Darius doesn't feel like he fits in. He doesn't feel Persian enough for his family, yet doesn't feel American enough for his peers. He's exactly like his dad in many ways, including his struggle with depression, yet he feels as if his father is a complete stranger. When Darius and his family take a trip to Iran to visit with his grandparents and other family, he is thrown into a world he knows very little about. But it is there, halfway across the world from where he was born, that he may find the place where he fits in most.
If you enjoy constant references to Star Trek and Lord of the Rings, than Darius is the narrator for you. Even if you're not into any of that stuff, you still get closer to Darius as you continue to read because he's like every other teen--he's questioning his place in this world, himself, and what he should do to change his life around, to find something more. You get to be on the ride with him as he navigates some serious family fractures and acquiring and maintaining the first real best friend relationship he's ever had. It's a quiet story, but one that's told from a unique perspective not often seen in YA literature.
If you enjoy constant references to Star Trek and Lord of the Rings, than Darius is the narrator for you. Even if you're not into any of that stuff, you still get closer to Darius as you continue to read because he's like every other teen--he's questioning his place in this world, himself, and what he should do to change his life around, to find something more. You get to be on the ride with him as he navigates some serious family fractures and acquiring and maintaining the first real best friend relationship he's ever had. It's a quiet story, but one that's told from a unique perspective not often seen in YA literature.