MARCH 2018 - AudioFile
Sixteen-year-old Iranian-American Saaket “Scott” Ferdowski wants to be successful in life, but he’s unsure how to go about it. He embarks on a reckless but courageous journey to Washington, DC, to meet with a psychologist he believes can help. Narrator Assaf Cohen convincingly depicts Scott’s awkwardness upon arriving in the city and ably voices the many colorful personalities he encounters. Listeners will delight in the sassiness of crossword-loving Fiora, as well as the unhurried warmth of bartender-politician Trent. Cohen’s performance shines with his depiction of Scott’s parents, whose concern and comedy is utterly charming and real. Trent’s Southern accent is a bit overdone, and there are times when Cohen’s comedic timing falls flat. Overall, though, listeners will root for Scott as he learns about friendship, loyalty, and commitment. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 10/16/2017
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. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
"A lively first novel . . . This humorous, deeply human coming-of-age story will connect with teens." —The Washington Post
"John Green fans will appreciate this tale . . . [Ahmadi] successfully fashions a universal story of discovering one's true self through the honest eyes of another." —USA Today
"Lovely." —Entertainment Weekly
"Arvin Ahmadi’s novel shares a lot in common with its irrepressible hero, Saaket. It's quirky and charming, wise and unpredictable, and, dare I say it, full of big-hearted grit." —Khaled Hosseini, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Kite Runner
"Arvin Ahmadi's voice will be a dynamic entry into YA literature. Down and Across is a thrilling game-changer that touches on the universal journey of self-discovery with a deft hand and riotous humor." —Adam Silvera, New York Times bestselling author of More Happy Than Not and History Is All You Left Me
"Arvin Ahmadi's earnest debut is a charming romp of a book, a heartfelt tour of a city through the bright eyes of a hopeful heart. Ahmadi proves his grit and then some with Down and Across." —David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Kids of Appetite and Mosquitoland
"Charmingly funny, intensely relatable, and unexpectedly moving—Down and Across is a big-hearted gem of a debut from an exciting new voice." —Jasmine Warga, author of My Heart and Other Black Holes and Here We Are Now
★ "Witty, smart, and inspiring, the novel celebrates life’s big and little surprises and the connections made between people that lead to profound changes." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "A story of friendship, growing up, and learning to commit to something." —School Library Journal, starred review
"John Green fans will fall hard for this story of a guy at war with his future and the unpredictable girl who helps him risk everything to discover who he wants to be. Extra love for the reminder that failure is part of the path to success!" —Justine
"It's a must-read book for anyone who has ever felt a little lost." —Bustle
"This is a heartwarming and humorous contemporary YA that gives readers a realistic look at self-discovery and identity. Ahmadi writes with head and heart, captivating readers with passages that leap beautifully from the pages." —BuzzFeed
"Down and Across is clever, brash, and punchy, rife with good advice and incisive commentary about parents’ expectations." —Christian Science Monitor
"Highly original . . . An engaging debut novel about self-discovery." —Kirkus Reviews
“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 . . . 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.” —Booklist
"Utterly satisfying." —VOYA
"Arvin Ahmadi's debut novel is a rollicking adventure full of humor and quirky characters from all walks of life . . . Their zany exploits are humorous and insightful and nothing is off-limits on Scott's educational journey: youth hostels, hospitals, bars, even the French Embassy." —Shelf Awareness
"Arvin Ahmadi’s charming debut, Down and Across, brings a strong new voice to teen literature. Scott’s uncertainty, and his panic over that uncertainty, will resonate with high school readers faced with the impossible task of figuring out what they want to do with their lives." —BookPage
School Library Journal
★ 12/01/2017
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
MARCH 2018 - AudioFile
Sixteen-year-old Iranian-American Saaket “Scott” Ferdowski wants to be successful in life, but he’s unsure how to go about it. He embarks on a reckless but courageous journey to Washington, DC, to meet with a psychologist he believes can help. Narrator Assaf Cohen convincingly depicts Scott’s awkwardness upon arriving in the city and ably voices the many colorful personalities he encounters. Listeners will delight in the sassiness of crossword-loving Fiora, as well as the unhurried warmth of bartender-politician Trent. Cohen’s performance shines with his depiction of Scott’s parents, whose concern and comedy is utterly charming and real. Trent’s Southern accent is a bit overdone, and there are times when Cohen’s comedic timing falls flat. Overall, though, listeners will root for Scott as he learns about friendship, loyalty, and commitment. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2018-03-20
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)
