One Word, Six Letters

by Adib Khorram

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.

★"[A] searing, deeply felt dual-POV novel," —Publishers Weekly, starred review

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.

Genres: Young Adult, LGBT, Fiction, Contemporary, Queer, Mental Health, Audiobook

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 17, 2026

About the author

ADIB 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.

Reviews

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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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[Zana · Rating 4 out of 5]

"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.

[Emelie Gaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

He packed so much in this short novel. Timely, engaging and important topics for kids and adults alike! Loved it.

[Maureen Grigsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Monica Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Bethany Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

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?”

[Papillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Fraaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[dobbs the dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Eloise · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Carli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to @netgalley and @henryholtbooks for the advance Kindle copy of this 3.17.26 release. All opinions are my own.
•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/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

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Aaron Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Lauren | Wordsbetweenlines · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 🤍🤍

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Luna and Co · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a most disappointing start of the year, finally, a GREAT BOOK! Amazing to see Adib Khorram return to YA with such an emotional banger. I hope there's a sequel in the works because I'm really not ready to say goodbye to Farshid and Dayton just yet! 🥹🥹🥹🥹

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One moment. One word that changes two boys forever. A dual perspective YA novel that embraces the gray areas and acknowledges that growth isn’t always linear.

[Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

One Word, Six Letters was an amazing read that hit very close to home. Khorram’s use of second person for both Dayton and Farshid made the narrative feel so personal and moving. This is a kind of book that I think should be part of a middle school english class. The themes are extremely relevant in today’s day and time. I also admire Khorram for using a personal experience as inspiration for this novel.

I think my favorite character was Farshid (and I’m totally not projecting). I related a lot to his journey of exploring his sexuality and how that fits into his culture. My heart was filled with dread, anxiety, and sadness for him many, many times. His story is something that I feel like a lot of middle school and/or high schoolers can relate to. Those years are just as formative and can really affect a person’s mentality and character. I am so glad that Farshid had an amazing support group and was able to use the experience as a moment of development rather than fuel for hate.

Dayton, on the other hand, was a very interesting and complicated character. He’s the one who shouts the homophobic slur during an assembly. I think his character arc was very well crafted. I think a lot of young adults can relate to having that one friend who says questionable stuff that you know is wrong, but still trying to defend them anyway. Dayton and Brody’s relationship is something I hope young adults can recognize and learn from. Just because someone is your best friend, doesn’t mean that you can’t call them out. Good best friends are constantly encouraging each other to grow and learn new things. While it’s not your job to educate everyone, I feel like it is your responsibility to call friends out when they do/say offensive things.

Overall, this was a 5-star read to me and I cannot wait for the book to be published. It would be super smart and cool if the publishers advertised to middle school and high school audiences. I would have loved to read this book when I was in grade school.

[Katie Nuss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed “One Word. Six Letters” by Adib Khorram. The beauty of the story lies in the grey areas which Khorram tackles head on - in this era of “cancel cultire,” is there room for a kid to make a mistake, even a terrible and hateful one, and to learn and grow and heal from it? The dual point of view gives a chance for the audience to see the complexity of not just the issue at hand, but of adolescence and growing up in general.

And I love how Khorram makes it through the whole book without ever actually saying the word.

This is a beautiful book. Thank you so much to Net Galley for the opportunity to read it and to talk about it with others.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entering freshmen boys, Farshid and Dayton, already believe high school will come with its challenges. However, neither one could have predicted that one mistake, one word, would change the course of their school year irrevocably. Come join these two in Adib Khorram's "One Word, Six Letters".

Dayton blurts out a slur in the middle of an assembly, and now needs to deal with the consequences for his actions. His friends distance themselves and his parents are disappointed. After the incident, Farshid's struggles of who he is deepens. Though he focuses on what he can, in the back of his mind, he knows he's different from how others perceive him.

As the two stories grow and converge, the reader is taken on a meaningful and very realistic ride and can find satisfaction in its conclusion.

When I requested and became approved for this book, I was both excited and almost unsure of its relevance to me, as an adult. After reading, my heart opened up more, and I realized it is very relevant as a mama of two small kiddos. It helped create more sympathy and understanding toward a community of people that deserve love and kindness, like anyone else.

I must say the awkwardness and uncertainty of being high school brought such nostalgia for me, in the best ways. I loved how on point the author was in how teenagers behave and their reactions. Some angsty moments and even some dating rejection moments were pure gold. I can easily see teenagers, and even middle school aged children enjoying this read wholeheartedly due to its relevance and the simplicity in the way it was written. It also captures the impulses some kids have, body awareness, and acceptance of who you are.

