Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped. Longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature!įrom the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Me series comes a powerful, heartrending contemporary novel about fear, first love, and the devastating impact of prejudice. Readers will find this story of prejudice, love, and breakdancing (yes, breakdancing) has taken up residence in their hearts long after they’ve put the book down.” As much adversity as she faces, both outside and within, Shirin is a wonderful person to spend a book with. “Venturing into realistic fiction for the first time, Tahereh Mafi tells the story of a high school sophomore attempting to navigate a post-9/11 world without sacrificing her Muslim identity, while also reconciling her intense feelings for her all-American-boy lab partner. Andrew King, University Book Store, Seattle, WA Winter 2019 Reading Group Indie Next List Although it's based 16 years in the past, A Very Large Expanse of Sea is still an important and relevant novel in today's world affairs, and an essential edition to every literary collection.”

She tries to get by under the radar, but it's hard to do that when Ocean, a popular white boy, takes an interest in her- and not just because of her culture. Intentional or not, Shirin's peers treat her differently than anyone else. “This beautiful and eye-opening novel takes place one year after 9/11, and the deeply rooted racism that became more aggressive after the attack.

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