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One Word, Six Letters
Two teen boys grapple with identity and accountability and set off a ripple effect within their community after a school assembly is disrupted by a shouted slur.
Freshmen Dayton and Farshid couldn’t be more different—or so it seems.
When Dayton takes a dare and shouts the f-slur at a visiting author during a school event, it sets off a chain reaction that forces both boys to face parts of themselves they’d rather ignore.
Dayton, grappling with the fallout of his actions, faces rejection from his friends, disappointment from his parents, and a growing awareness of the harm he’s caused. Meanwhile, Farshid is left to untangle his own feelings—about himself and about the quiet struggle of coming to terms with his queerness in a world steeped in heteronormativity.
As their lives unexpectedly intersect, Dayton and Farshid must reckon with what kind of men they want to become and whether they have the courage to defy toxic masculinity and societal expectations.
Timely, raw, and deeply thought-provoking, this novel is perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Nic Stone.
Freshmen Dayton and Farshid couldn’t be more different—or so it seems.
When Dayton takes a dare and shouts the f-slur at a visiting author during a school event, it sets off a chain reaction that forces both boys to face parts of themselves they’d rather ignore.
Dayton, grappling with the fallout of his actions, faces rejection from his friends, disappointment from his parents, and a growing awareness of the harm he’s caused. Meanwhile, Farshid is left to untangle his own feelings—about himself and about the quiet struggle of coming to terms with his queerness in a world steeped in heteronormativity.
As their lives unexpectedly intersect, Dayton and Farshid must reckon with what kind of men they want to become and whether they have the courage to defy toxic masculinity and societal expectations.
Timely, raw, and deeply thought-provoking, this novel is perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Nic Stone.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 2026
About the author
Adib Khorram
14 books1,958 followersADIB KHORRAM is the author of DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY, which earned the William C. Morris Debut Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature, and a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor, as well as a multitude of other honors and accolades. His followup, DARIUS THE GREAT DESERVES BETTER, received three starred reviews, was an Indie Bestseller, and received a Stonewall Honor. His debut picture book, SEVEN SPECIAL SOMETHINGS: A NOWRUZ STORY was released in 2021. When he isn’t writing, you can find him learning to do a Lutz jump, practicing his handstands, or steeping a cup of oolong. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where people don’t usually talk about themselves in the third person. You can find him on Twitter (@adibkhorram), Instagram (@adibkhorram), or on the web at adibkhorram.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
March 22, 2026
Powerful. And so important.
One Word, Six Letters is YA. Lower YA, maybe even upper MG with fourteen-year-old main characters. And still, this is a story all ages should read.
This book is based on a true event. Adib Khorram was giving a talk to an auditorium full of high schoolers when someone interrupted him, shouting that six-letter slur. He started thinking about it. Why did the boy do it? How are the ones who will remember this for the rest of their lives healing from it? What does it mean to forgive? What does it mean to remember? Will that boy ever be given a chance to reflect on his mistakes, apologize for the hurt he caused, and allowed to heal it? Will his classmates ever get to feel safe and welcome in their school again?
Dayton is the one who throws out the slur. For a bet. For $20. Because he is hungry.
Farshid is the one who gets scared. Who hears the slur in the hallways constantly. Who is afraid to come out.
Both POVs are incredibly strong. Maybe the second-person narrative will throw you off. I needed my time with it too. But I urge you to pull through. Choosing this narrative makes the story incredibly intimate and the events hardly able to escape.
So, so powerful. And important.
Thank you, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this amazing ARC!
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One Word, Six Letters is YA. Lower YA, maybe even upper MG with fourteen-year-old main characters. And still, this is a story all ages should read.
This book is based on a true event. Adib Khorram was giving a talk to an auditorium full of high schoolers when someone interrupted him, shouting that six-letter slur. He started thinking about it. Why did the boy do it? How are the ones who will remember this for the rest of their lives healing from it? What does it mean to forgive? What does it mean to remember? Will that boy ever be given a chance to reflect on his mistakes, apologize for the hurt he caused, and allowed to heal it? Will his classmates ever get to feel safe and welcome in their school again?
Dayton is the one who throws out the slur. For a bet. For $20. Because he is hungry.
Farshid is the one who gets scared. Who hears the slur in the hallways constantly. Who is afraid to come out.
Both POVs are incredibly strong. Maybe the second-person narrative will throw you off. I needed my time with it too. But I urge you to pull through. Choosing this narrative makes the story incredibly intimate and the events hardly able to escape.
So, so powerful. And important.
Thank you, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this amazing ARC!
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November 17, 2025
"But safety’s all relative, at least here in America, where strangers can come and shoot you in class. As opposed to back in Iran, where the police could come and kidnap you from class, and then kill you later in secret."
The second person POV might be a bit of a challenge for some readers, but despite that, this was a really great YA contemporary read.
