You know what, I'm putting this on my humor bookshelf as well because it had me giving little snorts of laughter throughout the book, with Darius's constant comparisons of real life to Star Trek or Lord of the Rings. But despite it being on my humor shelf, it's one of the most realistic depictions of living with depression (and living with someone with depression) that I've come across in YA literature. As the author says at the end of the book in the Afterword "I wanted to show how depression can affect a life without ruling it". Which is great, because sometimes I feel mental illness is too often used as a plot point and too often authors are quick to make their characters suicidal. In this, both Darius and his father are mentioned many times about taking their medication.

Spoiler

Darius's Dad even mentions about the time his depression became so bad he was having suicidal thoughts but then is able to pull through because of medication. Again, to quote the afterword: "Living with depression...can mean taking medication to stay alive even if it dulls parts of yourself you don't realize are there. (It's absolutely worth it.)" I think that was one of my favorite aspects, where the author does not turn the medication into a scary thing, he normalizes it, he makes sure the reader knows that it's okay to have to medicate to function, it's okay if the medication makes you feel bad, your doctor will get you through it. It's not bad, it's not scary, the doctors aren't out to make a buck, depression is an illness and your family and friends--and even your doctor--are there for you.

My second favorite thing about this book was letting the reader decide for themselves about Darius's feelings towards Sohrab and how deeply that went. This book was LGBTQ friendly without making the book all about relationships and coming out. It is about friendships and family, and it's up to the reader to decide what happens next in Darius's life.

Last but not least: the theme of family. Specifically grandparents. Grandparents that live in another country. The author did a wonderful job writing about the awkwardness of getting to know relatives you don't really know. Seeing your grandparents as people. Getting to know your roots and your family through listening and talking to your grandparents. Visiting where you're from. Those parts of the book were beautifully written and the reader will find themselves falling in love with the family along with Darius.