An Emotion of Great Delight
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that An Emotion of Great Delight is a YA novel by Persian American author Tahereh Mafi, drawing heavily on her own experiences as a hijab-wearing high school student in the wake of 9/11. The title is a play on the name of 17-year-old narrator Shadi, which means "joy" in Farsi, and emotional turbulence is constant -- not just because of academic pressure, classmates and neighbors who suddenly call her "terrorist," and a family torn apart by the death of her older brother. It's also due to the strong lifelong attraction between Shadi and her best friend's older brother, and the friend's extreme jealousy that keeps it from going anywhere. Set in 2003 with flashbacks to the previous year, the story includes a lot of strong language ("f--k," "s--t," "a--hole"), but takes place in a conservative Muslim culture where a kiss is a huge deal, with plenty of romantic tension. Cultural conflict in immigrant families is a theme, as one sister prepares to embark on an arranged marriage the other finds incomprehensible, and Americanized young men who smoke cigarettes and weed and drink alcohol are on the outs with their traditional parents. Shadi blames her father for her brother's death, and now that he's in the hospital with a heart attack she hopes he dies; her once-vibrant mother is self-harming and praying for death. Racism is an issue, even at the mosque. Her longtime friends' parents offer unfailing love, kindness, and support through all the trouble.
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What's the Story?
Set in 2003 with flashbacks to the previous year, AN EMOTION OF GREAT DELIGHT finds 17-year-old Shadi, the American-born child of Persian immigrants, overwhelmed physically and emotionally. Just going to school (including college classes) wearing a hijab is a daily challenge, as she does her best to honor her promise to her mom not to engage with bigots like the mean girls who call her a terrorist or the cop who tells her not to pray in public when she's waiting at a bus stop. Her family is falling apart in the wake of her brother's death, and she blames her now-hospitalized father. Things aren't great at the mosque, either, as the once-welcoming haven is full of FBI informants, and racism rears its head as Shadi's green-eyed, pale-skinned looks are much favored, while darker-skinned members of the congregation don't fare as well. Amid all this, Shadi and Ali, older brother of Shadi's lifelong friend Zahra, are in love, but Zahra's jealousy keeps them apart. All in all, she's dealing with a lot.
Is It Any Good?
Tahereh Mafi's post-9/11 tale maintains an emotional fever pitch throughout, reflecting the turbulent inner conflicts of its 17-year-old narrator, who's dealing with prejudice and family tragedy. An Emotion of Great Delight finds Shadi trying to find her own path between tradition and uncharted territory, and along the way there's a lot of description and dialogue devoted to Persian culture and the Farsi language. Readers seeking an alternative to stories of normalized teen hookups will appreciate a romantic tale set in a conservative, straitlaced, religious culture where a kiss is a huge deal and there's plenty of tension to match.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how An Emotion of Great Delight deals with the experiences of Muslim kids and teens in the wake of 9/11. What other stories do you know that describe how people felt and behaved in that era? If you went to school with Shadi and her friends at the time, how do you think you would have acted?
Shadi's friend Zahra is bitter and betrayed because of all the girls over the years who pretended to be her friend so they could meet her cute brother. Have you ever had to deal with fake friends who didn't really care about you but just wanted to use you for one of their schemes? How did it feel?
Do you think Muslims in the United States still face the kind of prejudice they did in the years immediately following 9/11? Do you see any other groups being demonized because of the bad deeds of someone who looks, or believes, like them? What do you think of that?
Book Details
- Author: Tahereh Mafi
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, High School, History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date: June 1, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 17
- Number of pages: 256
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: June 1, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
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All-American Muslim Girl
Captivating coming-of-age tale explores identity, racism.
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All-American Muslim
Docuseries shatters stereotypes but has mature themes.
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Little America
Beautifully authentic anthology of immigrant stories.
For kids who love stories of Muslim life and high school
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