We sat down with Adib Khorram to discuss his origins in our interviewer’s library, the power of language and words in young adult literature, and the power of writing in second person in his new novel, One Word, Six Letters.
On a dare, Freshman Dayton yells a slur at a school assembly and is labeled the school’s resident homophobe. But he’s definitely not and it’s just a word (right?). When Farshid hears that word in their freshman assembly, he wonders if it was directed at him. Maybe if he goes to the gym more and becomes the picture of masculinity, no one will think of him and that word together. As the school year continues, the incident continues to loom over Dayton and Farshid.
Like many of Khorram’s YA books, One Word, Six Letters deals with some sensitive, but important topics with a side of humor. The second-person POV allows readers to see the incident and the fallout from both Dayton and Farshid’s perspectives and dig deeper into the lives and issues that impact these well-developed characters. This books tackles homophobia, misogyny and body dysmorphia as they relate to teen boys, and it does it well. At just over 200 pages, it is also perfect for teens looking for a quick read.
Give to teens looking for a quick but reflective realistic story about high school life. If you enjoyed Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli or How It All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadi, you may like One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram.
-Alejandria Galarza
When Dayton takes a dare and shouts the f slur at a visiting author, the fallout is immediate and severe. Dayton receives a 3 day in school suspension. His friends stop speaking to him. The fallout also affects Farshid who is questioning his sexuality. Farshid is also dealing with anxiety and body dysmorphia issues which are exacerbated by the use of the f slur.
A powerful novel and a great read. Khorram shows how one poor choice can spiral and how slurs used while “just joking” cause harm. The story is told from a dual POV, However, the chapters are clearly labelled enabling the reader to know which character is speaking. Khorram skillfully and sensitively deals with the issues of body dysmorphia , toxic masculinity and being different from your peers. Short chapters and a fast moving plot make this a great Quick Pick!
Similar titles include Here to Stay by Sarah Farizan and Dragging Curtis County by Curtis Campbell.
–Beth Slade
Kiss and Tell by Adib Khorram
Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication Date: March 22, 2022
ISBN: 9780593325261
Hunter is a member of the internationally beloved boy band Kiss and Tell, on their first North American tour. He’s also the only queer member of the band, and going through his first breakup. A messy, public breakup, after his ex posts their texts online. As if that’s not enough, he’s contending with The Label creating and controlling his image of the perfect queer teen role model, and a budding romance with another musician on the tour. Homophobia is present in the text, though never condoned.
Continue reading Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2023) Featured Review of Kiss and Tell by Adib Khorram
In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner; narrated by Michael Crouch
Listening Library
Release date: August 8, 2021
ISBN: 9780593399040
Cash and his friend Delaney are barely surviving in their small Appalachian town. Cash is being raised by his grandparents after his mother succumbed to opioid addiction, and Delaney is running from drug dealers and an unstable home while working at Dairy Queen. A small but profound scientific discovery by Delaney gives her leverage to earn them both places at a prestigious boarding school. Cash is torn between going and leaving behind the grandparents who have raised him and grabbing the otherwise unattainable opportunities the scholarship would give him. Convinced by Delaney to go to the new school, he discovers his inner poet, and goes through many coming of age experiences.
Continue reading Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2022) Featured Review of In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve; narrated by MW Cartozian Wilson
Recorded Books
Release date: April 27, 2021
ISBN: 9781705028339
High school senior Dean has things planned out. In a year, Dean will be majoring in theatre at NYU and living in New York with his girlfriend, Zoe, and his best friend, Ronnie. Plus, Dean just landed the lead role in the school play, Shakespeare’s Romeo. As Dean settles into the role, something is made clear, being a male feels right. Dean is transgender. The story follows Dean as he navigates what being trans means for him and comes out to his friends, family, and community.
In this honest story of self-acceptance, coming out, and navigating new relationships, listeners are granted an inside look into the coming-out process that is both engaging and validating. The story is made even more validating because of the narration. The narrator has a male voice – a voice that probably sounds closer to what Dean hears in his head rather than the high-pitched voice Dean complains of throughout the story.
