ARC Review: A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

Summary: It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. 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.

Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. 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. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother.

But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. 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 (via Goodreads.com).

Pages: 310

Release Date: October 16th, 2018

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review: 

Tahereh Mafi is one of my absolute favorite authors and I was fortunate enough to read an advance copy of her latest novel, A Very Large Expanse of Sea. I have loved her dystopian series, Shatter Me, for over five years and I was thrilled when she announced the publication of A Very Large Expanse of Sea. This is her first contemporary novel and it is rather personal. It follows Shirin, a Muslim American teenager, trying to navigate a post-9/11 world. Tahereh Mafi was a freshman in high school at the time of 9/11 and while the novel is a work of fiction, she noted that some of the novel was inspired by personal experiences. A Very Large Expanse of Sea is an extremely powerful novel that I highly recommend.

After reading A Very Large Expanse of Sea I am absolutely disgusted by humanity. I absolutely loved Shirin's character, she is a strong, courageous, capable, and intelligent young woman, but the intolerance she faces is despicable. I hate that she and other individuals encounter discrimination because of their religion, race, sexual orientation, etc. I am extremely privileged that I do not face situations where I am discriminated against because of my religion, race, or sexual orientation. Shirin, however, has dealt with discrimination throughout her entire life. Managing high school is difficult enough without other complications. She should be enjoying her teenage years and not waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

While there were heavy topics depicted throughout the novel, breakdancing was also explored. I had no prior knowledge of breakdancing, so learning about it was extremely fascinating. I loved that Shirin had a unique hobby because many Young Adult novels portray many of the same hobbies. While many teens do read, write, or draw, there are teens that also have different hobbies not commonly portrayed in novels or the mass media. I really enjoyed the inclusion of breakdancing within the novel. I know that I definitely do not have what it takes to be a breakdancer, but I loved seeing Shirin's journey with it.

An interesting component of the novel that I did not consider until starting it was the technology and modes of communication portrayed within it. Obviously the novel is based in the early 2000's and should reflect the advancements of the time, but it was interesting seeing the use of AIM messaging and the popularity of flip phones. As an individual born in 2000 and with the novel being aimed toward an audience slightly younger than me, it was interesting to see the programs used by teens when I was a baby.

Although I loved the novel, I did not necessarily love the cover. While it does have pretty writing and it is not the worst cover that has ever existed, I feel as though the cover designer/publishing company could have gone in a different direction with the cover design. I do not feel as though the cover accurately reflects the novel or the power within it. I would have loved to have an image of a breakdancing hijab wearing teen or another image that closer reflects the novel.  

I absolutely loved A Very Large Expanse of Sea. It was a different avenue of Tahereh Mafi's writing, but it was an amazing novel and I highly recommend preordering or purchasing a copy on October 16th. It was one of my most highly anticipated novels of 2018 and it did not disappoint. I am interested to see if Tahereh will write more contemporary novels alongside her Shatter Me series. Nevertheless, I am excited to read whatever she writes next.