Very Large Expanse of Sea

In the aftermath of 9/11, sixteen-year-old Shirin, a Muslim girl, faces discrimination and violence at her new high school. She finds solace in music and break-dancing, but her world is turned upside down when she meets Ocean, the first person to truly understand her. A powerful and heartfelt contemporary YA novel about fear, first love, and the devastating impact of prejudice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 18 October 2018
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

This is a truly remarkable book, exhibiting a delicate and fierce beauty that is even more captivating as it reveals some harsh realities. The prose is filled with passionate honesty, devoid of sentimentality and overflowing with genuine compassion. Among the finest works of literature, they have the power to reshape our perception of the world around us, and this particular book falls into that category. I found myself deeply immersed in its pages, experiencing a profound love for it.

Set in 2002, a year after the tragic events of 9/11, the story revolves around Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who has grown weary of being subjected to stereotypes and prejudice. She has become accustomed to the cruel stares, degrading comments, and even physical violence that she faces solely because of her race, religion, and the hijab she wears every day. Shirin finds solace in music, immersing herself in the world of breakdancing with her brother. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Ocean James. He is the first person in a long time who genuinely seeks to understand her, and it terrifies Shirin as they come from vastly different worlds. She has spent so much time guarding herself against the world that she questions whether she will ever be able to let her guard down.

This book will appeal to fans of the Shatter Me series, as well as those who have enjoyed Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give and Nicola Yoon's The Sun is Also a Star. Tahereh Mafi, the author, is a New York Times bestselling author known for her Shatter Me series, which has been translated into over 30 languages and has reached readers worldwide. Born in a small city in Connecticut, she currently resides in Santa Monica, California, with her husband, Ransom Riggs.

Weight: 216g
Dimension: 195 x 128 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781405292603