Adib Khorram captured the reality of being a teenager so well that, at times, I had such a visceral reaction whenever a character was experiencing major anxiety. I'm far removed from my teenage years, but I kept getting flashbacks to scenarios from high school that I'd rather not think about.
So, kudos to the author for writing such realistic and relatable scenes.
I loved that the author explored teenage growing pains such as wanting to fit in, body image issues for boys, having questionable friends, juggling familial expectations with school and friends, coming out, etc. There were so many of these little details and scenarios that combined to make this book such a great read and with such realistic characters.
I'd definitely recommend this novel. This was such a well-written and multilayered story.
Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) and NetGalley for this arc.
April 21, 2026
One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram
YA LGBTQ fiction, coming of age.
During a school assembly, freshman Dayton takes a dare, and shouts the f-slur at a visiting guest. He did it for the money, not really understanding the meaning, much less the impact. Dayton is shunned by his friends, teachers, parents, and finds his life irrevocably changed. He’s treated as a bully and social villain.
Farshid is struggling with his own sexual identity and body image. Who does he want to be? He sees impact of that 6 letter word.
Heart wrenching story.
Who are you? Who do you want to be? Is it even a choice?
Powerful.
YA LGBTQ fiction, coming of age.
During a school assembly, freshman Dayton takes a dare, and shouts the f-slur at a visiting guest. He did it for the money, not really understanding the meaning, much less the impact. Dayton is shunned by his friends, teachers, parents, and finds his life irrevocably changed. He’s treated as a bully and social villain.
Farshid is struggling with his own sexual identity and body image. Who does he want to be? He sees impact of that 6 letter word.
Heart wrenching story.
Who are you? Who do you want to be? Is it even a choice?
Powerful.
March 5, 2026
He packed so much in this short novel. Timely, engaging and important topics for kids and adults alike! Loved it.
March 23, 2026
This was an impactful YA novel that shows the importance of standing against people who say and do vile things. This is a lesson that we all need to be particularly aware of in today’s political climate.
April 8, 2026
The book deals with many issues that affect teenagers, such as wanting to fit in, body image concerns, making questionable friends, and coming out. The story is told from two perspectives, both of which are very strong. I had no idea that the book was inspired by a real-life incident in which a student directed a slur at the author. It's inspiring how Adib Khorram took this negative experience and created something special to share with us all.
April 14, 2026
Will need some time with this before I write a real review, but (a) this was incredible, (b) the audiobook production is stellar.
Okay. It’s been a while, I’ve percolated, and ultimately I think what I loved the most about this (other than, y’know, the entirety of the audiobook experience, which I really need to say again was above and beyond most audiobooks) was how deftly everything was handled in the realms of accountability and intent, and how easy it is to fall into the trap of "But I said I was sorry!" when so much of North American culture (I know I’m oversimplifying here, but) just… skips impact and restitution. The inciting incident is exactly that: it creates the narrative. It’s never solved, fixed, or done.
That felt real.
At the start, being anywhere in Dayton’s POV felt like wearing an itchy wet wool sweater. As a queer dude, I loathed him and his ilk back in the day—the ones who could say and do anything using "it’s just a joke!" as a shield to effectively avoid any and all consequences. It’s nice to know (and believe!) that there would be consequences these days—and there was a single line in the book at one point, something like "do people really get beat up in school, or was that just movies?" that made me stop walking and just breathe for a few minutes. The dog was seriously perplexed, but the thought that queer kids might have that extra layer of safety—even afraid, even wondering if it might happen—as something not experienced or seen as a matter of course, relegated to fiction?
Oh man, that… landed hard. I needed some time with that single line, all by itself.
And Farshid—man, I just wanted to give him a hug. Those days as a young teen (or, well, pre-teen for so many of us) of wanting to be wrong about that thing you don’t want to even name (or don’t have words for) was pitch-perfect, and while I took the route of "hide and become invisible" his route of becoming as physically "not" as possible was the other side of the same coin, really. And holy crap, how easy it was to imagine/slip into that train of thought. His coming out moments—narratively the perfect balance of "of course his parents aren’t upset!" alongside "but he has no way to know—truly know—that!" was another air-kiss moment. Even now as an adult where the power of someone to impact my life is likely quite small, coming out never feels zero-risk. When you’re a kid? You can’t know. Even if a parent has said all the right things it might not be real when they’re facing it down personally. I love how it turned out, but I love that it wasn’t written as a nothingburger.
I’ll also note the use of second person in this book was a stellar choice. It made wearing that wet wool sweater as Dayton feel possible, as well as the present tense driving home the immediacy and in-the-moment burn of the emotionality of teen boys, and in Farshid’s chapters, it was like time travel at some points, but also immersive in others. Ditto with Dayton chapters—I got him, even when I didn’t at all relate to him, and the writing there was stellar to reach the point of "none of this is as clear cut as you think, even when you’re not incorrect about who did real wrongs."
