Shadi is a Muslim American teen with a lot on her plate. After her older brother dies her family is torn apart by grief, guilt and blame. Each of those left is falling apart in their own way and no one understands, or even tries to understand, what's happening beyond their own nose. Some of the story is told just post 9/11, showing the reader the isolation and anger at the community. Most of the book though focuses on Shadi's relationship with Ali, the brother of her former best friend. It's a quick read, and compelling, but it feels very unfinished to me. Almost nothing is concluded. The book seemed to be building to a confrontation with Zahra, the former best friend, but nothing happens. Shadi never tells the secrets of what's happening at home, never gets help. She finally admits her feelings for Ali, but because she took no other action to save herself or her family, it seems like he's supposed to be her savior, an impractical thing to ask of a teenage boy and an unwanted ending in this age of girl power. Review from e-galley.

The setting of An Emotion of Great Delight is well constructed and important to the story-- 2003, when the United States felt so lost and broken. Which is how our main character, Shadi, feels. Shadi grew up in a strong, traditional Muslim family and now feels the pressure of an entire nation's prejudice and fear. To make matters worse, her family is in a state of its own turmoil and brokenness.
The story is strong, yet because of gaps that go unanswered for the majority of the book, I can only give it 3 stars. I liked it, but it feels like something big is missing at the end. . .the "so what."
In my library, the book will serve as a mirror into what American Muslims had to endure after 9/11.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Tahereh Mafi's previous realistic fiction release A Very Large Expanse of Sea is one of my favorite books, so I was excited to see another non-fantasy book. The writing in An Emotion of Great Delight is equally as beautiful and poetic. The plot felt a little loose to me, perhaps because of the movement between past and present, but I couldn't put the book down because I cared so much about Shadi's progression. I love a character driven book and this one was no exception. I look forward to listening to the audiobook once it's released as I feel the poetic language and Farsi will make for a beautiful listen, just like AVLEOS.