A Very Large Expanse of the Sea is written by Tahereh Mafi.  It is set in 2002, one year after 9/11.  It is about a 16 year old Muslim girl, Shirin, who feels like she is being profiled at school.  She wears a hijab to school everyday and feels like she is being ignored and ridiculed.  Consequently, she has built up walls to protect herself and doesn't have any friends.  She decides to join her brother and his friends who form a break dancing club after school.  She finds that she is really good at it and she begins to gain confidence.  Things begin to change when she is assigned a lab partner in class, Ocean James.  As they get to know each other, she feels that he seems to want to get to know who she is, but she is not sure if she can let go and really be herself with him.  Will they be able to cross that Wide Expanse of the Sea and overcome their differences?