Rana Joon and the One & Only Now

This "lyrical" (Kirkus Reviews) coming-of-age novel for fans of Darius the Great Is Not Okay and On the Come Up, set in Southern California in 1996, follows a teen who wants to honor her deceased friend's legacy by entering a rap contest.

Perfect Iranian girls are straight A students, always polite, and grow up to marry respectable Iranian boys. But it's the San Fernando Valley in 1996, and Rana Joon is far from perfect—she smokes weed and loves Tupac.

As if that weren't enough, her best friend, Louie—the one who encouraged her to live in the moment—died almost a year ago, and she's still having trouble processing her grief. To honor him, Rana enters the rap battle he dreamed of competing in, even though she's terrified of public speaking.

But the clock is ticking. With the battle getting closer every day, she can't decide whether to use one of Louie's pieces or her own poetry, her family is coming apart, and she might even be falling in love. To get herself to the stage and fulfill her promise before her senior year ends, Rana will have to learn to speak her truth and live in the one and only now.

About the Author

Shideh Etaat is an Iranian American writer living in Los Angeles. She received her MFA in creative writing from San Francisco State University. She is the author of Rana Joon and the One & Only Now and has also had her work published in Tremors: New Fiction by Iranian American Writers, Day One, Foglifter, Nowruz Journal, and My Shadow Is My Skin: Voices from the Iranian Diaspora. 

Reviews

"A vivacious debut [with] a nostalgic vibe and the effervescent air of a summer block party.... Through Rana's magnetic POV and striking poetry, Etaat conveys Rana's anger, desire, and grief, making for a lively and thought-provoking exploration of self-love and self-discovery." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Achingly beautiful and devastatingly funny. Rana Joon is the big sister I wish I'd had growing up. Required reading for every Iranian-American teen." —Olivia Abtahi, award-winning author of Perfectly Parvin and Azar on Fire

"By turns lighthearted and devastating.... Readers will root for [Rana's] journey to healing and self-actualization, and will miss her after the last page is turned. A thoroughly engrossing, poignant story of self-discovery." —School Library Journal

"This fantastic novel has all you want: a fast-paced plot with a hit of 90s nostalgia and a heroine as fierce as she is soulful and wise. I adore this book." —Jasmin Darznik, New York Times bestselling author of The Bohemians

Dimensions: 13.97 x 1.78 x 20.96 cm