Bound To Stay Bound

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 Very large expanse of sea
 Author: Mafi, Tahereh

 Publisher:  Harper (2019)

 Classification: Fiction
 Physical Description: 310 p.

 BTSB No: 596466 ISBN: 9780062866561
 Ages: 13-18 Grades: 8-12

 Subjects:
 Muslim teenagers -- United States -- Fiction
 Break dancing -- United States -- Fiction
 High schools -- Fiction
 Prejudices -- Fiction

Price: $9.83

Summary:
Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. But 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. She decided long ago not to trust anyone anymore. She drowns out her frustrations with music and spends her afternoons breakdancing with her brother. But then she meets Ocean James who is the first person in forever who really wants to get to know her.

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Accelerated Reader Information:
   Interest Level: UG
   Reading Level: 5.00
   Points: 10.0   Quiz: 199230



Full Text Reviews:

School Library Journal - 09/01/2018 Gr 9 Up—In the aftermath of 9/11, Shirin, a Muslim American teenager, bears the brunt of the country's anger on a daily basis. An intelligent, mature girl, Shirin has built up a tough armor from years of being bullied and misunderstood. Moving homes frequently because of her parents' continual desire to upgrade, she and her older brother are used to the ways their peers and teachers warily observe them. But now that the country is in panic mode and people see threats everywhere, Shirin, who has always chosen to wear a headscarf, is ostracized even more than usual at her newest high school. When a good-looking, white classmate, Ocean, starts to pay attention to her, Shirin cautiously dismisses him. Eventually, the two enter into a tentative relationship. No matter how much Shirin had anticipated the backlash, she is unprepared for the events that unfold when the community finds out about the two of them. It is not easy to incorporate important cultural themes in a young adult novel that also satisfies the social, romantic needs of teen readers. Not only does Mafi pull it off beautifully, but she exceeds expectations by delving deeply into characterization as well. Her writing is nuanced, smart, and lacks the sentimentality that often weighs down young adult books. Shirin and Ocean's interactions are palpable, and the discussions and exploration of what it means to be a Muslim in politically charged America will resonate with many teens and will be enlightening for some. VERDICT A must-have for all library collections.—Karin Greenberg, Manhasset High School, Manhasset, NY - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

School Library Journal - 05/01/2019 Gr 9 Up—Shirin, a headscarf-wearing, break-dancing, foul-mouthed 16-year-old, refuses to be constrained by anyone's expectations. Hardened by the bigotry she has endured in the year since the 9/11 terror attacks, she's withdrawn, counting down the days until graduation, when she can escape her narrow-minded suburban enclave. When Shirin is forced to become lab partners with Ocean, a popular basketball player with whom she seemingly has nothing in common, she learns to embrace acceptance where she least expects it. This evocative semiautobiographical novel challenges assumptions about why some Muslim women cover their hair and conveys the innocence and passion of first love. - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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