Daria Esfandyar’s life revolves around being an authentic Iranian-American. She is vehemently proud of her heritage and culture and looks down upon those who shy away from their identities. Her life suddenly changed when her research led to the truth about her past. Conflicted, Daria goes out on a mission to find out who she really is. However, lies, mishaps, and consequences follow her along the trail. She begins to doubt if she’ll ever solve her identity crisis.
In The Authentics, there were several diverse and controversial topics that deemed interesting. The beginning of the novel had made it somewhat difficult to read. I wasn’t well-informed about Iranian culture. However, I was determined to finish, and I genuinely enjoyed reading about astrology, Daria’s relatives, and other cultures.
The most memorable thing about The Authentics was that the protagonist was an Iranian-American. I’ve read numerous books throughout my life, and not one had a protagonist with such an interesting background and culture as Daria.
Reviewed by Jessica, Grade 9, Glen Allen Library
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