Book Talk - A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

Author: Amy Kelly
Published: Wed 13 Feb 2019
Episode Link: https://theishgirl.libsyn.com/ep-42-book-talk-a-very-large-expanse-of-sea-by-tahereh-mafi

Biggest Takeaways:

Tahera Mafi’s A Very Large Expanse of Sea is a beautiful book that is perfect for springboarding into meaningful conversations with your teen.

The Context

Fear and mistrust might be knee-jerk reactions, but how we act and think afterwards is our choice.

When we can understand racism as a system we’re born into rather than an attitude held by a “bad person” who wants to harm others because of their race, we can begin to be open to recognizing problematic racial patterns in ourselves.

It’s important to me that I model for and instill in my teens a compassion and an empathy for others, regardless of any perceived differences.

Post 9/11, many Muslims in the United States were harassed and persecuted. (See the articles below.)

The Book

This story puts us into the mind of a 16-year-old Muslim girl, a year after the 9/11 attacks.

Shirin is miserable, isolated, and bitter because of her post 9/11 experiences. She has been harassed, bullied, and literally attacked. She’s withdrawn into a prickly shell, using her hadjib and her headphones to block out the world around her.

As she navigates her first love, Shirin slowly starts to open up and make friends. She discovers that by closing herself off, she’s become the very thing she most despises.

The Issues