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 for the opportunity to read it and to talk about it with others.

One Word, Six Letters is a strong and emotional story about mistakes, identity, and growth. When Dayton says a hurtful word in school, it causes a lot of problems and makes him and his classmate Farshid face some hard truths about who they are. The book shows how people can change and learn from their actions, and it gives both characters’ points of view to help us understand them better. It’s a great read for teens who want a story about real feelings and tough choices.

This was really, truly, stunning. I think a lot of younger YA readers will enjoy this book and its deep, profound detailing of everything from adolescent male friendship, disordered eating and body image, and homophobia in an age where it's technically not cool to be homophobic, but with greater societal implications. I couldn't say more good things about this. If you've been a fan of Khorram's writing thus far, this is a must read, but if you haven't picked up one of his books yet, either buy this for a middle schooler in your life or read it yourself. Great stuff.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This is one of those rare books that lingers long after the final page. I’m already eager to talk about it with others and to get it into the hands of readers. It’s raw, honest, and deeply relevant. I especially appreciated the dual perspectives and the powerful author’s note at the end. The story’s authenticity shines through, made all the more impactful by the fact that it’s rooted in the author’s real-life experience speaking at a high school.

Very important read! The multiple perspectives work very well. This is a daily issue that young people face, and I am so glad to see it brought forward. Also greatly appreciate the author's lived experience -- while horrendous and awful to go through -- it has sparked a story that everyone must read and understand.

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.

Adib Khorram, you brilliant, incredible human being and writer. You did it again. You managed to make me ugly cry on public transportation. I don't care about the people who saw me. When a book is that good, so raw that tears just start free-falling and covering your reading device, other people's opinions just fade into the background. This book tore my heart from my chest. Destroyed me emotionally. And I will forever be thankful to it and Adib Khorram (it says a lot about me, I know, but just overlook that part)!

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.

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?”