![]() "People had been s-ting on me for having the wrong name/race/religion and socioeconomic status since as far back as I could remember, but my life had been so easy in comparison to my parents' own upbringing that they genuinely couldn't understand why I didn't wake up singing every morning. In addition to a lot of crude language, there are many life lessons and unexpected sweet moments, as well as a growing sense of empathy with troubles other than your own. ![]() In the process we learn a lot about Muslim daily life and culture - and what it means to different people. her lab partner and unexpected love interest Ocean, narrator Shirin learns quite a bit about overcoming some of her own prejudices as well as surviving those of others. Confronted with A Very Large Expanse of Sea, i.e. Show moreĪs she herself suggests, this heartfelt, poignant, bitterly funny tale of a foul-mouthed Muslim teen trying to survive post-9/11 high school is the book Tahereh Mafi's been trying to write all along. ![]() Bullies attack her in freshman year, knock her down, and try to rip the hijab from her head. Shirin and other Muslim kids suffer constant prejudice, bigotry, and threats of violence. There are numerous make-out sessions and sexual banter. Frequent strong language includes "f-k," "s-t," "d-k," "goddamn," "Jesus Christ!" and more. There's lots about the experience of growing up as the child of refugee immigrants and the struggle to be and be seen as yourself without all the baggage others put on you. ![]() There's quite a bit about the harmful effects of prejudice and stereotyping - and how to overcome your own bias and see things as someone else does, which forms a positive contrast to the barrage of hateful or clueless behavior from many teens and adults. His name is Ocean (hence the title), and he feels the same about her. Main character Shirin wears a hijab, swears like a sailor, loves breakdancing - and against all odds, falls in love with the most popular, good-looking basketball player in her sports-crazy school. It terrifies her - they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds - and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down.Parents need to know that A Very Large Expanse of Sea, by Iranian American author Tahereh Mafi ( Whichwood), is a fiery, relatable, quasi-autobiographical novel of being a post-9/11 Muslim high school sophomore. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother.īut then she meets Ocean James. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments - even the physical violence - she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. 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. A Very Large Expanse of Sea book pdf download - Tahereh Mafi ![]()
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