A Very Large Expanse of Sea

I absolutely loved this book! I’ve shed so many tears reading this book it was absolutely beautiful. The character growth of Shirin throughout the book was so inspirational!

This might be the best YA book I’ve ever read. I’ve noticed that Mafi’s strongest suit is writing characters. She shows this strength in this book in particular; I don’t think these characters would leave me anytime soon. The book tackles serious subjects such as islamophobia and racism and handles them well. The story was really touching and really hits home. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and recommend everyone to read it. ‘A Very Large Expanse of Sea’ is SUCH an important book, especially in today’s political climate.

Dating is not allowed in any of the three Abrahamic religions, especially Islam. If you are in a premarital relationship and you don’t have the intention to marry it’s considered haram.(sinful/prohibited) Its bad enough that social media is filling Muslim youth with western immoralities, don’t do the same with books. #saynotoliberalism #libtards #ignorance

This book was fantastic! Every once in awhile you come across a book you’ll never forget, this is certainly one of them.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea is the most important young adult book of 2018. I have lost count of the number of times I have started, deleted, and restarted this review. Everything I come up with seems to fall short of the praise this book deserves. I still don’t think this review is enough, but here it is. Tahereh Mafi is tremendously talented. She writes with a confident elegance that is raw, smart and thought-provoking. In A Very Large Expanse of Sea, Mafi provides necessary and timely food for one’s morality, bringing forth a truth that many American-Muslim women face. A reality that many choose to dismiss. Shirin wears an armor that keeps strangers at a distance. She has dealt with far more physical assault, harassment, heartache, and discrimination than any person should ever have to endure. She’d rather be alone than have to worry about the true intentions of anyone who speaks to her. It’s easier to be solitary than to be vulnerable to someone else; history has taught her this painful lesson more than once. Then Ocean shows up. He is determined to get to know Shirin, even if she’s understandably skeptical to let him. A Very Large Expanse of Sea explores the reluctant but hopeful heart of a young woman who wants the opportunity to experience high school like any other peer. She yearns to be seen for the person she is beyond her hijab. She is smart, passionate about music, and can breakdance, but no one can look beyond the piece of cloth she wears upon her head. Assumptions are made, discriminations are spoken, and “harmless” pranks that are anything but harmless are executed. I am angered and heartbroken from reading Shirin’s story. To know that Mafi herself has/does deal with similar situations, that members of my community might have to deal with similar situations. Mafi has openly shared that A Very Large Expanse of Sea is the most personal book she has written. I wish she didn’t have any of these experiences to share, but I am forever thankful that she chose to share them with us. Shirin’s story of racism, prejudice, and religious discrimination is unapologetically honest in the most necessary way.