Nuance. Maybe that’s the best word for all of it. None of this is easy to live through, and none of it is ever going to be simple or straightforward (no pun intended).
And I freaking loved how the tense and POV choice allowed for an ultimately sublime last few sentences.
Okay. It’s been a while, I’ve percolated, and ultimately I think what I loved the most about this (other than, y’know, the entirety of the audiobook experience, which I really need to say again was above and beyond most audiobooks) was how deftly everything was handled in the realms of accountability and intent, and how easy it is to fall into the trap of "But I said I was sorry!" when so much of North American culture (I know I’m oversimplifying here, but) just… skips impact and restitution. The inciting incident is exactly that: it creates the narrative. It’s never solved, fixed, or done.
That felt real.
At the start, being anywhere in Dayton’s POV felt like wearing an itchy wet wool sweater. As a queer dude, I loathed him and his ilk back in the day—the ones who could say and do anything using "it’s just a joke!" as a shield to effectively avoid any and all consequences. It’s nice to know (and believe!) that there would be consequences these days—and there was a single line in the book at one point, something like "do people really get beat up in school, or was that just movies?" that made me stop walking and just breathe for a few minutes. The dog was seriously perplexed, but the thought that queer kids might have that extra layer of safety—even afraid, even wondering if it might happen—as something not experienced or seen as a matter of course, relegated to fiction?
Oh man, that… landed hard. I needed some time with that single line, all by itself.
And Farshid—man, I just wanted to give him a hug. Those days as a young teen (or, well, pre-teen for so many of us) of wanting to be wrong about that thing you don’t want to even name (or don’t have words for) was pitch-perfect, and while I took the route of "hide and become invisible" his route of becoming as physically "not" as possible was the other side of the same coin, really. And holy crap, how easy it was to imagine/slip into that train of thought. His coming out moments—narratively the perfect balance of "of course his parents aren’t upset!" alongside "but he has no way to know—truly know—that!" was another air-kiss moment. Even now as an adult where the power of someone to impact my life is likely quite small, coming out never feels zero-risk. When you’re a kid? You can’t know. Even if a parent has said all the right things it might not be real when they’re facing it down personally. I love how it turned out, but I love that it wasn’t written as a nothingburger.
I’ll also note the use of second person in this book was a stellar choice. It made wearing that wet wool sweater as Dayton feel possible, as well as the present tense driving home the immediacy and in-the-moment burn of the emotionality of teen boys, and in Farshid’s chapters, it was like time travel at some points, but also immersive in others. Ditto with Dayton chapters—I got him, even when I didn’t at all relate to him, and the writing there was stellar to reach the point of "none of this is as clear cut as you think, even when you’re not incorrect about who did real wrongs."
Nuance. Maybe that’s the best word for all of it. None of this is easy to live through, and none of it is ever going to be simple or straightforward (no pun intended).
And I freaking loved how the tense and POV choice allowed for an ultimately sublime last few sentences.
March 25, 2026
This should be required reading for middle and high school students. This powerful YA novel addresses so many important issues, starting with the power of words. When one 14 year-old student dares another student to shout out a 6 letter word during a school assembly, his life changes. “But it was just a word”. Words matter. Words do damage. The author never mentions the word, which I appreciated.
Themes include sexuality, body dysmorphia, religion, and standing up for your friends.
Themes include sexuality, body dysmorphia, religion, and standing up for your friends.
April 7, 2026
What a way to counteract a hateful act. Once, Adib Khorram had a student shout a homophobic slur at him during an author visit, and now we have this powerful dual POV story about a kid who shouts a slur as a dare, and the ripple effect that has on himself, as well as a fellow student who suddenly feels unsafe and starts to wonder why the slur affected him so. This is one of those books that absolutely should be read in schools. It's lower YA, which feels rare nowadays, and I think all upper middlegrade and lower YA readers should pick it up.
October 22, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan publishing for providing the ARC. I was drawn into the alternating perspectives of Dayton and Farshid immediately. The pacing of the story was excellent, and as a teacher at an all-boys school, I can think of many ways in which this book would be invaluable to students in our community. I am excited for it to be released so that I can share it more widely with my colleagues.
March 26, 2026
Thank you so much @henryholtbooks / @macmillanusa for this advanced copy to review and to @adibkhorram for always writing the most incredible books that speak to my heart directly (And for always, always, always indulging me. I am so happy I found you and I can’t wait to hug you!!!).
This will be a spoiler free review. And also - once you finish this book, please do NOT skip Adib’s author’s note. My face was a waterfall by the end and I’m continuously impressed by the way Adib makes me feel everything.
