ONE WORD, SIX LETTERS

Missouri ninth graders Dayton Reilly and Farshid Nafari contend with accountability and identity over the course of a school year.

It started as a dare. Dayton yelled a gay slur at a poet who was leading a school assembly, and he must now face the consequences. With his reputation as a homophobe cemented, white-presenting Dayton is ostracized by his friends and classmates. His parents ground him, and he gets an in-school suspension. The only silver lining? In ISS he meets Brody, a welcome but controversial new friend. When Brody repeatedly makes off-color comments, often at Dayton’s expense, he sullies their standing at Meadowbrook High School even further. Meanwhile, Farshid, who’s a Bahá’í immigrant from Iran, hears that same six-letter word Dayton shouted echoing in the hallway. It stings, especially since he’s questioning his sexuality. “Were they talking about you?” he asks himself. Written in the second person, the novel alternates between Dayton’s and Farshid’s points of view, deeply immersing readers in their perspectives through a compassionate lens. Farshid’s insecurity extends to his physique, as evidenced by a strict diet and workout regime. Khorram skillfully handles his battle with body dysmorphia. When Dayton’s and Farshid’s paths collide at school, their conflict transforms into a lesson in humility and mutual understanding. Thoughtfully weaving their stories together, Khorram adeptly explores the nuances of personal character amid the complex context of public shaming.

A formidable tale highlighting the repercussions of homophobia in high school.