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A review by sc104906
The Authentics by Abdi Nazemian
4.0
I received this as an eARC through Edelweiss.
Daria and her friends are proud of being open and honest, to the point that they call their group the Authentics. After Daria is assigned a family tree project in school, she has her DNA mapped through a service. The results of this test call into question everything that Daria has ever accepted about herself. On this new quest of self-discovery and search for the truth, Daria comes to terms with her identity.
Daria and her friends obsession with authenticity could drive a reader mad. However, because not every character takes this title or drive seriously, the book evens out, becomes more realistic and palatable. I thought the exploration of a variety of cultures and the crossings of these cultures was intriguing and unique within the YA world. Nazemian so completely inhabits Daria's mind that her voice feels authentically teenage girl...even though she written by an adult man. I had a great time with these characters and felt that they were realistically balanced with positive qualities and challenges.
Daria and her friends are proud of being open and honest, to the point that they call their group the Authentics. After Daria is assigned a family tree project in school, she has her DNA mapped through a service. The results of this test call into question everything that Daria has ever accepted about herself. On this new quest of self-discovery and search for the truth, Daria comes to terms with her identity.
Daria and her friends obsession with authenticity could drive a reader mad. However, because not every character takes this title or drive seriously, the book evens out, becomes more realistic and palatable. I thought the exploration of a variety of cultures and the crossings of these cultures was intriguing and unique within the YA world. Nazemian so completely inhabits Daria's mind that her voice feels authentically teenage girl...even though she written by an adult man. I had a great time with these characters and felt that they were realistically balanced with positive qualities and challenges.