This book is written in second person and it’s the most effective way to tell this story. You truly feel inserted into what is going on. Being inside Dayton and Farshid’s heads was eye-opening and heart-wrenching. Their journeys could not be more different. Yet, I found myself quietly observing, wanting to know how this story would wind up.
I was deeply satisfied by the ending. It really made me think and encouraged me to ask more questions, try to be better than I was the day before, and to hold onto the ones you love.
I will not stop thinking about this book for a long time. I can’t wait for you to experience it. I’ve never read anything quite like it, and I’ve read a LOT of books. I’m sitting here just staring at my phone, trying to think of more words. But I’ll leave you with this to entice you to pick up this book:
“One word. Six letters like daggers, shouted for all the school to hear. So why does it feel like they’re aimed at you?”
This will be a spoiler free review. And also - once you finish this book, please do NOT skip Adib’s author’s note. My face was a waterfall by the end and I’m continuously impressed by the way Adib makes me feel everything.
This book is written in second person and it’s the most effective way to tell this story. You truly feel inserted into what is going on. Being inside Dayton and Farshid’s heads was eye-opening and heart-wrenching. Their journeys could not be more different. Yet, I found myself quietly observing, wanting to know how this story would wind up.
I was deeply satisfied by the ending. It really made me think and encouraged me to ask more questions, try to be better than I was the day before, and to hold onto the ones you love.
I will not stop thinking about this book for a long time. I can’t wait for you to experience it. I’ve never read anything quite like it, and I’ve read a LOT of books. I’m sitting here just staring at my phone, trying to think of more words. But I’ll leave you with this to entice you to pick up this book:
“One word. Six letters like daggers, shouted for all the school to hear. So why does it feel like they’re aimed at you?”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this advanced copy.
One word, Six Letters Basically thought us that a word can shape a person. Especially all those slur Words that people usually used and said it as a joke.
This novel is a must read for upper middle grade children. It helps to build an awareness of respecting other people.
One word, Six Letters Basically thought us that a word can shape a person. Especially all those slur Words that people usually used and said it as a joke.
This novel is a must read for upper middle grade children. It helps to build an awareness of respecting other people.
March 31, 2026
Wow this was such a brilliantly written powerful book where two teenage boys' stories intertwine when one says a homophobic slur in front of the whole assembly.
The book doesn't take the stereotypical routes you might expect. Every character and situation feels so realistic in its happy notes and sad notes.
Both characters' growth was unbelievable and very touching to see.
The book doesn't take the stereotypical routes you might expect. Every character and situation feels so realistic in its happy notes and sad notes.
Both characters' growth was unbelievable and very touching to see.
April 2, 2026
Real rating: 4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a lovely read. Had I had the time, I would’ve read it in one sitting. I didn’t want to put it down. But I read what I could last night and finished it up this morning, and I’m very impressed.
Farshad and Dayton were well-written. Unfortunately being able to relate, I noticed the signs with Farshad immediately. He was very relatable on multiple fronts. I’m glad he got the help he needed early on that path. And I love how Dayton wasn’t just a bad person, period. He actually had layers. And I got to watch him grow and become a better person and friend.
The only thing I personally didn’t love was the creative choice of using 2nd person to tell the story. I understood the purpose, especially since I just recently created and taught a lesson plan to my kids about point of view and author’s purpose. But, I do think this was a good choice when the intended audience are middle grade students.
Overall, this is a great and quick novel to pick up. I recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a lovely read. Had I had the time, I would’ve read it in one sitting. I didn’t want to put it down. But I read what I could last night and finished it up this morning, and I’m very impressed.
Farshad and Dayton were well-written. Unfortunately being able to relate, I noticed the signs with Farshad immediately. He was very relatable on multiple fronts. I’m glad he got the help he needed early on that path. And I love how Dayton wasn’t just a bad person, period. He actually had layers. And I got to watch him grow and become a better person and friend.
The only thing I personally didn’t love was the creative choice of using 2nd person to tell the story. I understood the purpose, especially since I just recently created and taught a lesson plan to my kids about point of view and author’s purpose. But, I do think this was a good choice when the intended audience are middle grade students.
Overall, this is a great and quick novel to pick up. I recommend.
July 1, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC of this novel.
One word, Six letters. A word that can stop time itself and make you wish you'd disappear. A word that can create terror and fear in any gay man. You can ask an queer person and they can probably tell you an experience they had with this word or a closely similar slur. I personally have taken back this word and use it in pride. But I know even though I may seem like I don't care but I know my world would crumble if someone used this word to describe me. Khorram delivers a deeply emotional story about the consequences of ones actions and where people want to fit into the world.
One word, Six letters. A word that can stop time itself and make you wish you'd disappear. A word that can create terror and fear in any gay man. You can ask an queer person and they can probably tell you an experience they had with this word or a closely similar slur. I personally have taken back this word and use it in pride. But I know even though I may seem like I don't care but I know my world would crumble if someone used this word to describe me. Khorram delivers a deeply emotional story about the consequences of ones actions and where people want to fit into the world.
