A Very Large Expanse of Sea
- Downloads：3452
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-04-27 11:52:36
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Tahereh Mafi
- ISBN：1405292601
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
It’s 2002， a year after 9/11。 It’s an extremely turbulent time politically， but especially so for someone like Shirin， a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped。
Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be。 She’s tired of the rude stares， the degrading comments - even the physical violence - she endures as a result of her race， her religion， and the hijab she wears every day。 So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her。 Instead， she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother。
But then she meets Ocean James。 He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin。 It terrifies her - they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds - and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down。
Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be。 She’s tired of the rude stares， the degrading comments - even the physical violence - she endures as a result of her race， her religion， and the hijab she wears every day。 So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her。 Instead， she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother。
But then she meets Ocean James。 He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin。 It terrifies her - they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds - and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down。
Reviews
Jenny
，
All the teen feels！
Roqaya
，
Bro that was beautifully written。。。。I wanna hug it tbh。 Don't blame me ， Karen， plz。。。you don't seem to understand。 Bro that was beautifully written。。。。I wanna hug it tbh。 Don't blame me ， Karen， plz。。。you don't seem to understand。 。。。more
daughterofathenacarli
，
I LOVED it。 Shirin and Ocean are so， so cute！！ review coming soon。
ALMIRA
，
The books get gradually better through the series。 Story is compelling。 And you are knowledgeable in terms of writing。 I suggest， If you have some great stories to share like this one， You can join in NovelStar writing contest with a theme "WEREWOLVES" Prices are amazing！ https://author。starlight。ink/essay/in。。。 or just email any of the following editors;hardy@novelstar。topjoye@novelstar。toplena@novelstar。top The books get gradually better through the series。 Story is compelling。 And you are knowledgeable in terms of writing。 I suggest， If you have some great stories to share like this one， You can join in NovelStar writing contest with a theme "WEREWOLVES" Prices are amazing！ https://author。starlight。ink/essay/in。。。 or just email any of the following editors;hardy@novelstar。topjoye@novelstar。toplena@novelstar。top 。。。more
Margrethe
，
I thought the characters were very realistic， though perhaps not all the events were equally realistic。 Perhaps especially Ocean showing up everywhere in the beginning， but it didn't put me out of the story。 It seemed to show the teenage experience very well。 I found the romance to be very heartwarming， but not perfect of course。 I did learn some new things during this reading experience， for which I'm grateful。 The writing was very beautiful。 I have not read the Shatter Me series by Mafi， but I I thought the characters were very realistic， though perhaps not all the events were equally realistic。 Perhaps especially Ocean showing up everywhere in the beginning， but it didn't put me out of the story。 It seemed to show the teenage experience very well。 I found the romance to be very heartwarming， but not perfect of course。 I did learn some new things during this reading experience， for which I'm grateful。 The writing was very beautiful。 I have not read the Shatter Me series by Mafi， but I might read future books from her。 There were so many heartbreaking moments in this book。 There were so many experiences that Shirin went through， that just made me so angry she had to live through。 Overall I think this is an important book for many reasons， and I would highly recommend it。 This scored 8。43 on CAWPILE。 That makes it on the middle four-star mark。 。。。more
Shelly
，
Love love love the narration and the theme of this book。 Sooo glad to discover this gem of a book。
Olivia Jane
，
