world, and how family will always be there, no matter how great the physical or emotional distance.

DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY is A TIME Best YA Book of the Year A Buzzfeed Best Young Adult Book of the Year A Wall Street Journal Best Children's Book of the Year A Boston Globe Best Children's Book of the Year A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year A New York Public Library Top 10 Book for Teens An Amazon Best Young Adult Book of the Year A Book Expo Young Adult Buzz Panel Selection A Fall 2018 Kids' Indie Next List Top 10 Pick An Indies Introduce Summer/Fall 2018 Selection

Heartfelt, tender, and so utterly real. I'd live in this book forever if I could.

Hypable (1.6 million UVPM) included the release of DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY in a roundup of "Summer 2018 Movie, TV, and Book Release Dates You Need to Know" Read more...

DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY is a William C. Morris Award Winner APALA Young Adult Literature Award Winner A Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book

Publishers Weekly (1.5 million UVPM) has included DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY in numerous roundups including one of "First-Generation Tales" and an "Immigrant Experience" roundup. Read more...

DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY is a White Raven 2019, i.e. it has been selected for their annual catalogue of book recommendations in the field of international children's and youth literature. This year's »White Ravens« catalogue contains 200 titles in 37 languages from 59 countries. The 200 short reviews are available in the »White Ravens« database on www.ijb.de Read more...

Darius is a geeky, clinically depressed, white-Persian biracial, and a hard-core tea drinker - and he's one of the most irresistible narrators I've ever met. Family circumstances prompt Darius's first trip to Iran, where a new friendship with a boy named Sohrab brings some unexpected feelings to the surface. Khorram's unbelievably big-hearted debut left me sobbing. I loved it. Read more...

PW included Khorram's appearances at Book Expo in their extensive coverage of the show ("Galleys to Grab", "YA Editors Buzz Panel", "Children's Front"), including an interview in the Show Daily. Read more...

Debut author Khorram presents meticulous descriptions and explanations of food, geography, religion, architecture, and English translations of Farsi for readers unfamiliar with Persian culture through characters' dialogue and Darius's observations.. Darius is a well-crafted, awkward but endearing character, and his cross-cultural story will inspire reflection about identity and belonging.

Khorram's debut novel is filled with insight into the lives of teens, weaving together the reality of living with mental illness while also dealing with identity and immigration politics. This tear-jerker will leave readers wanting to follow the next chapter in Darius' life.

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram is a White Raven 2019, i.e. it has been selected for our annual catalogue of book recommendations in the field of international children's and youth literature. This year's »White Ravens« catalogue contains 200 titles in 37 languages from 59 countries. The 200 short reviews are available in the »White Ravens« database on our website www.ijb.de Read more...

Southern Living, Book Riot, and B&N Teen Blog included DARIUS THE GREAT in roundups this week. (July 30, 2018) Read more...

[A] stunning, beautifully written debut novel. Khorram offers a fascinatingly detailed portrait of modern-day Iran, its cultural traditions, its religious diversity, its architectural marvels, its oppressive heat, its family celebrations along with mouthwatering descriptions of Iranian food.

This book is one of our must-reads, and it's on quite a few authors' favorites lists as well. Read more...

Darius the Great is Not Okay is a total knockout. This story of identity and friendship - and how one can inform and reveal the other - will stay with me for a long time. And challenge me too, as a person and artist, which all great books should do. For its exploration of male friendship and cultural expectations alone, Adib Khorram's lovely debut should be required reading.

The Boston Globe (circ. 228,073 / 8.8 million UVPM) included DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY on their list of "The Best Children's Books of 2018" Read more...

Darius the Great Is Not Okay brings Iran alive, with sounds and smells and imagery, and you'll tearfully be rooting for Darius as he struggles with this mental health, identity, and his place in the world.

I love this story, and the way it combines the bitter of adolescence with the sweet of friendship and family. Brewed together they make a beautiful, memorable book.

This is an incredible story of friendship, family, and identity that you absolutely won't regret reading. Read more...

BookPage (133,636 UVPM) included DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY on their list of "The Best Books of 2018" Read more...

Packed with diverse characters, a story that touches on mental health and plenty of nods to geek culture, Darius the Great Is Not Okay deserves a spot on your shelf.

Is your heart still full from reading Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda? Well, do we have the perfect book for you. Adib Khorram's Darius the Great Is Not Okay is a tender look into the life of Darius Kellner, a nerdy half-Persian teenager who's having difficulty finding his place in the world.

While the book doesn't sugarcoat problems in the country (unjust imprisonment and an outdated view of mental illness are mentioned), it mainly stays focused on the positiveIran's impressive landscape and mouthwatering food, the warmth of its peopleas it shows how a boy who feels like an outcast at home finds himself and true friendship overseas.

Buzzfeed (17.7 million UVPM) included DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY in their roundup of "The 24 Best YA Books Of 2018" and "The Ultimate Buzzfeed Gift Guide" Read more...

This is a refreshing bildungsroman and an admirable debut novel that will leave readers wanting more.

As a teenage outcast story, 'Darius the Great Is Not Okay' may seem familiar, but it's layered with complexities of identity, body image and mental illness that are so rarely articulated in the voice of a teenage boy of color. Khorram writes tenderly and humorously about his protagonist's journey of self-acceptance, making it hard not to want to reach through the pages, squeeze his hand and reassure Darius that he is, in fact, going to be O.K.

KCUR-FM, a Kansas City NPR affiliate, aired an in-depth interview with Adib Khorram as a part of Central Standard's "Portrait Sessions". Read more...

A love letter to anyone who has felt uncomfortable in their own skin and wondered where exactly they belonged. A big-hearted and marvelous debut.

Dutch: Gottmer ; Italian: Rizzoli ; Japan: Shueisha ; Russian: Popcorn Books

This emotional and unforgettable YA novel will remind you that sometimes, it's okay if you aren't okay.

Just as Darioush, a tea aficionado, takes his time to brew the perfect cup, so debut novelist Adib Khorram doesn't rush his descriptions of Persian culture. Khorram eloquently shows [how] most divides can be bridged by respect and love.

Shelf Awareness (145,321 UVPM) picked up the Book Expo Young Adult Buzz Panel Selection news in their newsletter. Read more...

Reminiscent of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (better known in movie form as Love, Simon) and Angie Thomas' phenomenal The Hate U Give, the novel chronicles a politically aware teendom where microaggressions are as much an everyday obstacle as untamed acne and humdrum mall jobs. Darius the Great Is Not Okay will have you craving a freshly steeped tea, an episode of Star Trek, and a glass of faloodeh - all courtesy of one delightful package.