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Down and Across
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
22 posts | 23 read | 35 to read
"Quirky and charming, wise and unpredictable." --Khaled Hosseini, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Kite Runner Scott Ferdowsi has a track record of quitting. His best friends know exactly what they want to do with the rest of their lives, but Scott can hardly commit to a breakfast cereal, let alone a passion. With college applications looming and his parents pushing him to settle on a "practical" career, Scott sneaks off to Washington, DC, seeking guidance from a famous psychologist who claims to know the secret to success. He never expects an adventure to unfold. But that's what Scott gets when he meets Fiora Buchanan, a ballsy college student whose life ambition is to write crossword puzzles. When the bicycle she lends him gets Scott into a high-speed chase, he knows he's in for the ride of his life. Soon, Scott finds himself sneaking into bars, attempting to pick up girls at the National Zoo, and even giving the crossword thing a try--all while opening his eyes to fundamental truths about who he is and who he wants to be.
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IheartYA
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Pickpick

Well written and revolving around a relatable character, this book was a quick read. The beginning was great then it seemed to drag a bit. I think most readers will identify with Scott's struggle of not knowing his place in life as a young adult; heck, that feeling can continue for the rest of your life. I would have liked a different ending to the story. Overall, a typical YA contemporary read.

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rwmg
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
Panpan

16 year old Scott/Saaket Ferdowsi runs away to consult a professor of psychology at Georgetown University in Washington DC who is branching out into inspirational self-help articles and videos.

While it's a quick, smooth read I didn't really feel much interest in any of the characters and their antics. Given the title and the patterning of the cover and the chapter headings, there should have been a lot more about crosswords.

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rwmg
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Time for bed

04:21:30 + 07:40:39 + 05:25:46 = 17:27:55

But I dozed off for about 3/4 hour this afternoon so I'll call it 16 hours 45 minutes. Not my best time but not my worst either.

#24B4Monday @jb72 @Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid

Andrew65 That‘s a great time, well done and thanks for taking part. 👏👏👏 (edited) 5y
jb72 You are doing great! 5y
14 likes2 comments
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rwmg
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Next book - which opens in a McDonald's

#24B4Monday

@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65 @jb72

Andrew65 That‘s a great opening. 5y
jb72 Good job! 5y
15 likes2 comments
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Sarah93
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Just finished this one ... it wasn‘t that good and not that bad .. but I wasn‘t so excited while reading, I finished it just to be done with it :/

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NovelNancyM
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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It‘s [Life is] like liquor. You can struggle and drink it straight, or you make yourself a mixed drink. Life works better with other people around. Always go for the fruity cocktail” (312).

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Kaylamburson
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Pickpick

Cute coming-of-age YA novel. Scott is trying to figure out his own future without the influence of overbearing parents with specific expectations, so he rebels (if you can call refusing to give up on a different internship rebelling) down in DC, and meets new friends who help shape him. Diverse characters from all different backgrounds coming together. The book isn't mindblowing, but it's cute and enjoyable.

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JoyBlue
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Pickpick

I saw this on the bookstore shelf in South Carolina during our spring road trip. It reached out and tweaked my nose. All these months later, I was glad to have it come off my hold list. I truly enjoyed this story about a 16-yr-old Iranian American boy "running away" to Washington DC from home in PA while his parents are in Iran for a family visit.

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Sharpeipup
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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What a fitting & fun touch to the book!

JoyBlue Ooh—I missed out on this, having read the audio version. Maybe I'll see if I can snag it from the library in print. 6y
27 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Sara_Planz
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Pickpick

A fun YA romp about finding yourself. Kind of wish this book had gotten more attention as it is quite good.

48 likes2 stack adds
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Sara_Planz
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Heard this recommended on a YA podcast and remembered I had bought it a few months ago. Up to the top of the list.

Sharpeipup I have been looking for this book for years. 6y
46 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Nitpickyabouttrains
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Mehso-so

To me this book has a bit of a manic-pixie-dream-girl issue. The main guy falls for a girl because she is quirky and weird and inexplicable. She is constantly doing terrible things which are supposed to come off as cute and unique.

Sarah93 But i am glad they didnt end up together ... 😬 5y
18 likes1 comment
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Desirai
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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This sounds like a fun one.

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Kelly
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Currently. Finally.

40 likes2 stack adds
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janehreads
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
Pickpick

4.5/5. THIS WAS SO GOOD. i can‘t believe that this was arvin ahmadi‘s first book. the writing style was great, the plot was great, it was just great.

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janehreads
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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me too, honestly (even though it‘s still technically monday).

good thing spring breaks starts for me tomorrow (more reading time!).

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bibliocurl
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Pickpick

It focuses on so many different aspects of adolescence and is extremely well- rounded. Arvin Ahmadi is the best!

BittersweetBooks Love this picture!! 🌸🌼🌺 7y
BookishBlonde12 Pretty! 🌸💐🌼 7y
17 likes1 stack add3 comments
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GondorGirl
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Mehso-so

Your standard book about a teenager trying to discover his path by leaving home and going on an adventure. Honestly, I was disappointed in this one. It was interesting to learn a bit more about creating crossword puzzles, but the plot was rather generic, and the side characters all felt like caricatures. It wasn't a BAD book, but I caught myself rolling my eyes multiple times during the dialog. Meh.

55 likes1 stack add
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JessNevertheless
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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Pickpick

I don‘t normally read #YA but a friend of a friend wrote this coming-of-age story set in my DC neighborhood and I couldn‘t resist. An Iranian-American teenager runs away to DC discover “grit”, a quality he hopes will inspire him to make some life plans. Also a cute crossword theme throughout :)

57 likes2 stack adds
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Garabrandtreviews
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
Pickpick

Coming out tuesday! A young man's race against the clock to find his passion, his grit. A madcap adventurr!👍👍

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desertbibliophile
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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HiddenGemBooks
Down and Across | Arvin Ahmadi
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When Saaket “Scott”s parents leave on a trip to Iran, they tell him he needs to decide on a major and focus on his summer internship. But Scott abandons the internship and travels to DC to hunt down a professor who published a study on success. Once there, Scott meets Fiora, a college student who dreams of writing crossword puzzles. Between Fiora and the Professor, Scott gets inspired to search for the answers he‘s been looking for within himself.

45 likes3 stack adds