Very Large Expanse of Sea

Tahereh Mafi’s standalone young adult novel follows Latifah, a Muslim American teenager of Iranian heritage who boards a cruise ship traveling from Texas to Virginia. Set against the backdrop of early 1990s geopolitical tensions, the narrative explores how Latifah navigates daily encounters with Islamophobia and racial prejudice while processing the recent loss of her mother. Written entirely in free verse, the book uses maritime imagery to mirror Latifah’s emotional journey from isolation toward self-advocacy. Mafi grounds the story in authentic cultural detail, examining how identity is shaped by both personal grief and broader societal attitudes. The novel’s restrained prose and deliberate pacing allow readers to sit with the quiet weight of microaggressions, systemic bias, and the search for belonging. By centering a Muslim American protagonist in a contemporary realistic setting, Mafi contributes to the growing body of literature that validates underrepresented voices and encourages empathy across cultural divides. The work remains a thoughtful examination of resilience, heritage, and the courage required to claim one’s space in an uncertain world.