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It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.

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.

But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her - they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds - and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down

61% (view spoiler)[didn't like the conversation with the Indian girl a single bit: it felt very staged, as if the author was trying to show how horrible girl are to other girls, it didn't feel genuine and completely missed the mark (hide spoiler)]

72% (view spoiler)[they are fucking ADORABLE! it's heart-warming to read about all of their firsts (hide spoiler)]

86% (view spoiler)[living in Europe, i have never experienced this level of discrimination or racism. yes, it does exist everywhere but i find it impossible to encounter this kind of racism and hatred outside of America (no offense) (hide spoiler)]

88% (view spoiler)[i kind of like her mentality but can she please choose if she does or does not care about what people think about her? (hide spoiler)]

What about the first half? No thoughts?

Aly wrote: "What about the first half? No thoughts?"

i think my first impression of Shirin was that she was quite a bit prejudiced herself and that she had a really negative view of everything but throughout the book you really get behind certain events and start to understand how she came to develop the stance she represents in the book

Okay, cool! I'm starting this later today

Aly wrote: "Okay, cool! I'm starting this later today"

in the end, i liked it quite a lot but i had to warm up to her first hahah (also, did you know that it's based on the author's life/experiences?)

I didn't! That makes it more interesting to me

Aly wrote: "I didn't! That makes it more interesting to me"

hope you enjoy it!

ch 10 (view spoiler)[ I feel so bad that Shirin has been bullied and hurt just because of her ethnicity and religion. She's pretty jaded and was mean to Ocean, but I get why she's defensive.
It's cool that she is learning break dancing and she and Ocean are getting along (hide spoiler)]

ch 20 (view spoiler)[ She didn't even know Ocean played basketball or was a junior. Shirin is kind of self centered and I feel like she and Ocean shouldn't be together if she doesn't care to learn things about him. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "ch 20 [spoilers removed]"

i felt like she was really prejudiced against inter-racial relationships and didn't give a crap about getting to know Ocean at the beginning.

Isabel wrote: "61% [spoilers removed]

72% [spoilers removed]

86% [spoilers removed]

88% [spoilers removed]"

Response to 61% (view spoiler)[ Totally agree, who would say that to another person? Definitely an example of how Shirin was even bullied by other Muslims (hide spoiler)]

Isabel wrote: "61% [spoilers removed]

72% [spoilers removed]

86% [spoilers removed]

88% [spoilers removed]"

Reply to 72% (view spoiler)[ Yes, they're a great couple. He cares about her so much! (hide spoiler)]

ch 29 (view spoiler)[ Wow fuck Ocean's mom for spending his college money and his coach for saying he'll get Ocean kicked off the team and expelled. What is wrong with people? I am so angry right now (hide spoiler)]

finished (view spoiler)[ Well I'm glad Ocean found out about his coach and mom and defended Shirin. And that they were together for a bit. It really sucked that she left at the end though. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "ch 29 [spoilers removed]"

that's a horrible attitude to have with your child but sadly there are way too many people actually managing their children's money like that!

Aly wrote: "finished [spoilers removed]"

did you read the afterword though? because they stayed together and are married (or engaged?), since it's actually based on the author's life

Isabel wrote: "Aly wrote: "finished [spoilers removed]"

did you read the afterword though? because they stayed together and are married (or engaged?), since it's actually based on the author's life"

What? My audiobook didn't have an afterward. Good to know!

sorry for the spoilers then hahah

No no, I'm glad you told me. I wondered if it was her husband since he has a unique name and she said she never forgot him