Monday, May 4, 2009

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini


I think this book would appeal to teens because it deals with real issues and real life. Plus, it introduces teens to a new culture (Afghanistan) that they might not be too familiar with but probably have heard about a lot in the news. I think this book provides a real look into life in Afghanistan during the current time.

This book addresses issues of standing up for yourself, fighting to survive, and growing up on your own. I don't know that many of the issues that main characters face here would easily apply to teen readers (they aren't likely to marry young and experience marital abuse), but they would be interested in the content and reality of the characters.

I think the book is authentic. The women of the novel speak true to me. I feel compassion for their situation and wanted them to succeed. Although Hosseinni is male, I think he did a nice job of translating the narrative to a female perspective. I felt it was real.

Perhaps teens are already familiar with "A Kite Runner" or may have even seen the movie. If so, they might be interested in reading something else along the same lines. If not, they could be enticed to read the story just based on the fact that it is a new culture and lifestyle to learn about.

5Q, 3P, S & A/YA

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