{"product_id":"very-large-expanse-sea-tahereh-mafi-9780062866578","title":"A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-description-container\" style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; color: #333;\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eA Very Large Expanse of Sea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color: #555;\"\u003eby Tahereh Mafi\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr style=\"border: 0; border-top: 1px solid #eee; margin: 20px 0;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: #fdfaf2; border-left: 5px solid #27ae60; padding: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0; font-weight: bold; color: #27ae60;\"\u003e🌊 A POWERFUL STORY OF IDENTITY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0; font-size: 0.9em;\"\u003eA heartrending contemporary novel exploring the impact of prejudice and the courage of first love.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eExtended Synopsis\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cstrong\u003eA Very Large Expanse of Sea\u003c\/strong\u003e, Tahereh Mafi delivers a semi-autobiographical, visceral portrait of life in 2002, a year after the events of 9\/11. The story follows Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who is exhausted by the stereotypes, rude stares, and physical violence she endures for her race, her religion, and her hijab. To protect herself, Shirin has built impenetrable walls, finding solace only in music and break-dancing with her brother.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEverything changes when she meets Ocean James. He is the first person in years who genuinely wants to know the girl behind the defenses. Their connection terrifies Shirin, as they come from seemingly irreconcilable worlds. Mafi masterfully explores the complexities of navigating adolescence and first love while under the crushing weight of societal prejudice, resulting in a narrative that is both timely and timeless.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; margin-top: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003ch4 style=\"margin-top: 0;\"\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTahereh Mafi\u003c\/strong\u003e is a National Book Award nominee and the bestselling author of the \u003cem\u003eShatter Me\u003c\/em\u003e series. Born in Connecticut to Iranian parents, Mafi often draws upon her own lived experiences to craft stories that challenge perceptions and celebrate the resilience of the human spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eReader Targeting\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContemporary YA Readers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fans of character-driven stories that tackle difficult social issues with nuance and heart.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiverse Narrative Seekers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Readers looking for authentic Muslim representation and stories about the immigrant experience in America.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFans of Realistic Romance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Those who appreciate the exploration of \"first love\" amidst complex external pressures.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAccolades \u0026amp; Awards\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLonglisted for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/em\u003e Bestseller.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHighly acclaimed for its honest depiction of post-9\/11 America.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProduct Specifications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e9780062866578\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003eHarperCollins\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003ePaperback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e2019-10-08\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; font-size: 0.9em; color: #777;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeople Over Profits\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBust-Down Books: More Than a Bookstore\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n    {\n      \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/\",\n      \"@type\": \"Book\",\n      \"name\": \"A Very Large Expanse of Sea\",\n      \"author\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\n        \"name\": \"Tahereh Mafi\"\n      },\n      \"isbn\": \"9780062866578\",\n      \"bookFormat\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/Paperback\",\n      \"datePublished\": \"2019-10-08\",\n      \"publisher\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"HarperCollins\"\n      },\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en\",\n      \"genre\": [\"Contemporary Fiction\", \"Young Adult\", \"Romance\"],\n      \"brand\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n        \"name\": \"Bust Down Books\"\n      }\n    }\n    \u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Bust-Down Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50942976524603,"sku":"0062866575","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9869883482210.jpg?v=1773319600","url":"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/very-large-expanse-sea-tahereh-mafi-9780062866578","provider":"Bust-Down Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}