![]() ![]() The outside world has become this constant reminder of how unwelcomed she is that she has to take precautions to protect herself. The reader gets a first-hand experience of what a Muslim teenage girl might go through. The hatred and abuse she faces is real from the start and doesn’t seem to be exaggerated or simplified for the audience. Once, just after the terrorist attacks, several boys attacked Shirin and choked her with her scarf. ![]() A year has passed since 9/11, and because Shirin always wears a hijab, she is harassed and teased by other students. It was compelling to read about Shrini’s struggle of who she could trust and let into her world. A Very Wide Expanse of Sea tells Shirin’s story during that sophomore year. ![]() Islamophobia and Xenophobia are such vital themes to this book to show the reality of what people go through. I was worried about that initial set up of the story simply because there could be a lot of background that needed to be discussed in order for cultural ideals made clear. She tells the story of one Muslim girl experience growing up and living in a world post 9/11. Mafi has never been scared of getting dark with her writing, and I found that influence carried over well. Whereas Mafi’s other books were rooted much more in fantasy worlds that she had crafted herself, this book was set in a modern-day society that many of us are familiar with. Right away starting this book, I was amazed by how different the tone was. ![]()
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