March 18, 2026
This book was excellent! It’s a look at how the F slur impacts various people at a high school, when it is shouted by a student during an assembly with a special guest speaker. The story was inspired by this same thing happening with Khorram was speaking at a high school, and he expanded on that experience and it became this book. I like that it was dual POV, with both the person who shouted the slur as one and as someone who sees themself as the slur as the other. I like that the word is never actually on page, as I don’t like it and I don’t want to hear it or read it or anything.
Overall, this is a great look at how one word can have a massive impact.
Overall, this is a great look at how one word can have a massive impact.
March 1, 2026
Thanks to @netgalley and @henryholtbooks for the advance Kindle copy of this 3.17.26 release. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Told in second person and in two perspectives, this story shows the power of words. Dayton isn’t really thinking when a kid offers him $20 to shout a six-letter word in a school assembly, but it sets off fireworks at his school. Suddenly, his friends don’t want to associate with him, and classmate Farshid is cold. Farshid associates with the word Dayton shouted, and is now paranoid that people know. Their stories over the course of the rest of their freshman year intertwine, as they both figure out who they really are. Essential reading for upper middle and high school. #yalit #librarian #libraiansofinstagram #middleschoollibrarian
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Told in second person and in two perspectives, this story shows the power of words. Dayton isn’t really thinking when a kid offers him $20 to shout a six-letter word in a school assembly, but it sets off fireworks at his school. Suddenly, his friends don’t want to associate with him, and classmate Farshid is cold. Farshid associates with the word Dayton shouted, and is now paranoid that people know. Their stories over the course of the rest of their freshman year intertwine, as they both figure out who they really are. Essential reading for upper middle and high school. #yalit #librarian #libraiansofinstagram #middleschoollibrarian
April 12, 2026
A new must-read for YA
April 30, 2026
Très beau livre mais difficile à lire.
Je conseille de bien regarder les triggers.
Je conseille de bien regarder les triggers.
October 15, 2025
I really enjoyed One Word, Six Letters! It is definitely the best YA book I've read in awhile and I appreciate it's relevance to our current world. Not far into the book I noticed Khorram's use of 2nd person narrative, which I appreciated. This was a concept I struggled with in school (many years ago :P ) because not many books are written in this narrative. I think this is a particularly great choice of narrative given the intended audience who will no doubt have plenty of exposure to first and third person narrative in school. It also helps the reader feel the emotions more deeply of the two main characters.
The dual point of view was another fantastic choice as we saw not only into Farshid's inner struggle about his identity and place in this world, but Dayton's as well as he grapples with the social and familial repercussions of yelling out the slur during an assembly. Both points of view spoke to me and I think Dayton's in particular is important for the target audience to see you can make a mistake (even a huge one) and learn and grow from it. Forgiveness and empathy are central to this book and it illustrates the struggle especially for young teens.
I also noticed "the word" was not used a single time in the book and I really appreciated that and felt this choice only added to the powerful message of this book. Words are powerful, but not using them, as in this case, can be equally powerful. For me it made it even more clear how much this one ugly word impacted Farshid specifically long after the incident.
This is my first book by Adib Khorram and it definitely won't be my last as I really appreciated his writing style and how he took on complex topics in a real and raw way. I would recommend this book for any 9th/10th grader (and really, 9th graders in particular seem under-represented in YA books). I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Co/Macmillan Publishers and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The dual point of view was another fantastic choice as we saw not only into Farshid's inner struggle about his identity and place in this world, but Dayton's as well as he grapples with the social and familial repercussions of yelling out the slur during an assembly. Both points of view spoke to me and I think Dayton's in particular is important for the target audience to see you can make a mistake (even a huge one) and learn and grow from it. Forgiveness and empathy are central to this book and it illustrates the struggle especially for young teens.
I also noticed "the word" was not used a single time in the book and I really appreciated that and felt this choice only added to the powerful message of this book. Words are powerful, but not using them, as in this case, can be equally powerful. For me it made it even more clear how much this one ugly word impacted Farshid specifically long after the incident.
This is my first book by Adib Khorram and it definitely won't be my last as I really appreciated his writing style and how he took on complex topics in a real and raw way. I would recommend this book for any 9th/10th grader (and really, 9th graders in particular seem under-represented in YA books). I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Co/Macmillan Publishers and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2026
4.5
This was a really thoughtful read. The initial impact of this book hits from the very beginning and getting to see and experience the ripple effect from the 2 POVs that we do was really insightful. There is a lot to be gleaned from Farshid’s perspective as he not only tries to navigate his own understanding of himself, he is left with this echoing trauma that lingers and terrifies him. I really appreciated his perspective and seeing how these seemingly small (to some) actions really do have lasting consequences for others. And Dayton’s perspective really grew on me. Seeing him navigate the space where he saw himself as a victim to a prank/misunderstanding and watching him try to navigate the aftermath was really important.