While reading, I also learned a new term - body dysmorphia. It is one I haven't heard of before, but thought it was executed beautifully here. The obsession and almost desperate need to focus on his body, Farshid, struggles with his body no one really notices, except for his mom at first. However, that push back of the one person who knows you need help is so heartbreakingly good here, it made me want to give both Farshid and his mom a hug! There were moments during Farshid's workouts that I found almost repetitive, however, that is the point of this mental health condition.

Written in dual perspectives, I immensely enjoyed reading in the viewpoints of both Farshid and Dayton. It was very easy to distinguish between the two boys. It was clear to see that the author took such time and effort to make the story flow between the two boys and what they were experiencing.

The only part that took time for me to get used to was the point-of-view the story was written. I am used to reading books written in the first- and third-person point-of-view. "One Word, Six Letters" is written in the second-person point-of-view (i.e. "you"). It threw me off for a while, but I eventually got used to it.

Themes of self-awareness, acceptance of others, acceptance of yourself, LGBTQ+, mental health, accepting the consequences of your own actions, feeling safe, and more can be found in this young adult read.

Content warning: There is obvious talk about a boy liking a boy, and someone who uses a slur that negatively affects someone else. There is also some bullying and homophobia, as well as, masturbation.

Overall, I really enjoyed "One Word, Six Letters". It brings out many emotions and can be very thought-provoking for the young adults who read it. I also absolutely loved how the author shares his inspiration for this story. It made reading it that much more worthwhile. I happily rate this 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend "One Word, Six Letters" to young adults who enjoy reading realistic fiction in a high school setting.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), and the author for giving me the opportunity to read "One Word, Six Letters". All opinions are my own.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you to MacMillan/Henry Holt Co. for the eARC. This in no way changed my opinion of the book**

If people know anything about me in terms of being a reader, they know that my absolute favorite author is Adib Khorram. I will read anything that man writes. But in particular, I have not shut up about Darius the Great is Not Okay since it came out. It is my favorite book of all time.

So with that preamble, I now have to think about if this book might have unseated my favorite.

I subscribe to his newsletter, so when I read the premise of this book, I recognized that this is partially based on an event that happened to Khorram at an author event. A high school student disrupted a presentation he was giving by yelling a homophobic slur. The book follows two students over the course of most of the year: Dayton, the student who disrupts the assembly, and Farshid, a student who is dealing with the fallout.

Dayton's sections follow the growth of the character as he tries to grapple with how this word has upended his life. He's lost his friends. He has people who treat him differently now at school. He doesn't think what he did was a big deal, especially because he thinks just saying the word doesn't make him a homophobe. People should know he doesn't hate gay people even though he yelled that at a stranger. He makes a new friend in ISS named Brody and then he has to think about how this new friend is affecting his reputation. I thought it was interesting for Khorram to choose to even attempt to write a book about a stranger who went out of his way to publicly shame him like this. Dayton is incredibly nuanced and layered as a person. Khorram shows his character a lot of grace, which I think speaks volumes for him.

Farshid isn't gay...at least he thinks he isn't. He's just joining Rainbow Coalition with his friend as an ally. As he questions his sexuality, Farshid starts to obsess over exercise and food, developing an eating disorder as a method of controlling how he presents at school. He's already looked at differently for being an Iranian immigrant and if he's also publicly out...He becomes more and more obsessed with muscles and how his clothes fit and eating "right" to present as strong and masculine, to make sure his classmates won't question him. Farshid is heartbreaking because this behavior is so endemic to teenagers. The influencers being pushed for young men now, especially, encourage this behavior and you see how it starts to further unravel his life.

The book as a whole examines masculinity, friendships, coming of age, and the weight of words. It helps the reader question the impact of what one word or six letters can do to a community.

I was also able to listen to a preview of the audiobook through Libro.FM's ALC program and it is AMAZING. Both narrators are easy to understand and conversational. The background noises enhance the experience.

If I haven't made it clear that this book has my glowing endorsement, then let me tell you straight up that if you're going to make time for ONE book I read this year, this needs to be it. It's not super long, but it uses each word to make an impact that will last.

