This book was one of my most anticipated reads for 2018. It's a story about Darius who is half white and half Iranian and he feels like he doesn't belong anywhere. He is also an avid lover of tea. He and his family go to Iran for the first time (his mother is originally from there) when his grandfather becomes sick. He doesn't know the language and can barely communicate with anyone.
I connected a lot to his interactions with his grandparents. I am Polish and even though Polish is technically my first language, I lived in America for my entire life and only spoke to them over the phone. You know you love them but when it comes to communicating, you are at a stand still because you don't know what to say. I understood this so well and really connected to it.
Darius also meets a guy his age and becomes quick friends with him. The friendship is awkward at first but they slowly become close. I also liked seeing Darius grow as a person. He learns a lot about himself and his family and even gains a relationship with his father.
I loved the story as well as the writing. I liked how real the author was, especially in terms of what it's like being a teen. I can't remember a single book where the author talks about weight in terms of being a male as well as pimples! We're not perfect human beings and we don't constantly want to read about perfect people...that's not reality.
I connected a lot to his interactions with his grandparents. I am Polish and even though Polish is technically my first language, I lived in America for my entire life and only spoke to them over the phone. You know you love them but when it comes to communicating, you are at a stand still because you don't know what to say. I understood this so well and really connected to it.
Darius also meets a guy his age and becomes quick friends with him. The friendship is awkward at first but they slowly become close. I also liked seeing Darius grow as a person. He learns a lot about himself and his family and even gains a relationship with his father.
I loved the story as well as the writing. I liked how real the author was, especially in terms of what it's like being a teen. I can't remember a single book where the author talks about weight in terms of being a male as well as pimples! We're not perfect human beings and we don't constantly want to read about perfect people...that's not reality.