Parents' Guide to

Darius the Great Is Not Okay

Book Adib Khorram Coming of Age 2018
Darius the Great Is Not Okay Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Lucinda Dyer By Lucinda Dyer , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 12+

Unforgettable, heartwarming story of friendship and family.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 12+?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 1 parent review

hisname_harvi
hisname_harvi Adult
October 17, 2019
age 11+

A heart-wrenching and solid book. So many things that you can learn. About family, affection, friendship, and love. Kind of light-reads. Because this book isn't kind of thought provoking book. Character recognition is so good and effective. Without doubt, 5 Starss

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What's the Story?

Darius Grover Kellner, the main character in DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY, is Half-Persian and half-American, fat, bad at sports, a serious Star Trek nerd, and works after school at a local tea shop -- all of which makes him a target for verbal bullying by the jocks at his Portland, Oregon, high school. It doesn't help that his architect father keeps telling him to stand up to them and try to "act a little more normal." This hurts Darius to the core, as he's never understood why his father has emotionally shut him out. They only spend time together in the evenings, when they watch a single episode of Star Trek. But they share one very significant thing in common: Both are taking medication for clinical depression. When Darius' mother learns that her father is dying of cancer, the family decides it's time to make a first visit to Iran for Darius and his younger sister, Laleh. The visit is a life-changer for him, as he makes a first-ever best friend, a teen neighbor named Sohrab. They bond over playing soccer (Darius discovers he's actually pretty good at it) and the fact that they both feel like outsiders (Sohrab is a Bahai, an often-discriminated minority in Iran).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

This gentle, heartwarming cross-cultural coming-of-age story delivers a profound message of hope for any teen who's struggled with depression or felt they'd never fit in. There's no sex or violence or profanity-laced dialogue in Darius the Great Is Not Okay, simply an almost-impossible-to-put-down story told by a nerdy teen with a wicked sense of humor, who, like so many boys and girls in middle and high school, is picked on simply because he has different interests and looks different.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what Darius the Great Is Not Okay taught them about living with depression. Do you have any friends or family members who are challenged by depression? Why do you think it's something people are so reluctant to talk about?

  • Darius' father tells him he should stand up to bullies and try to "act a little more normal." Do you think this is good advice, or is there a better way to handle verbal bullying?

  • Where are your ancestors from? Does your family eat any special food from that country or celebrate any of its holidays?

Book Details

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