[Darya · Rating 5 out of 5]

When an alumnus, now a published author, visited his former high school to give a talk, one student shouted a homophobic slur at the assembly. That actually happened to Adib Khorram, and he decided to build a story out of this incident—not about how it affected him personally, but about the dynamics at a fictionalized version of that high school that are revealed as a result of it. The book thus follows two high school freshmen. One is Dayton, who shouted the slur as a prank instigated by a classmate. The second is Farshid, who has no idea yet whether the sexuality-related label has anything to do with him (he’s 14; he just stopped playing with Lego a couple of months ago) but who knows he has many other reasons to stand out (foreign-sounding name, race, immigrant origin, religion), and the revelation might mean he's not welcome or safe.

I liked this story a lot. It’s a bit unusual (by contemporary YA prose conventions) in that it is told in the second person: each protagonist is referred to as “you” in their respective sections. Unusual, maybe, but also quite powerful in terms of reader identification. Though this is not stated literally, it works as “imagine you ended up in this situation: what would you do?” That turns what we might perceive (in real life and in a text) as a person defined by a couple of traits that circumscribe who they are and what to expect of them into a “generic person,” a rational subject in strange circumstances. After all, each of “us” is always a subject in strange circumstances, while “they” are those pre-defined functions, right? (I’m joking, of course — but there are studies in psychology that point to this exact cognitive bias.)

One more thing this book made me realize is that I haven’t actually been reading much about boys’ coming of age lately. Of course, throughout the history of literature, the vast majority of stories were about boys and men, so when, more recently, so many strong stories about girls and the gender-specific experience of figuring out the changing self and the world began to appear, I mostly switched to those. This, then, was a welcome addition in terms of pointing out a blind spot, and not just in my own reading, either. There have been observations about how YA fiction (especially genre fiction) has become much more focused on girls than boys. I can easily imagine this book being a valuable example to have at hand for those going through similar changes: body image, acceptable interests, community dynamics. Fragrances! I absolutely appreciated that this book addresses and normalizes the idea of thinking about fragrances as something that in no way signals anything about one’s gender identity or sexuality.

Publication date: March 17, 2026.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book through NetGalley. The opinion above is entirely my own.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. It’s truly a book everyone should read. As a 50-something cishet white woman, this story took me back to those awkward early-teen years. Obviously, I’m not the target audience, and I can’t say for sure if he got the voice for these characters correct, but it sure seemed like he did. I have enough young people in my life to feel the insecurities, obsessions, and fear were true to the age.

While this is the separate yet overlapping story of Farshid and Dayton, the author puts you in the hot seat by using second-person POV for both of them. It took a few chapters for me to get used to that POV, but it was an excellent choice for this story and these characters.

I started this book about a week after the U.S. started bombing Iran without the knowledge that Farshid is an Iranian-American. Man, it really made his thoughts about safety in America hit that much harder. Farshid already feels different because of his heritage and religion. He is well aware that he is looked at as a threat, although he’s only 14 years old. He doesn’t want anything else to make him “different” than the status quo. One thing he can control is his diet. It starts subtly, but it becomes quite clear that Farshid is unhealthy in all the ways he’s obsessed with being healthy.

Dayton was your run-of-the-mill white freshman boy. Not super popular, but not an outcast. Until the incident. One word, six letters. A word that is never used in the text of the story but is nonetheless very present. He does it on a dare, and his life crumbles around him. His best friends are harsh with cutting him out, and the only person who seems to accept him is a boy he meets in In-School Suspension. Brody is rough around the edges, but Dayton just knows he has a good heart. Over and over, Dayton excuses bad behavior because he knows what it’s like to be cut off from your friends. It was so frustrating, yet so real. I could clearly see the trajectory of a good kid taking the wrong road and living down to what those around him thought he was. Don’t worry, it may not seem like it will happen, but Dayton does have some great character growth by the end of the book.

These characters and their friends and families wiggled their way deep into my heart.

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dayton's life, as a high school freshman, is not so bad; mostly because he's got a good crew of friends that have been together forever. But then, on a dare from someone who promises (but doesn't deliver) $20, Dayton yells the six-letter F-word slur during a freshman assembly. Retribution is swift. In-school suspension, he loses all his friends, and even his brother wants nothing to do with him. Meanwhile, Farshid isn't having a great freshman year. It's hard to be an Iranian immigrant, B'Nai, and on top of that, people cough that f-word at him all the time. He spends all his time working out and bodybuilding, restricting his diet to that purpose, and denying, even to himself, that maybe he is gay. Having Dayton shout that word for the whole school to hear makes things even worse. As the year unfolds, Dayton gets a new best friend, Brody. He's a good guy, but he makes gross jokes at the wrong times to the wrong people, and is always saying "no homo," which makes Dayton cringe. Farshid is working out even more, pushing away people like his mother and his coach, who are worried about him. Something's got to give. Question is, what will come next?

