A Very Large Expanse of Sea

It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, and Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother until she meets a boy who is the first friend who really seems to want to know her.