An Emotion of Great Delight

April 26, 2021
Mafi (A Very Large Expanse of Sea) follows Iranian American hijabi Shadi as she struggles to overcome mounting loss following the death of her brother, Mehdi, after 9/11. Shadi, her sister Shayda, and their parents grieve in isolation; as their father suffers two heart attacks and their mother approaches a full collapse, the siblings’ already fraught relationship grows even tenser. Emotionally cut off by her best friend, fellow Iranian American Zahra—who resents Shadi’s growing romance with Zahra’s brother, Ali—Shadi feels increasingly forgotten despite Ali’s attempts to offer support. Shadi’s narration, densely lyrical, even purple, frequently results in confusing metaphors and scenes. Underdeveloped secondary characters, a derogatory and seemingly out-of-character description of the burqa as “those gross tent things the Taliban forces women to wear in Afghanistan,” and an abrupt ending that feels disconnected from the novel’s larger themes detract from its portrayal of a Muslim family in America in the years after 9/11. Even so, Mafi clearly and movingly illustrates how grief can escalate uncontrollably and seep into every facet of life. Ages 13–up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House.

Starred review from June 1, 2021

Gr 9 Up-Shadi is struggling to finish high school without losing her focus. It's a few years after 9/11 and the United States has recently declared war on Iraq. As an Iranian American Muslim teenager, Shadi, who wears a hijab, is judged harshly by teachers, students, and others in her community. What no one can see, though, is that most of her stress doesn't stem from anything related to religion or politics. Her brother was recently killed in an accident, her father is in the hospital after a severe heart attack, and her mother's mental health is in decline. As if that's not enough, her best friend, Zahra, who is also Iranian, has dropped her, leaving her with questions. When Zahra's brother, Ali, offers to console Shadi, the two admit to something that has been growing for years between them. Shadi must decide how important it is to follow her heart, even when she knows it may lead her into risky territory. Mafi's prose is compelling and unsentimental, giving voice to the universal angst common among teenagers. She handles the timely issues of race and discrimination with skill, highlighting the inaccuracies so often ascribed to individuals of the Muslim faith. Her well-developed characters jump off the page, especially during romantic moments. VERDICT An emotional, important look at an American Muslim teen's experience. Recommended for all high school libraries.-Karin Greenberg, Manhasset H.S., NY

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Starred review from April 15, 2021
Shadi's life is slowly falling apart: Her best friend, Zahra, doesn't talk to her anymore, and her parents are dealing with grief and depression in the aftermath of her brother Mehdi's sudden death. It's 2003, and all of this is compounded by the hatred Shadi receives every day at school for being Iranian American and a hijabi. The lack of support leaves Shadi struggling to keep afloat. She's behind in her classes and exhausted because she often stays up at night listening to her mother's agonizing despair over losing Mehdi. Her father, once a healthy, fit man, recently had a second heart attack, and Shadi's sister, Shayda, has taken over running the house. Everyone is so mired in their own trauma and pain that Shadi, the youngest, often finds herself forgotten, both literally and figuratively. The expectation of keeping one's home life private and of separating the political from the personal are themes throughout the book. Woven through this story of trauma and resilience is a soft romance between Shadi and Zahra's brother, Ali. Mafi confronts issues of mental health, suicidality, racism, and self-love in ways that will leave readers reacting viscerally and powerfully. Reading this novel is like being dropped straight into the everyday lives of a Muslim family in post-9/11 America. A simply real story, devoid of clich�s, that will leave an indelible mark. (Fiction. 13-18)

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Starred review from April 1, 2021
Grades 10-12 *Starred Review* Shadi has no intention of making waves. It's 2003: the U.S. has declared war on Iraq and hate crimes against Muslims are rising, so she knows it's better to keep her head down. Under the surface, though, she's a boiling sea. Her best friend has inexplicably dumped her, her brother has died unexpectedly, her father is gravely ill, her sister hates her, and her mother is barely keeping it together. No matter how much she may want to keep to herself, things will find a way to come out. Mafi follows her National Book Award-longlisted A Very Large Expanse of Sea (2018) with another contemporary young-adult novel of striking emotional intensity. Complex and introspective Shadi details her experiences with the specific challenges of Islamophobia and with more general issues related to friends, family, and the self during teenage years. With masterfully compelling prose, this surprises and ensnares, leading readers to an inevitable but gripping climax. Though there's a feverous feeling throughout the book, there's also formidable nuance in Shadi's paradoxical and contradictory thought patterns, which add even more to the frank realism. Hand to fans of Nina LaCour who are looking for emotional implications of great magnitude and stakes that could not feel higher. A bluntly powerful read that shouldn't be missed.

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