One Word, Six Letters
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected 17 Mar 2026
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- 10,99 €
Publisher Description
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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Khorram (The Breakup Lists) impresses with this searing, deeply felt dual-POV novel about the aftermath of a thoughtless act and the process of making amends. Egged on by a friend, Kansas City high school freshman Dayton shouts a homophobic slur during an assembly. While serving subsequent in-school suspension, Dayton connects with classmate Brody. Though Brody is most known for his raunchy jokes, Dayton is surprised to discover his hidden nerdy, caring side. The pair's friendship becomes strained, however, when Brody's off-color commentary repeatedly sabotages Dayton's attempts to woo his crush. Meanwhile, student Farshid struggles to reconcile thoughts about his own sexuality with worries surrounding his self-image. Upon realizing that the slur could apply to him, he avoids thinking about it by devoting himself to a punishing diet and grueling workouts in an exhaustive pursuit to gain more muscle. When Dayton and Farshid are partnered for a history project, the boys are forced to confront the consequences of Dayton's assembly exclamation. Urgent second-person narration expertly nails both teens' insecurities and self-perception. The result is a powerfully relevant and affirming story about trying to connect with oneself while navigating homophobia, misogyny, and toxic masculinity. Dayton and Brody read as white; Farshid is Iranian Bahá'í. Ages 12–up.
