May 27, 2021
By Camille Echols
Staff Writer
The feeling of being an outsider is a common topic addressed in books, shows and movies for teens. However, since most of it is written or produced by older adults with no recent understanding of that feeling, a lot of it misses the mark. “Darius the Great is Not Okay” by Adib Khorram, on the other hand, is a coming of age text that young adult readers will enjoy and find relatable.
The novel centers around the protagonist Darius Kellner, who is a teenage boy from Portland, Oregon. Feeling like an outsider everywhere he goes, at school, he is bullied and has hardly any friends. He faces casual racism from his white classmates, which makes him believe he is unwanted.
Darius feels out of place at home as well. His relationship with his father is tense; Darius feels like his father is trying to control every aspect of his life and tries to push him to meet expectations that he simply doesn’t meet. Furthermore, he doesn’t speak Farsi as well as his younger sister, Laleh. This also makes him feel disconnected from the rest of his family.
After finding out that his grandfather is terminally ill, Darius and his family fly to Yazd, Iran to see him one last time before he passes. At the beginning of this visit, Darius once again feels like an outcast among his relatives. He is judged by his grandfather for needing to take antidepressants, and he feels out of place because of the language barrier.
Darius’ life takes a turn for the better after he meets a friend that shares some of the same struggles he has. Though Darius still faces hardships after meeting his friend, Sohrab, having someone to talk and relate to makes him feel less alone. He feels like he finally fits in somewhere. When Darius goes back to America, he will maintain that sense of belonging because he finally understands that he has a place among his family and friends, even if some of them are far away.
This book, which was followed by the companion text “Darius the Great Deserves Better,” was overall very well-received. Many readers will relate to Darius’ struggle being part of two different cultures, never being able to quite fit in among either of them. Darius is a down-to-earth character, and many people will be able to relate to the way he invalidates his own mental illness at the beginning of the novel, claiming he has no reason to be depressed. Readers will also learn from his journey to greater self-awareness, and they will find a sense of comfort in Darius’ honesty.
The novel teaches its readers many important lessons, and the most important one is that sometimes, depression really is just an unavoidable chemical imbalance in someone’s brain. People do not need a reason to be depressed, and they shouldn’t feel the need to justify their depression to themselves or others.
“Darius the Great is Not Okay” is very well-written, and the fact that it is told from the first-person perspective makes it charming and intimate. If this book had been written in third-person, the charm and humor of Darius’ voice would not be there, and the book simply would not be as captivating. Along with this, Darius’ interests are very common among teenagers. His love of “Star Trek” and “The Lord of the Rings” as well as his talent for making tea are all very simple, but they make him an endearing character.
The family dynamics in this novel, while very common and not particularly outstanding, are also relatable. Darius’ sweet and loving relationship with people like his sister and his grandmother are aspects of the novel that allow the reader to get to see his caring side. While Darius’ relationship with his father seems more negative than positive throughout the book, it is easy for readers to relate to their lack of communication and understanding despite their deep caring for each other. It is clear that family is something that matters a lot to Darius, and it is nice to see the different dynamics he has with each family member.
The novel teaches its readers many important lessons, and the most important one is that sometimes, depression really is just an unavoidable chemical imbalance in someone’s brain. People do not need a reason to be depressed, and they shouldn’t feel the need to justify their depression to themselves or others. Invalidating another person’s mental illness because they don’t “look depressed” or they “have no reason to be depressed” is absolutely unacceptable. Mental illnesses are not always as obvious as one may think they are; it is important to check on the people closest to you and encourage them to get help if they seem like they’re struggling and dealing with more than they can handle.
This May marks the 72nd annual Mental Health Awareness Month. The goal of this month is to spread awareness about mental illness as well as destigmatize the struggles those who have mental illnesses face. The stigma around mental health forces people to think that they are alone in their struggles and can lead to their lives spiraling in a negative direction. Simply checking on people you know who are struggling with mental health can help to erase the stigma around it and encourage them, as well as others, to open up about their struggles.
Darius is an example of a teenager who thrives because he has a support system who loves and understands him. He never has to feel alone because he has his father who knows exactly what he is going through because he had similar experiences.
“Darius the Great is Not Okay” reminds its readers that everyone needs a support system, and as Darius bravely reveals through his own experiences, it’s okay to feel that you are “not okay” and to accept help in those dark times.
