A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Set in 2002, A Very Large Expanse of Sea takes place a year after the events of 9/11 and explores how a predominantly White town’s lack of understanding leads to Shirin, a hijab-wearing Muslim girl, being ostracized and bullied. As Shirin begins her sophomore year at a new high school, her teachers and classmates are quick to make assumptions about her based on her appearance and are initially unable to move past the fact that Shirin wears a headscarf. Some teachers, for example, assume that Shirin can’t speak English even though it’s her first language, and several classmates only interact with Shirin to ask ignorant and invasive questions about her hijab and religion. In addition to these microaggressions, Shirin also experiences explicit acts of racism. She recalls being attacked by two boys at a previous school, who tried to choke her with her hijab. Similarly, at her new school, when word gets out about her relationship with Ocean, a beloved and talented White basketball player, someone sends out a school district-wide email condemning Ocean for being anti-American and supporting terrorism. Overall, Shirin’s experience shows how racism and Islamophobia can create an intolerable environment for those targeted by such prejudices.

In addition to emphasizing that it’s unacceptable to treat people cruelly because of perceived differences, the novel goes on to suggest that by being willing to learn about another person, we may realize that we have more in common than we think. After all, before getting to know Shirin, Ocean also made incorrect assumptions about her and initially believed that Shirin’s parents wouldn’t allow her to spend time with a boy after school. However, because Ocean is adamant about learning more about Shirin, the two are ultimately able to connect over their shared experiences of being defined by one aspect of their identities. In this way, the novel demonstrates that a lack of understanding and empathy can cause someone to act in harmful ways, but it’s nonetheless possible—and important—to seek understanding, find commonalities, and learn to treat others with kindness and respect.