A review by betweentheshelves
An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi

emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this to review! I loved Tahereh Mafi's last foray into contemporary, and I was super excited for this one. As expected, it was a very emotional journey with a lot to unpack.

Every time I read a book by Mafi, I'm always in awe of her prose. It feels so poetic, and that shines in this book. Her prose lends itself to the emotions in this book, bringing them to life. Shadi is hurting, and you can feel it through the pages of this book. She misses her brother, she misses her friends, and she's angry with her father. An Emotion of Great Delight is such a fitting title for this book, and definitely the strength of the story.

This book is also a great study in character. We learn a lot about Shadi throughout the book, as it flips between before and after her brother's death. The landscape for Muslim people right after 9/11 is so realistic in this book. Mafi's books definitely stand out in this regard, as I don't think I can think of any other books that deal specifically with that time period. You feel Shadi's desire to hide, to blend in. This is definitely an emotional, character driven book.

The only complaint I really have is the ending. Overall, the book is on the shorter side for YA, and the ending comes kind of abruptly. At least, it felt abrupt for me. There's a little resolution in Shadi's situation, but I never really felt like Shadi herself had a resolution. While I normally don't mind open endings, I just wanted a little more from the ending in this book that was so incredibly emotional.

All in all, if you're looking for an emotion driven book with poetic prose, this is the book for you! Plus, that cover is just gorgeous. 


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Wow, this ends so abruptly. Mafi's prose is so poetic and emotional, I'm just confused by the ending of this book. More to come in a review next week!
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