Continue reading Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2022) Featured Review of Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve
American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar
Random House / Alfred A. Knopf
Publication Date: March 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-1984897152
When Rani meets Oliver, sparks fly. Unfortunately, he is her Indian parents’ worst nightmare. As their relationship deepens, Rani finds herself breaking all the rules to be with Oliver, rejecting her parents’ ideas of propriety in the name of love. Sure, Oliver tends to romanticize her culture as “exotic” and he has expectations she doesn’t always feel comfortable with, but all relationships require compromise and sacrifice, right? When an unexpected family emergency takes Rani away to her family’s home in Pune, India for the summer, she must decide how much she is really willing to give up to be what Oliver needs.
Continue reading Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2022) Featured Review of American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar
The 2021 Morris Award Finalists (shown above) were announced in December, and the winner will be revealed at the ALA Youth Media Awards on January 25. First granted in 2009, the William C. Morris YA Debut Award recognizes the most impressive debut published in Young Adult Literature each year.
With more than a decade of winners to look back on, let’s see which of our former debuts are still impressing readers today.
2010’s Morris Award went to L. K. Madigan’s Flash Burnout. Tragically, the author passed away just a year after receiving the award. The rest of the finalists from that year, however, have continued to contribute to YA in significant ways, perhaps none more notably that Nina LaCour, who went on to win the 2018 Printz Award for We Are Okay. LaCour’s latest novel, Watch Over Me, has been nominated for the 2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults Selected List.
In fact, several names on the 2021 BFYA nominations list were originally finalists for the Morris Award, including 2015’s Jessie Ann Foley, 2016’s Anna-Marie McLemore, 2018’s Nic Stone, and David Yoon in 2020.
Last year’s winner, Ben Phillippe, has been nominated. Both the winner of the 2019 Morris Award and one of its finalists have companion books that were nominated — Adib Khorram with Darius the Great Deserves Better and Tomi Adeyemi with Children of Virtue and Vengeance. And Becky Albertalli, the winner in 2016, is enjoying praise this year for Yes No Maybe So, cowritten with Aisha Saeed.
What about books out in 2021? Morris Award recipients have those, too!
Just released is Concrete Rose, 2018 Morris Award winner Angie Thomas’s follow up to The Hate U Give.
And out in August is In the Wild Light from 2017 Morris Award winner Jeff Zentner.
The moral of the story is this: no matter which finalist is chosen in 2021, we will look forward to reading them for years to come.
Click here to see all of the current Best Fiction for Young Adults nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.
Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram
Dial Books / Penguin Random House
Publication Date: August 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-0593108239
Things have been better for Darius Kellner ever since his life-altering trip to Iran to meet his mother’s family for the first time. He video chats regularly with his first and best friend Sohrab in Iran. His relationship with his father is finally based on more than a mutual affection for “Star Trek” (though they do still love their “Star Trek”). Darius made the varsity soccer team, works at his favorite tea shop, and even has a boyfriend. But now Sohrab isn’t answering Darius’s calls. Trent the bully is still on Darius’s case. His visiting grandmothers are practically strangers to him. And Darius’s feelings for boyfriend Landon and teammate Chip are all confused. Darius might be doing better than okay–but does “better” mean having to settle for less than best?
Continue reading Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2021) Nominees Round Up, August 28 EditionClick here to see all of the current Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America Edited by Ibi Zoboi, with stories by Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, Liara Tamani, Renée Watson, Rita Williams-Garcia and more.
Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 8th 2019
ISBN: 9780062698728
Black Enough is a collection of 17 short stories written by some of the biggest name Black authors of YA. The young Black people in these stories confront all the typical teenage life experiences as well as some atypical ones. Some have tragedy and some romance, and all of the stories are shaped with rich plots and emotions.
Continue reading Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2020) Nominees Round Up, June 4 Edition