This was awesome! First, FINALLY a book about freshmen; so many "YA" books are about 17, 18, 19 year olds. But this one wallows in the cringy, embarrassing, unpredictable, often kind of gross experiences that puberty thrusts upon fourteen-year-old boys. So many boys will appreciate this honesty! It's also really honest about the boys' flaws, and how long it takes for them both to really see themselves and their situations and know they need to make some changes. It also emphasizes that Brody is not a bad kid--he's a good friend to Dayton--but he makes some really bad decisions. Sometimes making the right decision is really painful, and the author doesn't shy away from that, either. And overall, great character-building with both boys. Good representation of someone Persian with a non-Muslim religion, because the world is bigger than stereotypes. Good representation of someone struggling with body dysmorphia, and making poor decisions because of it--it's not just for girls. Overall, a welcome book for young teen boys! Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator's copy of the audiobook.

[Dan Allbery · Rating 3 out of 5]

You close your locker and turn to go, but then you hear it. One word. Six letters. Someone said it. Someone definitely said it. You whip around, but no one is looking at you. Everyone is acting like nothing is wrong, except you can see cheeks puffed out with suppressed laughter, teeth biting lips, hear a snort, a giggle, spot some sophomore slapping another kid’s shoulder, and no one is looking at you. You can’t tell who’s not looking because you’re an invisible freshman and who’s not looking because they’re deliberately avoiding it. Because they think you’re a … that.

At the start of 9th grade, Farshid attends an assembly to honor an alumni and poet. In the middle of the talk, someone shouts out a six-letter word that sends shockwaves through the audience. But the thing about shockwaves is that they shock some more than others, and in different ways. For Farshid, it is like a spotlight is shining on him and his flushed face. For Dayton, the shouter, he will learn hard lessons about hate, friendship, and the power of one word.

When I was in 10th grade, I wrote for my school's newspaper. One edition, I wrote an Op-Ed about the dangers of drug use. After the distribution, there appeared a "feedback" form in our newspaper comment box for me. It named me, called me a f***** and said, "...I shouldn't talk $hit about people who use drugs." The newspaper teacher referred me to the counselor, and when asked, I said everything was fine. But, it wasn't. As a questioning/closeted student, I wanted to distance myself as much as possible from that comment and tried to bury it deep. Almost 30 years later, I still vividly remember that moment, that experience. This book hit home for me.

I have mixed feelings how the aggressors were depicted, especially Dayton. This book was also written for this generation and not me. For every "macros" and "seasonal fragrance" and "bet" and "fist bump" that surfaced, I quickly rolled my eyes; however, I am not the target audience. I would also share that there are a lot of pages devoted to masturbation and talking about it, so I flag that for teachers who want to "book talk" this one. But, it may land for the right reader...me thirty years ago. Recommended for GR 9 and up.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advance copy received by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

A clash of of high school teen experiences that felt real, raw, and thought provoking!

One Word, Six Letters takes the reader to the halls of high school, with freshman students Farshid and Dayton. Dayton took on a bet to shout the f-slur during a school assembly, to earn $20. His consequence was in-school suspension and an entire student body that now sees him in a new light. Farshid struggles with body dysmorphia and his sexual identity. What happens when these two students are forced to work together on a school project?

As an adult reader, Adib Khorram did a solid job taking me right back to high school! This story felt incredibly realistic and oftentimes uncomfortable to read. I appreciated bouncing back and forth between both Dayton's and Farshid's perspectives. The story was written in 2nd person narrative, which I found a bit awkward and never quite got used to. However, the depth of conflicts our two characters were grappling with and the thorough navigation of their emotions made this audiobook difficult to hit pause. I especially LOVED the audiobook experience because there were many subtle sound effects that sucked me right into the setting. I hope this is a trend that continues to be used in audiobooks because it elevates the reading experience for me big-time!

What I loved: I appreciated how much of the story took us out of the school and into the character's home life. The family members were important elements of the complications as well as support systems in the story. It felt much more realistic to include a larger cast of characters.

What I didn't love: I wished the ending was a little bit longer. Maybe it was because I enjoyed how it was wrapping up and was just not quite ready to leave this story's world.

This will definitely be a must-purchase for our public library's young adult collection! I can see it being popular amongst a large group of teens and would offer a launchpad for some really great conversations!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to read this fantastic audiobook!