This is a beautiful， sad， heartwarming book。 I know it’s going to stay with me for a long time。 I can’t recommend it enough， everyone should read this 100%。
aqilahreads
，
honestly this book just got me feeling haram lmaooo hELP 🙅♀️🤦♀️❌ （（repenting myself reading this during ramadhan 🥲））its main character is such a bad muslim rep and im actually so shocked rn， coming from quite a well known muslim author。 i understand that the author being a muslim has nothing to do w/ anything that has happened in the book but a lot of peeps have been reading & enjoying this so much so it got me wondering if they really understood that what was being represented was actually co honestly this book just got me feeling haram lmaooo hELP 🙅♀️🤦♀️❌ （（repenting myself reading this during ramadhan 🥲））its main character is such a bad muslim rep and im actually so shocked rn， coming from quite a well known muslim author。 i understand that the author being a muslim has nothing to do w/ anything that has happened in the book but a lot of peeps have been reading & enjoying this so much so it got me wondering if they really understood that what was being represented was actually completely not right？？ and the fact that this book was marketed in such a way that its "representing muslims"。。。。。。i just。。。。👁👄👁 mostly everything is under the influence of western culture so i could only think that maybe some westernized muslim teenagers would be able to relate？？？ :"）i mean i get it， not everyone proudly practices their religion & everyones different but！！！！ there are a lot of opportunities where tahereh could have just elaborate more/rectify on how her muslim character's behaviours are actually forbidden in islamic principles。 but nOpe， she still goes on and tbh i just hate the idea that this might cause a lot of confusion & misunderstanding esp among non-muslim readers who would think that these behaviours are okay to have or see in a muslim。 i really felt that it has so much potential omg i love her writing tho but its just uncomfortable esp to read how a hijabi character （（as i see myself）） was being portrayed in here - it would probs be a romance book that i enjoyed easily if only the character is not a muslim in the first place。 UGH why cant we all for once just have a muslim protagonist that truly represents us well？？ 😢 omg alsooo i just saw that her upcoming latest book release actually has a hijabi muslim on the cover？？ probably just another marketing strategy？？ 🤨🧐🤔idk if this a review or a rant lmao pls forgive me 🥺 wont rec as its really one of the worst representation & personally felt it wasnt worth the hype。 maybe im just expecting too much？？ also i dont understand how it focuses a lot on wearing the hijab but eh？？ with no clear explanation？？ ok im done 😩// reading this as part of #ramadanreadathon 。。。more
Blue
，
Want to see more。。。 Bookstagram WebsiteI am a huge fan of Mafi's work， she has such an epic ability to create captivating， relatable and beautiful little cinnamon buns of characters … There characters weren't as brilliant as others she has created。I think that might have been the disappointing part of this book， otherwise the remainder of it was entertaining， just not as epic Want to see more。。。 Bookstagram WebsiteI am a huge fan of Mafi's work， she has such an epic ability to create captivating， relatable and beautiful little cinnamon buns of characters … There characters weren't as brilliant as others she has created。I think that might have been the disappointing part of this book， otherwise the remainder of it was entertaining， just not as epic 。。。more
Maite Duarte
，
Ni siquiera sé cómo describir este libro。 Es increíble， lo agarré y no pude soltarlo。 Indaga temas muy complejos como racismo， islamofobia y privilegio blanco con mucha profundidad， solo introduciéndote detalladamente en la vida y pensamientos de los personajes。 Pasé por muchos sentimientos leyéndolo， y valió completamente la pena。 Tahereh Mafi， una seca。 Shirin， el personaje principal， también demasiado brígida。 El único detalle es que sentí que el final fue muy abrupto， pero fue perfecto。
Brittany （whatbritreads）
，
