It’s uncomfortable to know that there are people who act the way the high schoolers did in this novel. ![]() Furthermore, the fact that the author did not shy away from depicting what high school must have been like for Shirin is a celebration. Mafi gives her character a beautiful explanation of why she wears the hair covering, and she constantly stands up for her reasoning. I really loved the time spent on Shirin’s hijab. So… what will become of Shirin and Ocean? Will perspectives be changed? I highly encourage you to read to both be informed, entertained, enlightened, and moved. ![]() Expect a realistic depiction of Islamophobia, which is important to read about and understand, especially from the perspective of a Muslim teenager. It’s not easy, and the book will make you feel angry for the high schoolers’ treatment of Shirin and her culture. However, their friendship and possible feelings for one another help to push her in a new direction of understanding while also challenging the community around them to be understanding. Shirin has her own hesitations about Ocean and the world around her that are grounded in years of verbal and physical abuse. However, when she is randomly assigned with Ocean James, a white classmate in her AP Biology class, she is forced to reconsider the way she has looked at the world. And who can blame her? She’s been made fun of and terrorized as the novel is set in 2002, a year after 9/11. She acts not like a typical teen but one with a giant chip on her shoulder. Not only does Shirin look different with her hijab, but she also has a tough exterior. Her older brother, Navid, is more social than she is, so he assimilates faster into the new schools they attend. She is at her upteenth school and cannot wait to leave high school behind her. Everyone deserves to see themselves and their story reflected in literature, and we should be reading diverse texts in order to better empathize and comprehend our fellow humans.Ī Very Large Expanse of Sea is the story of Shirin, who is Muslim, and wears a hijab. I tell you this story because this interaction is why I started this journey. She said it was amazing, and that it was cool to see words and phrases that she understood as they are part of her culture. She gave it back to me the Monday after the Friday she took it. She looked at me (I’m trying to remember exactly what she said) and stated, “I think I’m like her, and I think I can relate.” I then realized that she was also Muslim. I looked at her and confessed that I hadn’t read it yet, and it was brand new, so I usually want to read them first. ![]() I happened to announce them to my classes, and I mentioned that this one dealt with Islamophobia as the main character is Muslim and wears a hijab.Īs the students were working, one of my gals came up to me and asked to borrow it. I bought this book, along with 6 others, right before Christmas. Age Recommendation: 7th (with parent knowledge) and beyond Reasoning: strong language intense romantic moments, but no sexual content Summary and Review
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