Both characters have really valuable insights and there is a depth and complexity to both characters that really enrich the overall story.
There is a conversation around bullying and how that can impact and bleed into other aspects of mental health and self image that is really important. Seeing Farshid really struggle with his body and identity and seeing that play into his overall sense of safety was really poignant. And witnessing Dayton fall into this friendship where he was constantly excusing behaviors and bending his own morals really speaks to his sense of abandonment from those he thought he could lean on and his desire to give the second chance he felt he wasn’t afforded. However, there is a really important conversation that takes place in regards to accountability and making genuine amends vs just being punished and moving on. People can only know the you that you share with them and if their only exposure to you is hateful, without authentic effort, that’s all they can know.
I will say, given the seriousness of Farshid’s mental struggles, I wish we could’ve gone a bit farther and seen a bit more of a resolution for that arc. I also felt like I wanted a bit more from the conversation between Dayton and his old friend near the end of the book to really drive home that rupture and maybe lead more into a repair.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and thought that the author’s approach (and personal experience with this sort of situation) really added a lot of interesting and important dialogue to this general conversation relating to the power of words and our actions.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing| Henry Holt and Co for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really thoughtful read. The initial impact of this book hits from the very beginning and getting to see and experience the ripple effect from the 2 POVs that we do was really insightful. There is a lot to be gleaned from Farshid’s perspective as he not only tries to navigate his own understanding of himself, he is left with this echoing trauma that lingers and terrifies him. I really appreciated his perspective and seeing how these seemingly small (to some) actions really do have lasting consequences for others. And Dayton’s perspective really grew on me. Seeing him navigate the space where he saw himself as a victim to a prank/misunderstanding and watching him try to navigate the aftermath was really important.
Both characters have really valuable insights and there is a depth and complexity to both characters that really enrich the overall story.
There is a conversation around bullying and how that can impact and bleed into other aspects of mental health and self image that is really important. Seeing Farshid really struggle with his body and identity and seeing that play into his overall sense of safety was really poignant. And witnessing Dayton fall into this friendship where he was constantly excusing behaviors and bending his own morals really speaks to his sense of abandonment from those he thought he could lean on and his desire to give the second chance he felt he wasn’t afforded. However, there is a really important conversation that takes place in regards to accountability and making genuine amends vs just being punished and moving on. People can only know the you that you share with them and if their only exposure to you is hateful, without authentic effort, that’s all they can know.
I will say, given the seriousness of Farshid’s mental struggles, I wish we could’ve gone a bit farther and seen a bit more of a resolution for that arc. I also felt like I wanted a bit more from the conversation between Dayton and his old friend near the end of the book to really drive home that rupture and maybe lead more into a repair.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and thought that the author’s approach (and personal experience with this sort of situation) really added a lot of interesting and important dialogue to this general conversation relating to the power of words and our actions.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing| Henry Holt and Co for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2025
In One Word, Six Letters, a student shouts a slur during an assembly. The story follows, for the remainder of the school year, the consequences for the student who shouts the word, and another student who is deeply hurt by it. Dayton knows what he did was wrong, but struggles as he finds that few accept his willingness to make amends, including his friends. Farshid struggles as the word is used against him in other contexts and he grows fearful of how he is perceived by others.
When I started reading this novel, I really struggled with the fact that it was told in 2nd person perspective, and had a hard time getting into it. I also took some issue with how the book seemed to hide the titular word "faggot" by excluding it from the novel. It doesn't appear once. To me, it seemed like the author lacked trust in the reader to handle the word. It wasn't just unwritten, but deliberately censored, which I thought really cheapened the gravity of the word itself; the word is more significant than an em dash.
However, as I kept reading, I found myself more into the unorthodox 2nd-person perspective and invested the story and characters. The characters really grew on me more as I read. I still had some issues with both perspectives sounding similar, but I do think they started to diverge more as the novel progressed. I have some mixed feelings about some of the characters still. Nonetheless, I was hooked trying to find out how the characters would react to other character's actions. I would recommend this book if you found the description intriguing.
I received an electronic advance copy of this book for review and for making recommendations in library purchases and acquisitions.
When I started reading this novel, I really struggled with the fact that it was told in 2nd person perspective, and had a hard time getting into it. I also took some issue with how the book seemed to hide the titular word "faggot" by excluding it from the novel. It doesn't appear once. To me, it seemed like the author lacked trust in the reader to handle the word. It wasn't just unwritten, but deliberately censored, which I thought really cheapened the gravity of the word itself; the word is more significant than an em dash.
