A review by hannaaaaa
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

funny inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.75

This book is seriously necessary for the young adult market right now- and something I didn’t even think was possible until it was written, and subsequently made a NYT best-seller. It made a world of difference for me to read a novel in which a Muslim hijabi teenage girl was represented breaking free from stereotypes in a coming-of-age romance novel, something I have longed to see for my own community for such a long time. Hijabi teens such as myself are such complex individuals from different walks of life and with diverse passions and stories to explore- yet somehow we only ever get one-dimensional side characters written to further the journey of the white protagonist- if anything at all. This was a delight to read, and something we need more of.