I just read this all in one sitting and I’m completely in love。 Literally have no criticisms except I wish it was longer。 What a little gem of a book。What can I say， it ticks all the boxes。 It’s well written， it’s fast paced and engaging， it had three dimensional and interesting characters and a loveable protagonist。。 I’m just blown away by how much I enjoyed it。It was honestly so sweet and relatable。 The relationship between Shirin and Ocean was just so open and full of trust。 I’ve never seen s I just read this all in one sitting and I’m completely in love。 Literally have no criticisms except I wish it was longer。 What a little gem of a book。What can I say， it ticks all the boxes。 It’s well written， it’s fast paced and engaging， it had three dimensional and interesting characters and a loveable protagonist。。 I’m just blown away by how much I enjoyed it。It was honestly so sweet and relatable。 The relationship between Shirin and Ocean was just so open and full of trust。 I’ve never seen such good on page communication between two characters before – it was so refreshing to have them just be forward with each other。 I loved the way they grew together and how well they seemed to fit despite being seemingly so opposite。 It did so well of describing their relationship and all of those weird， electric all-consuming feelings you have when you’re around someone you really like and you haven’t even touched them yet。 The tension and anticipation were real， I was rooting for them all the way。 So ridiculously cute。It did a great job of diving into so many different aspects of Shirin’s identity within a limited page number。 There were discussions on constantly moving around， not feeling ‘enough’ of a certain identity， islamophobia coupled with misogyny， bodily autonomy， prejudice and misinformation （and most likely other things I’ve missed off the top of my head）。 I’d say definitely check triggers for this book as some of it is very upsetting， but it was brilliantly discussed。Overall， just a heartbreakingly heart-warming novel。 That ending left me with tiny tears in my eyes。 。。。more
Toby Oliver
，
I will never not be annoyed at Ocean but I understand him。 So beautifully written
Natalie Bakken
，
I’d heard somewhere that people could get used to anything。 This was such an enlightening， heart-breaking， and addictive read。 Tahereh Mafi’s stories and writing have been praised time and time again--Shatter Me is a series I’ve reread more times than I could count--and A Very Large Expanse of Sea is no exception。 What makes this story so special is the fact it’s so clearly personal。 From Shirin’s awful experiences as a Muslim in a post 9/11 America to the innocent after-school break-dancing I’d heard somewhere that people could get used to anything。 This was such an enlightening， heart-breaking， and addictive read。 Tahereh Mafi’s stories and writing have been praised time and time again--Shatter Me is a series I’ve reread more times than I could count--and A Very Large Expanse of Sea is no exception。 What makes this story so special is the fact it’s so clearly personal。 From Shirin’s awful experiences as a Muslim in a post 9/11 America to the innocent after-school break-dancing sessions， this story oozes real-life experience and very real pain。 I could no longer distinguish people from monsters。 It is so， so important to elevate the voices of those who haven’t been heard， who have been silenced， who have been traumatized， and who have suffered unnecessarily; the fact that a best-selling contemporary novel （with a beautiful romance） features a strong a** teenage Muslim girl as the main character is so refreshing and so needed。 Through brutally honest prose， Mafi highlights the fear， frustration， and overall disgusting injustice that comes as a result of prejudice and hate。 None of it’s fair。 None of it。 I’d never wanted to remember anything before。 I didn’t want to put this book down。 Incompetent racists （young and old alike） had my temper boiling and my hands slamming the cover shut。 Brown-haired boys who are too polite for their own good had me swooning。 Heart-wrenching phone calls had me covering my face。 Heart-warming teenage awkwardness and impromptu IHOP dates had me grinning ear to ear。Learning about others’ experiences is a crucial part of being a well-rounded and educated human being。 A Very Large Expanse of Sea is a story everyone should read。 Ocean made me want to give the world a second chance。 If you haven’t already: pick up this book。 You’ll be flipping pages without realizing it。 And you won’t regret it。 I certainly didn’t。 。。。more
Martyna
，
Bawiłam się przy niej bardzo dobrze。 Czytając nie mogłam się oderwać。
Zoey Perrigo
，
