The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Khorram, Adib. Darius the Great is Not Okay. Penguin Books, 2020.

Darius the Great is Not Okay is told from the first-person narrative perspective of its protagonist, Darius Kellner. Half American and half Persian, Darius feels like he belongs to neither culture. He cannot speak Farsi like his mother or sister, Laleh, which prevents him from connecting with his Persian family. He also suffers from depression that he believes further inhibits him from gaining acceptance by Persians and Americans alike. And to top everything off, he struggles to fit in at school. But when his parents decide to visit his dying maternal grandfather in Iran, Darius gradually learns to accept himself and his place in a family that was always waiting for him.

When Darius first arrives in Iran, he feels even more ostracized than he had in America. His grandfather is less welcoming than he anticipated and criticizes Darius for relying on medication to treat his depression when he supposedly has no reason to feel sad. Even his grandmother underestimates Darius and teaches him how to make Persian tea, an art he mastered years prior. He feels even more like an outsider when his new friend Sohrab introduces him to two other boys who tease him for having an uncircumcised penis while they shower together after playing soccer.

During the next few days, Darius grows increasingly disconnected from not only his relatives in Iran but also his own family. Though Darius and his father, Stephen, always honored their nightly tradition of watching Star Trek in America, in Iran, Stephen watches the show with Laleh instead. Darius cannot help but feel jealous of his younger sister, who seamlessly adapted to life in Iran and stole the only peasant ritual Darius shared with Stephen.

However, as Darius spends more time exploring Iran with his family and strengthening his relationship with Sohrab, he becomes increasingly enamored with the country and his new life there. Through their daily soccer games, Sohrab helps Darius recognize his strengths. This increased confidence motivates Darius to learn more about his family and culture until he eventually gains the sense of belonging he previously lacked.

Shortly before the Kellner family returns to America, Sohrab learns that his father died in jail. The traumatic loss causes Sohrab to lash out at Darius, making him doubt all the confidence he accumulated throughout his trip. Feeling broken and alone once more, Darius hides on the park rooftop from which he and Sohrab would admire the city below. When Stephen later finds his son there, Darius discovers that Stephen cherishes and admires him more than he ever realized. The next day, Sohrab also apologizes for his hurtful behavior. Though Darius leaves Iran knowing he will never see his grandfather again, he returns to America feeling grateful for the time they spent together.

When Darius resumes school as a more assured version of himself, he quickly makes new friends and even secures a position on the soccer team. The novel ends with the Kellner family drinking tea together while reminiscing over their time in Iran.