That disturbing truth, however, is offset by a portrait of a strong Muslim teen girl who defies stereotypes on multiple levels. Readers familiar with the baroque style of Mafi's other work will be surprised at the writing here-clear, straightforward, and metaphor-free, this story holds a mirror up to the ugly reality of religious bigotry. Shirin is at first difficult to like the vehemence and scope of her anger, though justified, inhibits empathy, but eventually she allows her walls to soften and proves willing to sacrifice her happiness for Ocean's. When their relationship becomes fodder for a public, racist tirade against rising basketball star Ocean, both his coach and his mother pressure Shirin to end it so as not to jeopardize Ocean's future. She tries to ignore him and focus instead on developing her breakdancing skills with the crew her brother has formed, but eventually Shirin and Ocean fall for each other and they fall hard. Her default is hostile anger whenever anyone even asks a question, so she initially bristles at the attention of Ocean James, a guy at her new high school who seems genuinely interested in her. A year after 9/11, Shirin has had just about all she can take of the abuse she suffers because of her hijab.
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