Darius was named after Darius the Great but he doesn't feel great. He is bullied at school and medicated for depression. He feels less than his little sister because mom taught Lelah Farsi to communicate with their grandparents in Iran but he was never taught. He thinks he is a disappointment to his father because he is not sporty and is depressed even though his dad is also on depression medication. When they find out that grandpa is sick the family heads to Iran to visit him. This is Darius first trip to Iran and he is concerned about how he will communicate with his family there. 

Iran is different from what Darius thought it would be and he comes to truly love his grandparents and extended family. He also makes a friend for the first time. Darius and Sohrab become the type of friends that you know will last even though they lives worlds away. This is a quieter book with not a lot of action. It is more introspective as Darius tries to figure out who he is and what he wants out of life.