Reviews with content warning for Xenophobia - Een bijna eindeloze afstand

I love how this book is educational about how different cultures exist and how different they are. We do not have many books that show how hard is to live in America if you are not American or your family is from Asia and south-east Asia. This book is a great statement that culture can cross and become something amazing. We can learn a lot from each other only if we will to lisen. I really enjoy this book.

Content Warnings

smlima1992's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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mandkips's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

criticalbooks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

h_brohman's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

naa2804's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

bekkabergamot's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I am so glad that I gave this audiobook a listen to. <i>A Very Large Expanse of Sea</i> follows a sixteen year old Muslim girl as she navigates an American high school in 2002. Shirin is not only Muslim, but she wears a hijab which makes her especially vulnerable and visible to racists. After bouncing around multiple schools and towns with her family, Shirin shows up to her newest one with a heartbreaking, but unsurprising outlook that everyone sucks and she's better off if she just stays isolated. Then she meets Ocean James, a white classmate who is determined to get to know her no matter what the consequence is.

This book is so important. Firstly, it acknowledges the extreme islamophobia and xenophobia that were displayed after 9/11. Secondly, it depicts the obstacles that BIPOC youth navigate both externally and internally. Part of this book is Shirin working on lowering the defense systems she had to put up as a coping mechanism. TW: the racism in this book made me feel physically sick, but I recommend this book to anyone who has not been personally victimized by racism, especially islamophobia. Too often people dismiss people of color for being angry, and a book like this provides a good reason why one would be enraged after dealing with injustices, hostility, and abuse. Shirin is so clever, funny, and she will have you rooting for her.

I will definitely be seeking out more of this authors books to read.

4.5 Stars Rounded Up

Content Warnings

raynaaskiverr's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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