Down and Across

Scott Ferdowsi is a sixteen-year-old Iranian-American struggling with his inability to stick with anything, much to his parents' frustration. When his parents leave for a few weeks, he impulsively takes a bus from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. to seek out a Georgetown professor who studies grit and determination. In D.C., Scott meets Fiora, a crossword puzzle enthusiast who introduces him to her world of competitive puzzling. Through new friendships and experiences in the city, Scott embarks on a journey to understand perseverance and what it means to find one's path. Between dodging his worried parents' calls and navigating an unfamiliar city, Scott's summer becomes an exploration of identity, family expectations, and the nature of success. The story examines the balance between planning for the future and living in the present, while highlighting the value of getting lost to find oneself.

Readers found the book relatable for its exploration of anxiety, perfectionism, and finding one's path in life. The protagonist's struggles with parental expectations resonated with many young adult readers. What readers liked: - Authentic Persian-American cultural representation - Focus on grit and perseverance as learnable skills - Supporting characters who challenge the protagonist's worldview - Humor throughout serious topics What readers disliked: - Plot meandering at times - Main character making repetitive poor choices - Romance elements felt forced - Some found the ending unsatisfying Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (80+ ratings) Reader quotes: "Captures the uncertainty of being a teenager perfectly" - Goodreads reviewer "The protagonist's impulsiveness became frustrating" - Amazon reviewer "Strong message about finding your own definition of success" - Barnes & Noble review

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🔸 Author Arvin Ahmadi wrote "Down and Across" while still a student at Columbia University, drawing from his own experiences as a first-generation Iranian-American teenager. 🔸 The book's central concept of "grit" is based on real psychological research by Angela Duckworth, who studies why some individuals are more successful than others at achieving their goals. 🔸 The crossword puzzles featured throughout the novel were inspired by the author's father, who used them to improve his English after immigrating to America. 🔸 The Georgetown neighborhood in Washington, D.C., where much of the story takes place, was chosen specifically because it represents a bridge between political Washington and youth culture. 🔸 The book's protagonist, Saaket/Scott, shares the author's struggle with parental expectations in Iranian culture, where certain career paths like medicine and engineering are highly valued.