A Very Large Expanse of Sea
By Tahereh MafiPublished: Harper, 2018
Pages: 310
Genre: Young Adult
Amazon, Goodreads
The more I got to know people, the more I realized we were all just a bunch of frightened idiots walking around in the dark, bumping into each other and panicking for no reason at all.
Shirin is a Muslim teenager starting over in a new high school a year after 9/11. Constantly faced with a never-ending tirade of racist comments and questions, she's learned to put up a wall around her and block out everyone else, waiting for the day that she can finally leave the small-mindedness of high school. That all changes when she meets Ocean James, who truly seems to want to get to know her. Shirin knows their worlds can't mesh together, but she finds herself wanting, for the first time, to take down her barricades and let someone in.
This novel is a gripping story about identity, loneliness and truth. I live in a small town in the midwest; there's little to no diversity here and there are many Trump supporters who proudly wave the confederate flag. Though set in 2002, A Very Large Expanse of Sea is relevant in 2019. I feel like all the horrible things Shirin faced could happen here, in my town. In a way, I connect with Shirin; I'm also a loner who prefers to get lost in books rather than face people (I'm definitely not a people person). I remember spending lunch time alone and dragging myself through each day with as little contact with others as possible because people can be real assholes.
The characters are wonderfully written, especially Shirin and Ocean. Shirin is a blunt, funny character that I would have loved to be friends with and Ocean is kind, sweet and innocent. They have a real connection, a spark that makes their romance seem very real. Shirin's relationship with her family is also touching; you can tell how much they love each other.
Shirin's story is similar to so many other YA themes: a loner girl falls for the popular jock. A Very Large Expanse of Sea is so much more than those stereotypical books, like how Shirin is so much more than what meets the eye. She's also creative, she makes and alters clothes, and passionate, she loves music and breakdancing. It's through her relationship with Ocean that she learns to open up and give others a chance. That's what I love much about this book: how Shirin and Ocean's romance is a major factor in the story but it's not the ENTIRE story. This story is actually about Shirin learning not to let others define her.
I loved A Very Large Expanse of Sea and encourage you all to read it, too!
RATING (out of five puppies):
No comments:
Post a Comment