67 pages • 2 hours read
Tahereh MafiA Very Large Expanse of Sea
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi follows 16-year-old Shirin, a Muslim girl in post-9/11 America, as she navigates racism and intolerance in her new school. Struggling to protect herself behind emotional barriers, her life changes when she develops a hesitant romance with Ocean, a popular white boy, despite societal pressures and challenges they face together. The novel addresses themes of racial intolerance and anti-Muslim bigotry.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Tahereh Mafi's A Very Large Expanse of Sea offers a poignant portrayal of post-9/11 American life through the eyes of a Muslim teenager. Readers appreciate its emotional depth, authenticity, and representation. Some critiques highlight pacing issues and predictability. Overall, it’s a powerful, engaging narrative on identity and resilience.
Who Should Read A Very Large Expanse of Sea?
Fans of contemporary YA novels dealing with identity and prejudice will enjoy A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi. Comparable to books like Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give and Samira Ahmed's Love, Hate & Other Filters, this book appeals to readers interested in post-9/11 Muslim-American experiences.