It's very rarely that a book makes me stop reading to take a shaky breath to keep me from crying， but Shirin's story forced me to。 Recommend highly。 It's very rarely that a book makes me stop reading to take a shaky breath to keep me from crying， but Shirin's story forced me to。 Recommend highly。 。。。more
Katelyn Moore
，
Amazing。 There are great themes and life lessons placed in this high school love story that is more about love and a personal connection than physical。 It's refreshing， and I am really glad that I read this novel。 Amazing。 There are great themes and life lessons placed in this high school love story that is more about love and a personal connection than physical。 It's refreshing， and I am really glad that I read this novel。 。。。more
Ania
，
3。5
Becca Foubister
，
4。5 stars
Nashita
，
A fantastic romance read after a long period。 Really loved the chemistry between Shirin & Ocean💕
Ala ☾
，
DNFmyślałam， że jeszcze do niej wrócę bo nie lubię zostawiać nieskończonych książek。 minęło już pare miesięcy i chyba jednak sobie odpuszczę
Marysia✨
，
4，75/5⭐️Podobało mi się， nawet bardzo mi się podobało。 Polubiłam Shirin i rozumiałam jej zachowania， ale denerwowało mnie trochę jej myślenie， że wszyscy ludzie są źli。 Tak samo baaardzo polubiłam Oceana。 Podobała mi się jego otwartość （？） i bezpośredniość， ale też wiele innych cech。 Ogólnie uważam， że bohaterowie byli dobrze wykreowani。Książka porusza ważne tematy， m。in。 rasizm。 Możemy przekonać się przez co musi przechodzić Shirin， jako osoba wyróżniająca się spośród społeczeństwa wyglądem i w 4，75/5⭐️Podobało mi się， nawet bardzo mi się podobało。 Polubiłam Shirin i rozumiałam jej zachowania， ale denerwowało mnie trochę jej myślenie， że wszyscy ludzie są źli。 Tak samo baaardzo polubiłam Oceana。 Podobała mi się jego otwartość （？） i bezpośredniość， ale też wiele innych cech。 Ogólnie uważam， że bohaterowie byli dobrze wykreowani。Książka porusza ważne tematy， m。in。 rasizm。 Możemy przekonać się przez co musi przechodzić Shirin， jako osoba wyróżniająca się spośród społeczeństwa wyglądem i wyznaniem。Wątek romantyczny też bardzo mi się podobał。 Nie rozwijał się za szybko i był dobrze opisany。Wątek z tańcem hmmm no uważam， że był tu trochę niepotrzebny， jednak jest dobrze opisany。Książka jest napisana prostym językiem i szybko się ją czyta。 Nawiązując już do języka denerwowało mnie trochę， że ciągle ktoś się śmiał。 To pewnie zabrzmiało dziwnie， ale mam wrażenie， że nie było tutaj dialogu， w którym nikt się nie zaśmiał。 Chodzi mi o sytuacje w stylu: powiedział coś tam i się zaśmiał。A co do zakończenia: nie było one zbyt szczęśliwe， ale myślę， że pasuje do tej książki i mimo wszystko podobało mi się。 Polecam przeczytać。 。。。more
Shay
，
"In fact， I would’ve been happy if I want to hear your voice had been the last thing Ocean ever said to me。"This book is for you if。。。 you're looking for a quick read that talks about important issues that took place after 9/11 and issues that are still issues today。 I'm not gonna talk much about this book， because I think that this book is one of those that you just need to read for yourself， I have no idea what someone else might think of this book except that the issues we see in this are ver "In fact， I would’ve been happy if I want to hear your voice had been the last thing Ocean ever said to me。"This book is for you if。。。 you're looking for a quick read that talks about important issues that took place after 9/11 and issues that are still issues today。 I'm not gonna talk much about this book， because I think that this book is one of those that you just need to read for yourself， I have no idea what someone else might think of this book except that the issues we see in this are very prevalent still today even though this book takes place almost 20 years ago。 Ocean was hands down the best character for me， he was so sweet and he was trying so hard to understand something that is so hard to understand if you aren't in those shoes。 Shirin， took me a while to warm up to but once I liked her， I loved her。 Shirin is incredibly strong and kind， behind a I don't care facade， when really it seems she does care， but doesn't want to let people in enough to care。（She definitely had valid reasons for that。） Their relationship was really cute actually， like I wish we had gotten more of it， like the moments of them together being cute。 I think there could've been maybe 50 or so more pages dedicated to them being together。 Overall I thought this book was good， objectively this is a good book， subjectively it wasn't really my kind of book。 And when I say that I mean how fast I was going though the book and the actual development of plot and characters weren't meshing well。 I felt that the book was fast， like I read this book ridiculously fast， but at the same time the characters and plot felt like it was moving though molasses。 I might have to give this a reread in the future to see if it's just me in the moment or if that's how it is for me。 CAWPILE Rating: 6。86/10Stars: 3/5 Stars A very quick read that was really sweet actually。 。。。more
