Darius the Great Is Not Okay

This one might fall slightly under a 4 for me. There are parts where the writing style and the main character's monosyllabic “uh” or “ums” get to be a bit clunky, but I think the core of this book is a good read. The friendship in the book was special in a way that is rarely shown in YA novels. The relationship between Darius and his father was nuanced. I learned about a good deal about Persian culture, too and had never heard of Yazd, so I liked a peek into the culture, landmarks, and geography there.