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greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
cutepatzie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Gaslighting, and Classism
booksandgore's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Religious bigotry
abigailnoack's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
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? No
4.25
"I could no longer distinguish people from monsters. I looked out at the world around me and no longer saw nuance. I saw nothing but the potential for pain and the subsequent need to protect myself, constantly."
Oh my heart. This was beautiful and heartbreaking and so so wonderful. Even more so the second time. A Very Large Expanse of Sea is a touching story that perfectly incapsulates the nervous delicate feelings of first love set against the backdrop of a racially turbulent time in America - Shirin is a Persian teenager in the year after 9/11.
I am so in love with this romance. It was calm and slow and so real and honest. Ocean and Shirin are opposites in a lot of ways. Shirin is harsh and closed off while Ocean is soft and an open observer to everything. He was refreshingly honest, genuine and so determined to break down Shirin's walls and prove to her that he was a good human who genuinely likes her. It hurt to see things get hard for Shirin and she would immediately put her walls back up and push Ocean away but it was also really refreshing to see actual dedication to a relationship in a YA novel. I loved the late night phone calls and the hesitant touches.
Behind the charming love story, A Very Large Expanse of Sea is a tremendous story on race and religion, and the importance of accepting other people's differences. Even though it take place in 2002, the perspective is fresh, and entirely applicable to modern issues of race and intolerance. It's hard-hitting and enlightening without reading like an encyclopedia or seeming preachy. I loved learning about Shirin's culture. I was really interested in the parts where she talked about Ramadan and her religion - exploring religions is definitely not talked about enough in YA. It was also great to see as Shirin learns to, not exactly stand up for herself, but not let other people get her down and not take crap from people.
Shirin is a really well-rounded character - she's a lot more than just her race and religion and struggle. She's super into fashion and makes a lot of her own clothes, she's in a breakdancing club with her brother, she also journals all the time, and she's a chronic music listener. Her character is deeply emotional and personal. I also really loved Shirin's relationship with her brother Navid; my brothers should be nicer to me.
I really related to Shirin's complete dislike for school and people. Of course, it's her response to so much hatred and racism, but I could totally see myself in the way she projected herself outwardly. Nothing terrible happened to me like Shirin, but I hated high school and generally hated everyone at my school. I really understood her struggle with wanting someone to understand her and her life, but being unable to let down her walls.
Some of it's flaws:
- This book slightly suffers from telling instead of showing
- Ocean has no flaws. Shirin is left thinking he is too good to be true the whole book, well, he literally is a perfect flawless boy. But it's still pretty enjoyable as long as you can look past that.
Tahereh Mafi's writing style is such a comfort to me. This book is really different from the whimsy of Furthermore, and the desperate hopeful writing of Shatter Me. Her words are beautiful and impactful no matter the topic, feeling or genre. I would highly recommend!
Oh my heart. This was beautiful and heartbreaking and so so wonderful. Even more so the second time. A Very Large Expanse of Sea is a touching story that perfectly incapsulates the nervous delicate feelings of first love set against the backdrop of a racially turbulent time in America - Shirin is a Persian teenager in the year after 9/11.
I am so in love with this romance. It was calm and slow and so real and honest. Ocean and Shirin are opposites in a lot of ways. Shirin is harsh and closed off while Ocean is soft and an open observer to everything. He was refreshingly honest, genuine and so determined to break down Shirin's walls and prove to her that he was a good human who genuinely likes her. It hurt to see things get hard for Shirin and she would immediately put her walls back up and push Ocean away but it was also really refreshing to see actual dedication to a relationship in a YA novel. I loved the late night phone calls and the hesitant touches.
Behind the charming love story, A Very Large Expanse of Sea is a tremendous story on race and religion, and the importance of accepting other people's differences. Even though it take place in 2002, the perspective is fresh, and entirely applicable to modern issues of race and intolerance. It's hard-hitting and enlightening without reading like an encyclopedia or seeming preachy. I loved learning about Shirin's culture. I was really interested in the parts where she talked about Ramadan and her religion - exploring religions is definitely not talked about enough in YA. It was also great to see as Shirin learns to, not exactly stand up for herself, but not let other people get her down and not take crap from people.
Shirin is a really well-rounded character - she's a lot more than just her race and religion and struggle. She's super into fashion and makes a lot of her own clothes, she's in a breakdancing club with her brother, she also journals all the time, and she's a chronic music listener. Her character is deeply emotional and personal. I also really loved Shirin's relationship with her brother Navid; my brothers should be nicer to me.
I really related to Shirin's complete dislike for school and people. Of course, it's her response to so much hatred and racism, but I could totally see myself in the way she projected herself outwardly. Nothing terrible happened to me like Shirin, but I hated high school and generally hated everyone at my school. I really understood her struggle with wanting someone to understand her and her life, but being unable to let down her walls.
Some of it's flaws:
- This book slightly suffers from telling instead of showing
- Ocean has no flaws. Shirin is left thinking he is too good to be true the whole book, well, he literally is a perfect flawless boy. But it's still pretty enjoyable as long as you can look past that.
Tahereh Mafi's writing style is such a comfort to me. This book is really different from the whimsy of Furthermore, and the desperate hopeful writing of Shatter Me. Her words are beautiful and impactful no matter the topic, feeling or genre. I would highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Religious bigotry