This book is going on my list of best books read this year. Darius the Great is Not Okay tells the story of a teenager dealing with family, friends and mental health challenges. It's beautifully written, honest, and encouraging. As Darius works through these challenges, he grows by learning about his family, his friend, and himself. He's a likable, relatable character. In addition to the well-developed characters, I also enjoyed learning about Persian culture throughout the book. The traditions and cultural norms were new to me. I appreciated the generosity of the traditions illustrated in the story. This is important book for YA readers. I think it's one of those stories that can make a big difference in the lives of kids who need to see themselves in books.