Reviews with content warning for Xenophobia - A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

46 reviews

fionamatilda's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

This def was a little tough to read for me as someone who was raised Muslim, with a brown immigrant parent, pre and post 9/11. I was only a little kid at the time and I have never worn hijab but I still faced a lot of Islamophobia and racism growing up. I can't imagine what it would've been like to have been a teen or adult immediately after the events of 9/11 especially one who wore hijab. I related a lot to Shirin and her experiences throughout the book. One example that really stood out was how throughout middle school, high school, and even college I was the token and put on the spot like Shirin was in her one class. The romance was cute enough but I didn't feel any strong feelings one way or another outside of the rage over the assholery of people viewing/treating the interracial/interreligious relationship (which I feel super strongly about because it mirrors my parents relationship and how people viewed/treated them. even to this day, they'll get a sideeye from some people).
Loved the breakdancing group though

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wrinnola's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective 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 couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end. Easily a 5 star book.

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kkxmac's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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abesreading's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective 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

3.5

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sadchickpea's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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meagangrace's review against another edition

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emotional 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? It's complicated

3.75

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saryy's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

1.0

I really didn't like this book. it was easy to read, which is why I managed to finish it quickly, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped I would.

it felt like it was screaming at times, to the white readers, to "please like me." it felt like it was catered to white people, the constant explanation by the MC that she's just really a normal teenager, like she had to justify her mere existence to the reader as much as she did to the people in her school, it was annoying to read by someone like me who looks like her.

the writing was simple enough, nothing special, easy to read but extremely mediocre. it didn't really stand out to me.

the plot was extremely meh. I just didn't like it, and I feel like no much time was taken to show us the relationship between Shirin and Ocean. I couldn't really root for them at any point in time, and didn't care for them at all.

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kokoberry's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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

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readerorwateva's review against another edition

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emotional 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

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