30 books that you can totally judge by their covers

A Very Large Expanse of Sea – Tahereh Mafi

Tahereh Mafi’s A Very Large Expanse of Sea also covers serious political issues, although this book covers the topic of Islamaphobia. Set the year after the 9/11 attacks, it follows sixteen-year-old Shirin. Given the aftermath of the attacks, she’s constantly being stereotyped.

Tired of facing judgment and cruelty from her peers, Shirin has grown accustomed to keeping her defenses up. So, of course, when she meets Ocean, she’s reluctant to let him in — even though he’s the first person who seems to see beyond her religion to the person beneath.

The cover for A Very Large Expanse of Sea is another simple one, but the mesh of colors and fonts make it stand out on a shelf, especially against its white background. As with many novels that boast that type of design, it doesn’t hold much meaning beyond its aesthetic. But there’s more than enough meaning in the pages to make up for it.