Rana Joon and the One and Only Now
Written by Shideh Etaat
Published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
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, and she has a secret: she likes girls.
As if that weren’t enough, her best friend, Louie—the one who knew her secret and 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.
Primary ISBN: 9781665917629
Publication Date: July 2023
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
Young Adult, Age 14 or older
Community Represented: Iranian/Iranian American, Muslim/Muslim American
Themes: Audiobook, Body Image, Coming of Age, Cross-Group Friendship, Family Relationship: Parents, Family Relationship: Siblings, Family Separation: Different Immigration Status, Generation: 1st, Generational Differences, Generational Differences: Dating, LGBTQIA+, Mental Health, Multilingual Character, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Religious Background: Muslim, The Arts, Trauma & Healing: Death of Family or Friend
Setting: United States (California)
Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: 1st Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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