It's 2002 a year after 9 11 and Shirin has just started at yet another school. It's an
extremely turbulent time for the world but also 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. 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 and she doesn't expect or even try to fit
in anywhere or let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead she drowns her frustrations in
music and spends her afternoons breakdancing 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. Tahereh Mafi bestselling author
of the Shatter Me series returns with a gorgeous and heartrending new novel inspired by her
own experiences with first love breakdancing and the devastating impact of prejudice. As a
bonus this edition includes two chapters from Ocean's point of view.
