![]() Shirin is so relatable, despite our obvious differences. I wanted to see a historic time that I lived as a white Christian through the eyes of someone who was (and unfortunately still is) on the receiving end of so much unwarranted hate, anger, and violence. I’m not a huge fan of contemporary/realistic young adult books but this one piqued my interest. I wasn’t too much older than Shirin when 9/11 happened and I remember all the anti-Muslim attacks and rhetoric at the time. I stumbled on this title while I was looking for ideas for #ownvoices books for the Diversity Challenge prompt this month. ![]() Ocean makes stupid assumptions about her too but he also asks honest questions, listens to the answers, and genuinely tries to learn from his mistakes. ![]() But then she meets a guy who just won’t be ignored. More often than not, she walks with her head down, listening to music under her hijab, and trying to ignore the jerks around her. She’s had one too many teachers ask if she speaks English, listened to one too many “jokes” about terrorists, had one too many strangers tell her to go back where she came from, and in general just had enough. In 2002, only one year after 9/11, she is disgusted with humanity. Her family is Muslim and she chooses to wear a hijab. ![]() Shirin is a second-generation American of Iranian descent. ![]()
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