A Very Large Expanse Of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
The novel is set in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and follows a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who faces daily racism and Islamophobia in her high school. As she navigates the turbulent waters of adolescence, she also pursues her passion for breakdancing, a hobby that serves as both a creative outlet and a form of defiance against those who seek to put her in a box. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets a boy who genuinely seems to see her for who she is, leading to a complicated romance that challenges both their preconceptions and the prejudices of those around them. Through her journey, the protagonist grapples with the desire to be understood and the need to remain true to herself in a world that often demands conformity.