Darius the Great Is Not Okay

Darius Kellner lives in Portland, USA, and, as a big Star Trek fan, speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about the behaviour of hobbits than Persians. He's a Fractional Persian-his mom grew up in Iran-and his first-ever trip there is about to change his life. Darius has never really fit in at home, and he's sure things are going to be the same in Iran. His clinical depression doesn't help, and trying to explain his medication to his grandparents only makes things harder. His relationship with his father is difficult, too. Then Darius meets Sohrab, the boy next door, and everything changes. Soon, they get very close, and spend their days together, playing soccer, eating faludeh, and talking for hours on a secret rooftop above the city.

Sohrab calls him Darioush-the original Persian version of his name-and Darius has never felt more like himself than he does now. Perhaps he will be okay after all...