Rana Joon and the One and Only Now

By: Shideh Etaat

Narrated by: Rasha Zamamiri

“A breath of fresh air and punch to the gut all rolled into one.” —Adib Khorram, award-winning author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay

This “lyrical” (Kirkus Reviews) coming-of-age novel for fans of Darius the Great Is Not Okay and On the Come Up, set in Southern California in 1996, follows a teen who wants to honor her deceased friend’s legacy by entering a rap contest.

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.

Critic reviews

*2023 Booklist Editors' Choice (Youth Audio)*

*A Publishers Weekly Summer Reads Pick*

"Rasha Zamamiri offers an expressive performance in this coming-of-age story set in 1990s California. Rana Joon doesn’t fit the mold of the stereotypical female Iranian teen. She loves rap and other women. The one person who truly knew her has died; now she’s going to enter a rap contest in memory of him. While there are plenty of secondary characters that flesh out this story, Zamamiri’s narration focuses on Rana Joon. She’s depicted as a bold, fearless young woman who is determined to achieve her goals."

"Like the greatest Persian poets, Rana Joon asks big questions: about life and death, love and loss, the pain of a fractured family and the pleasure of a well-tended garden. Shideh Etaat's debut is a breath of fresh air and punch to the gut all rolled into one." (Adib Khorram, award-winning author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay)

"Achingly beautiful and devastatingly funny. Rana Joon is the big sister I wish I'd had growing up. Required reading for every Iranian-American teen."

(Olivia Abtahi, award-winning author of Perfectly Parvin and Azar on Fire)

* "A vivacious debut [with] a nostalgic vibe . . . a lively and thought-provoking exploration of self-love and self-discovery."