Maria
，
How people find words to review this book is beyond my understanding。 The story was so intense， raw and honest。 Do yourself a favour and read this book
Faiza Shaikh
，
not sure if i should root for mc， feels like i don’t know her。 love interest is also vaguely personified。 it was fine
Sabii
，
3，75/5Que decirles， me recontra gustó。 "Al otro lado del océano" trata de Shirin， una chica musulmana que， un año después del atentado en contra de las torres gemelas， llega a un colegio nuevo–después de las 450mil mudanzas que tuvo a lo largo y ancho de los estados unidos–donde conoce a Ocean， un chico que， a partir de las situaciones que viven juntos， la ayuda a entender que la gente no es completamente racista y que hay una gran variedad de matices。Mi mejor amiga me obligó a leerlo。 Es más， e 3，75/5Que decirles， me recontra gustó。 "Al otro lado del océano" trata de Shirin， una chica musulmana que， un año después del atentado en contra de las torres gemelas， llega a un colegio nuevo–después de las 450mil mudanzas que tuvo a lo largo y ancho de los estados unidos–donde conoce a Ocean， un chico que， a partir de las situaciones que viven juntos， la ayuda a entender que la gente no es completamente racista y que hay una gran variedad de matices。Mi mejor amiga me obligó a leerlo。 Es más， el libro lo leo en físico porque ella me lo prestó; pero el punto es que en las primeras 120 páginas dije "mmm esto no es para mí" porque， si bien me interesaba todo el tema del racismo， flasheé que era el chico quien la iba a "salvar" de ello yNO NADA Q VER。Shirin aprende de sus errores， a las trompadas claramente， de ver las cosas de una manera muy pesimista para mi gusto， pero también hay que entenderla; en sus 16 años de edad sufrió más violencia y comentarios por racismo que una persona blanca de 80。El punto es que la novela en sí no es la gRAN cosa， pero te enseña bocha， o por lo menos para mí， sobre el racismo–que si bien el libro está situado en 2002， lamentablemente sigue sucediendo y no tenemos que irnos a más que ocho meses atrás donde asesinaban a george floyd para ver que en la actualidad pasa-。Una bella lectura :） 。。。more
Elizabeth
，
I absolutely loved this book。 While it had a teen romance story line， it's greatest attribute was how it explored life of a Muslim-American female teen trying to survive in high school post 9/11。 Chapter 22 in particular is full of issues and questions that can be great contemplation/discussion points。 I absolutely loved this book。 While it had a teen romance story line， it's greatest attribute was how it explored life of a Muslim-American female teen trying to survive in high school post 9/11。 Chapter 22 in particular is full of issues and questions that can be great contemplation/discussion points。 。。。more
Ampi
，
cliché， me gusta。 medio flojo， pero se lee muy rápido así q golazo
Chloe
，
WOW。 I REALLY REALLY REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK。 there were parts wherre my mouth went so wide and i had to stop while i squeeled in happiness and excitement。 This story was great， amazing。 And it had this part where it seemed like it could've been non-fiction， about someone's life。 It seemed so realistic whihc just made it better。 I can not wait to read her "Shatter Me" series。 WOW。 I REALLY REALLY REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK。 there were parts wherre my mouth went so wide and i had to stop while i squeeled in happiness and excitement。 This story was great， amazing。 And it had this part where it seemed like it could've been non-fiction， about someone's life。 It seemed so realistic whihc just made it better。 I can not wait to read her "Shatter Me" series。 。。。more
Cali
，
Too many emotions， can't think。 Too many emotions， can't think。 。。。more
Charlotte
，