Just Another Epic Love Poem

"In Akhbari's powerful debut, poetry gives life to the text through the verses of Mitra and Bea, as well as the renowned poets they read…This is laugh-out-loud funny, poignant, realistic, and heartbreaking in the best way."

—Booklist starred review
“An achingly poignant combination of coming-of-age and young queer love between two teens of color, this book easily deserves a spot on the shelf alongside Lo’s Last Night at the Telegraph Club.”

—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books starred review
“Akhbari skillfully enmeshes myriad poetic styles with organic depictions of Iranian culture and food, and channels the insecurities of adolescence and the overlapping pressures of growing up to worthy effect in this promising debut.”

—Publisher’s Weekly
“A heartbreaking but hopeful portrayal of parental addiction and its impact on families, written in lyrical first-person prose alternating with excerpts of poetry…Expressive, emotional, and quietly optimistic.”

—Kirkus
“[A] tenderly written novel… A love affair among poetry, Iranian culture, and teenage angst is happily fused in Akhbari’s debut.”

—School Library Journal

"In Akhbari's powerful debut, poetry gives life to the text through the verses of Mitra and Bea, as well as the renowned poets they read…This is laugh-out-loud funny, poignant, realistic, and heartbreaking in the best way."