Tahereh Mafi

Tahereh Mafi was born in 1988 in a small Connecticut town to Iranian parents. She studied at the New School in New York City, where she earned a degree in creative writing. Mafi's debut novel, Shatter Me (2011), introduced readers to Juliette, a girl with a lethal touch, and became a New York Times bestseller. The series expanded into multiple sequels, novellas, and a companion series, solidifying her place in young adult literature. Her other works include the fantasy duology Furthermore and Whichwood, as well as the contemporary novel A Very Large Expanse of Sea, which drew on her own experiences as a Muslim-American teenager post-9/11. Mafi's writing is noted for its striking metaphors, emotional intensity, and diverse representation. She continues to write and is celebrated for her contributions to YA speculative fiction.