Down and Across

Starred review from October 16, 2017
First-time author Ahmadi writes a memorable coming-of-age novel all about grit: wanting it, wondering how to get it, and discovering where it lies. Saaket “Scott” Ferdowsi, an impulsive 16-year-old, is left at home in Philadelphia while his parents visit their homeland of Iran. Scott is supposed to be getting serious about life by doing an internship (which involves examining “microscopic mouse poop”), but he keeps thinking about a Georgetown University study that his father mentioned before leaving. According to professor Cecily Mallard, the chief predictor of success isn’t grades or IQ but grit, “a person’s ability to stick with something.” Feeling inadequate in that area, Scott hops a bus to Washington, D.C., to seek out the professor’s advice. Thus begins a sequence of misadventures and serendipitous encounters as an adventurous crossword puzzle enthusiast, a big-hearted bartender, and Professor Mallard steer Scott into challenging and rewarding situations, all recorded in Scott’s self-effacing and funny first-person narration. Witty, smart, and inspiring, the novel celebrates life’s big and little surprises and the connections made between people that lead to profound changes. Ages 12–up. Agent: Tina Wexler, ICM.

While his parents travel to Iran to visit his ailing grandfather, 16-year-old Scott Ferdowsi quits his boring summer lab internship in Philadelphia and secretly travels to D.C., seeking answers about his (in)ability to succeed.Saaket (the Iranian name he does not like) seeks advice from the expert on the topic, a Georgetown University psychology professor studying grit. His two-day trip grows into a four-week adventure in which he befriends the peculiar, sincere, and often reckless Fiora, a college student from a troubled family, and the generous and politically ambitious Trent, whose coming out as gay cut him off from his Southern family. Both introduce him to drinking, networking, and crossword puzzles. Scott also briefly dates Jeanette, a politically conservative college student whose xenophobic attitudes almost destroy their newly formed friendship. Scott's journey touches on his relationship with his overprotective parents, Muslim identity, being a minority in modern-day America, and his Iranian heritage. In this highly original novel, Scott's insights are reinforced through the personal stories of his new friends; only Jeanette's character does not rise to the same level of sophistication. He finds out in D.C. that he had grit all along, as he succeeds in convincing the professor to take him on as a research intern and even supports himself financially for the first time, goals far beyond his original plan.An engaging debut novel about self-discovery. (Fiction. 14-18)

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December 1, 2017
Grades 9-12 Saaket will be the first to admit he's a bit of a flakethe 16-year-old Iranian American has abandoned just about every endeavor he's startedbut he's convinced he's found the solution in Dr. Cecily Mallard, a psychologist studying grit. If he can get to D.C. and meet her, surely she'll give him the key to developing tenacity. Of course, it isn't that easy, especially when he runs into Fiora, a beautiful, brilliant, grouchy girl whose freewheeling ways wreak havoc on his plans. And yet, Fiora's obsession with crossword puzzles and her intense loyalty gives him some insight into a different kind of resolve. Debut author Ahmadi sets up a meet-cute with a manic-pixie-dream-girl type, but he refreshingly upends those tropes, instead telling a smart story about transformation with barely a glimmer of romance and a girl whose impulsiveness can be hurtful. While the plot hinges a bit too much on coincidence, both Saaket and Fiora emerge as multifaceted personalities with an engaging dynamic, and readers will easily cheer Saaket on as he blunders through toward meaningful growth.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

Starred review from December 1, 2017

Gr 8 Up-Scott Ferdowsi cannot commit to anything. He has written a novel with only three chapters and he quits his summer internship after only one week. He frequently gives up and has no drive to finish projects. Intrigued by a genius professor studying grit, Scott hastily jumps on a bus to D.C., meets Fiora and adventure ensues. Fiora is impulsive, creates crossword puzzles that are reflective of her rough childhood, and eventually pushes Scott out of his comfort zone. He begins sneaking into bars, asking girls he has never met out on dates, creating crossword puzzles, and finds himself in the process. Most teens do not know what they want to do at 16, so Scott is not in the minority with his indecisive behavior. Students will relate to the struggle Scott feels to find his passion and future path. This story authentically represents the pressures placed on a child of immigrant parents. The book skews older due to underage drinking and mention of drug use. With an Iranian main character and a female lead with anxiety and depression this book confronts issues of racism, mental health, and sexism in an appropriate and candid manner. VERDICT A story of friendship, growing up, and learning to commit to something, this YA debut will be a great selection for high school libraries.-Morgan O'Reilly, Riverdale Country School, NY

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