The Authentics
By Lucinda Dyer,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Heartwarming story of teen's search for her true identity.
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What's the Story?
As THE AUTHENTICS begins, the biggest problem in Daria's life (other than acne and frizzy hair) is reining in her mother's plans for the seriously over-the-top Sweet 16 party that Daria absolutely does not want. She'd hoped her mother might be distracted by the upcoming arrival of the first child of her brother Amir and his Chinese husband, but that's not happening. Happily, things at Beverly Hills High School are going better for Daria. She's found a small group of diverse friends -- Kurt (white American), Joy (Nigerian-American), and Caroline (gay) -- who call themselves "The Authentics" and support one another in their determination to be their true selves rather than someone others expect them to be. While researching a school assignment on family history, she takes a DNA test and is shocked to discover that instead of being 100 percent Middle Eastern, she's half Mexican. Some snooping in the family lawyer's office uncovers an adoption contract and her birth mother's name. It's not long before she tracks down her address and is met at the door by her birth mother's stepson, a cute tattooed artist named Rico. Now things get really complicated, as Daria confronts her parents, meets her birth mother, has a date with Rico, becomes an aunt, and has to make some hard decisions about her true identity.
Is It Any Good?
This smart, funny, and heartwarming story of an Iranian-American teen's search for her true identity shatters many stereotypes about Muslim teens and families. Daria's world in The Authentics is overflowing with friends and family who come from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, and with a few exceptions, they all get along. At times, all this goodwill seems a bit too idyllic. But readers may be inspired by the story to reach out and make a friend of someone who's not at all like them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Daria's multicultural world is portrayed in The Authentics. Do you think that the way characters related to one another was authentic, or do you believe this could only happen in a fictional world?
If Daria were a real student at your school, how would news about her adoption have played out on social media? Would she have been supported?
How would your friends react if they suddenly found out you were from a different ethnic background? Do you think there are ethnic backgrounds that might make them see you differently?
Book Details
- Author: Abdi Nazemian
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Friendship , Great Girl Role Models , High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Balzer + Bray
- Publication date: August 8, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 18
- Number of pages: 282
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: August 25, 2017
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