#the authentics

The Authentics by Abdi Nazemian 

Abridged Goodreads Summary: 

Daria Esfandyar is Iranian-American and proud of her heritage, unlike some of the “Nose Jobs” in the clique led by her former best friend, Heidi Javadi. Daria and her friends call themselves the Authentics, because they pride themselves on always keeping it real. But in the course of researching a school project, Daria learns something shocking about her past, which launches her on a journey of self-discovery...With infighting among the Authentics, her mother planning an over-the-top sweet sixteen party, and a romance that should be totally off limits, Daria doesn’t have time for this identity crisis. As everything in her life is spinning out of control—can she figure out how to stay true to herself?

Guest reviewer time! Visiting HTBH today is my friend Anna who is great and psyched about this book. Check out her thoughts: 

This adorable YA story about cultural identity, finding yourself, being authentic, and adoption is the perfect diverse read. Here’s a quick look at all it has to offer: Strong independent Iranian-American teen who makes tons of mistakes and is full of emotions without being eye rollingly angsty

A hilarious and adorable group of friends that I kind of want to hang out with

A realistic and flawed (but trying to do better) type of family that you can’t help but love (and probably relate to)

Real emotions! Complicated and conflicting ones! Especially regarding difficulties of high school and friendships and being adopted 

Thought provoking messages

what does it mean to be authentic? How do you stay true to your cultural identity?

A bit of real Iranian history snuck in to make the story deeper without being a boring history lesson

this book legitimately made me a smarter person 

And it might have made me tear up a bit?

“I was the one who had dubbed us the Authentics, because my new friends were the first people I’d met more concerned with being who they were than with who others wanted them to be. At least that’s what we thought.”

Having a strong sense of self can be like a protective armor from an unaccepting world, made up of what we identify with – culture, values, family. But what happens when a seemingly untouchable part of this identity is shattered?  

The Authentics by Abdi Nazemian explores that very question through a way-underrepresented voice in the YA arena. Meet Daria, an Iranian-American immigrant, who has everything she thought she knew about her own past upended. Brought up within Beverly Hills’ Persian community, Daria is proud of her Iranian roots—they’ve helped her define herself. But when she learns new facts about her family history, this fifteen-year-old girl must ask: Who is Daria Esfandyar, if she’s not the person she always thought she was?

Daria goes from worrying about acne and her sixteenth birthday party to stumbling down a path of self-discovery, uncovering secrets kept from her by both friends and family.  I was right there with Daria as she gains a new perspective on authenticity, coming to realize that our truths often evolve over time. We craft new narratives to help us understand ourselves and those we love. We need those stories, she says: “Because stories are the only way to make sense of the chaos and randomness of our world.”

Now ain’t that the truth?

Tuesday’s Treats is a weekly blog post dedicated to newly released books that I’m most excited for. (Books are in no particular order.)

All books featured this week will be released: AUGUST 8th

1. The Authentics: Abi Nazemian (goodreads) (book depository)

Daria is proud of her Iranian heritage, and she and her friends call themselves “the Authentics” because they take pride in staying true to who they are. But when Daria finds out that she’s adopted when researching for a school project, she starts to question everything that’s “authentic” about her.

YA Contemporary Fiction; Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, Hardcover (US)

2. Little & Lion: Brandy Colbert (goodreads) (book depository)

Even though home is far from perfect, Suzette isn’t sure that she wants to go back to boarding school once she gets back. All of her friends and family are home, and her stepbrother, who was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder, needs her help and support. While she’s at home, she even starts to fall for a girl…the same girl her brother is in love with. As her brother starts to struggle, Suzette has to figure out how to help him, while also figuring out how to help herself.

YA Contemporary Fiction, LGBTQIA+; Little, Brown/Hachette, Hardcover (US)

3. The Hearts We Sold: Emily Jones-Lloyd (goodreads) (book depository)

Would you ever make a bargain with a demon? Well, that’s what Dee does in order to escape her home life, and she loses her heart because of it. But things aren’t as simple as Dee thought it would be, and when she starts falling for James, another teen who made a deal with the devil, things start to go a bit out of control.

YA Fantasy; Little, Brown/Hachette, Hardcover (US)

4. The Epic Crush of Genie Lo: F. C. Lee (goodreads) (book depository)

All Genie thinks about, all she wants to think about, is getting into college. But when Quentin Sun, a transfer student, barges into her life, Genie is thrown into a world straight out of her Chinese folklore books her mother read to her as a child. Because Genie has the power to fight them, hidden deep within herself, and her life becomes about more than just school.

YA Urban Fantasy, Mythology; Amulet Books, Hardcover (US)

5. Spellbook of the Lost and Found: Moïra Fowley-Doyle (goodreads) (book depository)

Olive and Rose don’t think much of it when they start suddenly losing things. But one day, it’s obvious that Rose has lost something bigger than a simple hair clip, but won’t tell Olive what it is and that start slipping away from each other. When they find a spellbook that promises to bring back lost things, the two jump at the chance…without realizing that some things shouldn’t be found.

Ever since I read Fowley-Doyle’s The Accident Season a year ago (my review), I’ve been dying to read more from this author. Spellbook of the Lost and Found sounds like it’s going to be a similar novel — a beautifully written magical realism book, dealing with friendships — that I cannot wait to dive into.

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