However, as I kept reading, I found myself more into the unorthodox 2nd-person perspective and invested the story and characters. The characters really grew on me more as I read. I still had some issues with both perspectives sounding similar, but I do think they started to diverge more as the novel progressed. I have some mixed feelings about some of the characters still. Nonetheless, I was hooked trying to find out how the characters would react to other character's actions. I would recommend this book if you found the description intriguing.
I received an electronic advance copy of this book for review and for making recommendations in library purchases and acquisitions.
April 15, 2026
I went into this book not knowing what to expect and it absolutely wrecked me in the best way
This is one of those rare reads that does not just tell a story but pulls you directly into it. The second person narration makes everything feel immediate and personal and at times almost impossible to step away from. I felt a constant sense of tension and emotion like I was holding my breath/back tears through entire chapters
Dayton and Farshid feel painfully real. Their stories reflect a truth that so many people recognize whether they want to admit it or not. The way this book explores identity accountability and the ripple effects of harm is raw and necessary. It does not hand you easy answers but instead forces you to sit with discomfort and growth
I kept finding pieces of my own high school experience living in these pages. The anxiety, the silence the weight of words that should never have been said. It is heartbreaking to realize how much of this still exists today. That is what makes this book so powerful and so important
This is a story about growth about facing yourself honestly and about choosing who you want to be even when it is hard. It is emotional thought provoking and deeply impactful
A five star read that I will be thinking about for a long time
#onewordsixletters #BookReview #FiveStarRead #AdibKhorram #LGBTQBooks #QueerReads #YAfiction #YoungAdultBooks #MustRead #BooksThatMatter #EmotionalReads #OwnVoices #QueerRepresentation #IdentityAndGrowth #ToxicMasculinity #ComingOfAge #ReadersOfInstagram #BookCommunity #ReadMoreBooks #BookRecommendations #PowerfulReads #DiverseBooks #InclusiveReads #StoriesThatStay #MustReadYA
This is one of those rare reads that does not just tell a story but pulls you directly into it. The second person narration makes everything feel immediate and personal and at times almost impossible to step away from. I felt a constant sense of tension and emotion like I was holding my breath/back tears through entire chapters
Dayton and Farshid feel painfully real. Their stories reflect a truth that so many people recognize whether they want to admit it or not. The way this book explores identity accountability and the ripple effects of harm is raw and necessary. It does not hand you easy answers but instead forces you to sit with discomfort and growth
I kept finding pieces of my own high school experience living in these pages. The anxiety, the silence the weight of words that should never have been said. It is heartbreaking to realize how much of this still exists today. That is what makes this book so powerful and so important
This is a story about growth about facing yourself honestly and about choosing who you want to be even when it is hard. It is emotional thought provoking and deeply impactful
A five star read that I will be thinking about for a long time
#onewordsixletters #BookReview #FiveStarRead #AdibKhorram #LGBTQBooks #QueerReads #YAfiction #YoungAdultBooks #MustRead #BooksThatMatter #EmotionalReads #OwnVoices #QueerRepresentation #IdentityAndGrowth #ToxicMasculinity #ComingOfAge #ReadersOfInstagram #BookCommunity #ReadMoreBooks #BookRecommendations #PowerfulReads #DiverseBooks #InclusiveReads #StoriesThatStay #MustReadYA
April 6, 2026
This was an excellent, short YA read. It took me a minute to adjust to the second person narrative, but I think it is integral to the story to be inside these boys’ heads.
Farshid and Dayton are both 14 year old boys, high school freshman, unsure who they are and where they fit in.
Dayton makes the bad choice to shout a slur at a queer presenter during a school assembly on a dare, and this book follows the ripple effect of that decision. We see how it impacts his relationships with his friends, classmates, brother, and himself. We see how it puts him on a certain path, unsure how to right his own course.
For Farshid, it shines a light. As an Iranian-American, he already faces unique challenges coming of age in Missouri. Dayton’s impulsive moment of unkindness, no matter the circumstances, hits Farshid unexpectedly. We see him struggle, deny, fight internally with why this bothers him so much, beyond being an ally. We see him eventually acknowledge this essential part of himself. We also see him head down a different path of self-destruction, through body dysmorphia and a toxic relationship with food.
This is a poignant look at exactly why impact matters more than intent. Our words matter, and we can’t take them back. It’s never “just a joke” if it causes harm. We immediately lose control of the ripple effect, never knowing just who might get caught in the waves.
Farshid and Dayton are both 14 year old boys, high school freshman, unsure who they are and where they fit in.
Dayton makes the bad choice to shout a slur at a queer presenter during a school assembly on a dare, and this book follows the ripple effect of that decision. We see how it impacts his relationships with his friends, classmates, brother, and himself. We see how it puts him on a certain path, unsure how to right his own course.
