Very Large Expanse of Sea

Longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People''s Literature! From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Me series comes a powerful, heartrending contemporary novel about fear, first love, and the devastating impact of prejudice. Its 2002, a year after 9/11. Its an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl whos tired of being stereotyped. Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. Shes tired of the rude stares, the degrading commentseven the physical violenceshe endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So shes 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. Hes the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies herthey seem to come from two irreconcilable worldsand Shirin has had her guard up for so long that shes not sure shell ever be able to let it down.