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cosmicwillow's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
this was a gorgeous book. moving and very very real. my only issue (aside from the cover that makes my eyes hurt and hurts the designer in me) is that the last half of the book was more focused on the romance, which definitely did the rest of the Shirin’s story as a Muslim girl in America after 9/11 a disservice in what was being said about that. but truly this was a remarkable read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
aisya_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia
dramagirl2003's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
thoughts while reading
p4: you tell him girl
p134: the israeli-palestine conflict, what a lovely school topic
p185: she’s very judgmental. i did temporarily forget that muslims generally don’t kiss before marriage but shirin is american and it’s her faith so just let her do what feels right
p214: navid! what a wingman
p216: ooft aren’t they a little young for “what are you wearing”
p229: of all the teenage immature things to do, this is just messed up
p237: oh now this really just takes the biscuit, and only one year post-9/11 too
p285: the coach deserved that honestly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, and Violence
Minor: Cursing
kadda246's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Islamophobia
kryskross's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia
bootrat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
4.0
A really good book, that deals so well with the lived experience of Muslim girls in America - especially following 9/11. It's based on the experiences of the author, though it's not autobiographical and one assumes that the entire relationship with Ocean is fictional, but the fact that you know that the author experienced a lot of the same things makes it really authentic.
Very well written, and you could really feel the emotions that Shirin was feeling the whole time - I got so angry reading it! Everyone should definitely read this, especially if you're white and don't know what it's like to experience prejudice and racism like that on a daily basis.
Very well written, and you could really feel the emotions that Shirin was feeling the whole time - I got so angry reading it! Everyone should definitely read this, especially if you're white and don't know what it's like to experience prejudice and racism like that on a daily basis.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Bullying and Hate crime
taliatalksbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi was a huge step away from her Shatter Me series, but maintained the same type of complex characters, well paced plot, and digestible language. This book offers a first hand look into the life of a Muslim American after the events of 9/11. This book utilizes a realistic fiction lens to communicate the experiences that so many of us would never have experienced without works like this. It is also an estimate to Madi’s talents as a writer, seeing her abilities to craft a powerful narrative in both dystopian fantasy and a hard-pressed realistic setting. Though some of the scenes were hard to read given the content of the novel, it is supposed to make us feel uncomfortable and does it in the best way. I think this is a thought provoking novel, even though we are no longer living in the immediate aftermath, the lessons we can learn about how to treat one another are absolutely still relevant 20+ years later. I truly couldn’t put this book down and finished it from cover to cover in about 3 hours (give or take a few minutes). I’m certainly recommending this book to everyone I can, including all of you, so go check it out if you have t read it yet!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
themichellegray's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
I don't have any words that could do this book justice; the writing is absolutely beautiful and the story will shatter your heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence and Gaslighting
whatkireads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This made me so incredibly sad but I have never felt more seen in my entire life.
I don't wear a hijab, so my experience is nowhere near that of Shirin's but the blatant Islamaphobia she goes through every single day, having people police her religion to her, make assumptions to her was so painfully relatable. Her struggle with Ocean, a white boy that loves her and between Yusuf, a Muslim guy that should be the right choice was so accurately portrayed.
It pained me to see how cruel people could be, and how this sentiment only extended to Muslims, and never to other religions, because why did people feel entitled to do that specifically to us?
The way Shirin encases herself in hatred as a protective mechanism is understandable, her prickly nature and just her as a character is so incredibly strong and brave and her reasons for never giving into the racism was inspiring.
The fact that being with other people and seeing them have to defend you, and thinking that you weren't worth defending, that you weren't worth the trouble was probably what hit home to me the most.
I love Tahereh Mafi for writing this, I have always liked her work but this made me love her even more
I don't wear a hijab, so my experience is nowhere near that of Shirin's but the blatant Islamaphobia she goes through every single day, having people police her religion to her, make assumptions to her was so painfully relatable. Her struggle with Ocean, a white boy that loves her and between Yusuf, a Muslim guy that should be the right choice was so accurately portrayed.
It pained me to see how cruel people could be, and how this sentiment only extended to Muslims, and never to other religions, because why did people feel entitled to do that specifically to us?
The way Shirin encases herself in hatred as a protective mechanism is understandable, her prickly nature and just her as a character is so incredibly strong and brave and her reasons for never giving into the racism was inspiring.
The fact that being with other people and seeing them have to defend you, and thinking that you weren't worth defending, that you weren't worth the trouble was probably what hit home to me the most.
I love Tahereh Mafi for writing this, I have always liked her work but this made me love her even more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
bravereads's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Islamophobia