For Farshid, it shines a light. As an Iranian-American, he already faces unique challenges coming of age in Missouri. Dayton’s impulsive moment of unkindness, no matter the circumstances, hits Farshid unexpectedly. We see him struggle, deny, fight internally with why this bothers him so much, beyond being an ally. We see him eventually acknowledge this essential part of himself. We also see him head down a different path of self-destruction, through body dysmorphia and a toxic relationship with food.
This is a poignant look at exactly why impact matters more than intent. Our words matter, and we can’t take them back. It’s never “just a joke” if it causes harm. We immediately lose control of the ripple effect, never knowing just who might get caught in the waves.
April 12, 2026
It’s all starts at an assembly.
You’re Dayton. A friend dares you to shout a homophobic slur for 20 dollars and you do it. You just don’t expect the consequences: friends drop you, and you become known as “that kid.” You don’t understand why one six-letter word gets everyone so upset. You didn’t mean anything by it. It was a joke.
You’re Farshid. You hear that one six-letter word at a school assembly. Now everyone is talking about what happened, and you swear you hear that word over and over again in the hallways. Was it directed at you? You know you’re not…but maybe, just in case, it’s time to start working out more. You may not be able to control what people think of you, but you can control how you take care of your body.
There’s so much I loved about this book, from the two perspectives to the 2nd person POV. Readers can’t help but be woven into the story and ask themselves what they would do in Dayton’s and Farshid’s situations. Like Adib Khorram’s other YA novels, he creates such realistic teenage characters. Looking forward to sharing this one with my students.
You’re Dayton. A friend dares you to shout a homophobic slur for 20 dollars and you do it. You just don’t expect the consequences: friends drop you, and you become known as “that kid.” You don’t understand why one six-letter word gets everyone so upset. You didn’t mean anything by it. It was a joke.
You’re Farshid. You hear that one six-letter word at a school assembly. Now everyone is talking about what happened, and you swear you hear that word over and over again in the hallways. Was it directed at you? You know you’re not…but maybe, just in case, it’s time to start working out more. You may not be able to control what people think of you, but you can control how you take care of your body.
There’s so much I loved about this book, from the two perspectives to the 2nd person POV. Readers can’t help but be woven into the story and ask themselves what they would do in Dayton’s and Farshid’s situations. Like Adib Khorram’s other YA novels, he creates such realistic teenage characters. Looking forward to sharing this one with my students.
March 8, 2026
4.5⭐️
One boy says a word he shouldn’t. Another hears it. Both lives are immensely impacted and neither of their freshman years goes how they expect. Because of one word.
This follows two freshman boys as they process the choices that they make and those that are made around them. I felt like I was there. Each of their struggles were written so they felt real. They portray the reality of being a teenager, the questions, confusion and how you don’t always have someone to talk to about what’s going on.
This was incredibly well done.
Pub date: March 17
Thank you fiercereads and henryholt for the earc 🤍🤍
One boy says a word he shouldn’t. Another hears it. Both lives are immensely impacted and neither of their freshman years goes how they expect. Because of one word.
This follows two freshman boys as they process the choices that they make and those that are made around them. I felt like I was there. Each of their struggles were written so they felt real. They portray the reality of being a teenager, the questions, confusion and how you don’t always have someone to talk to about what’s going on.
This was incredibly well done.
Pub date: March 17
Thank you fiercereads and henryholt for the earc 🤍🤍
January 18, 2026
This is so good! It took me a minute to adjust to the second person narrative but I really think it was a great choice for this novel. This should be required reading for middle and high school students because they are often unaware of how their words affect others. Especially when they think they are being funny. This was another fabulous novel by Khorram - writing, pacing, character growth are top tier.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, all opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, all opinions are my own.
March 20, 2026
If you’re a teacher, if you’re part of the LGBTGEQIAP+ community, if you love someone who is, or if you just support people being better and learning from their mistakes, go read “One Word, Six Letters” by Adib Khorram. I’ve read his MM romance, but this was truly inspiring. This is a book that should be taught in EVERY high school in the world. Thank you, Adib for this wonderful story and lesson.
April 13, 2026
I have never read a 2nd-person book before that wasn't a choose-your-own-adventure. I was skeptical at first, but I quickly grew to love it. The story started with a bang, and I liked the realistic tone it was written in. Nobody was quick to forgive, and that's how it is in the real world. It respectfully represented so many groups of people without stereotypes. Brody and Reggie were hit by karma, as they should've been, and it was very satisfying to read. I love this book so much, and I wish my school would handle things the same way. Many people can learn from this book, and I would love to see this in the school system someday.
March 21, 2026
This book should be a mandatory read at the beginning of high school. It is well-written and easy to read, but the message that comes through is so important and realistic. Words kill teenagers regularly and a lot of them don't realize how their words and actions have weight and affect others. The character development was nice and did show how things can get better.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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