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.