Darius the Great Deserves Better

STONEWALL HONOR BOOK • In this companion novel to the award-winning Darius the Great Is Not Okay, Darius suddenly has it all: a boyfriend, an internship, a spot on the soccer team. It’s everything he’s ever wanted—so why isn’t he happy?

“Explores the intersection of Iranian and queer identity with aching tenderness and realism.”—Abdi Nazemian, Stonewall Honor-winning author of Like a Love Story

“Another wise and charming tale that explores all the complexities of intersectional identities with heart and humor.”—Jasmine Warga, Newbery Honor-winning author of Other Words for Home

Darius Kellner is having a bit of a year.

Since his trip to Iran this past spring, a lot has changed. He’s getting along with his dad, and his best friend Sohrab is only a Skype call away. Between his first boyfriend, Landon, varsity soccer practices, and an internship at his favorite tea shop, things are falling into place.

Then, of course, everything changes. Darius’s grandmothers are in town for a long visit, and Darius can’t tell whether they even like him. The internship is not going according to plan, Sohrab isn’t answering Darius’s calls, and Dad is far away on business. And Darius is sure he really likes Landon . . . but he’s also been hanging out with Chip Cusumano, former bully and current soccer teammate—and well, maybe he’s not so sure about anything after all.

Darius was just starting to feel okay, like he finally knew what it meant to be Darius Kellner. But maybe okay isn’t good enough. Maybe Darius deserves better.