A very large expanse of sea by Tahereh Mafi

The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden

It is a rare book indeed that ever gets a perfect score from me, but The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden deserves nothing less than top marks. It’s heart wrenching, believable, thought provoking and brutally honest. I absolutely love Zoey and at multiple points in the story wanted to applaud her courage and resilience and how she absolutely became her own hero. I could not put this book down and you won’t be able to either. Get yourself a copy asap; you can thank me later.

A very large expanse of sea by Tahereh Mafi

3/31/2019

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The setting is 2002, right after 911. Shirin, a 16 year old American-born Muslim is sick of the racism and ignorance that is her daily reality. She has learned to just keep her head down and avoid attracting the attention that inevitably leads to ridiculous questions and hostile comments. Then she encounters Ocean.
Warning: Mature readers due to profanity and content.

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Middle School former Teacher Librarian - now MYP math and science. Update... VERY recently retired! Still adjusting that I'm not just on summer vacation!!!
I believe there is no such thing as a non-reader; just people who haven't discovered what they want to read.

Janice's bookshelf: read

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A Very Large Expanse of Sea

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I’m not usually someone who enjoys a story that is predominantly about the attraction between two people BUT I did like this one. The setting is one year after 9/11 and 16 year old Shirin, an American born Muslim whose family moves freq...

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The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden