“There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood.”- Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner.

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Do you know which is the favorite game for the children in Afghanistan? The kite race. Afghan kites are different. They coat the string with a specific mixture to cut across when it gets tangled with another one. When this happens, everyone rushes to catch the kite. Whoever finds it–on the ground, in the branches of a tree, they may keep it. These kites are precious because they take a lot of time and work. And because they are beautiful.

When the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, one of the first things they banned was kites. Taliban blamed the kites for distracting young boys from prayers and other religious duties. And so, the Afghan kite appears to have been brought down to earth with its string cut.

The Kite Runner

If that leaves you heartbroken, wait to see the emotions that will flood you once you read The Kite Runner. The story of a young boy, Amir, struggling to form a deeper connection with his father and cope with memories of a traumatic childhood event. The novel traces historical events in Afghanistan and the painful journey of Afghan refugees. A harrowing story about relationships, betrayal, guilt, and redemption that will tear you up. 

The Kite Runner is the first novel by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, to a diplomat’s father, Hosseini lived in Iran and France. When Hosseini was 15, his family applied for asylum in the United States, where he later got citizenship. Like the protagonist in The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini returned to Afghanistan later. He is a Goodwill Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and has been working to provide humanitarian help in Afghanistan through the Khaled Hosseini Foundation. 

A Thousand Splendid Suns

The second novel by Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns, is also set in Afghanistan. The story addresses many of the same issues as his first book from a female perspective. It follows the emotional story of two women, Mariam and Laila, whose lives become entwined when the husband of Mariam takes on Laila as a second wife.

Khaled Hosseini’s stories about parents and children, siblings, cousins, and friends show the countless situations when those closest to us surprise by the actions at fateful moments. Or how members of a family support, hurt, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another. The author follows the characters through the twists of their lives and emotions in different parts of the world. The stories branch out, grow, and become more exciting and powerful with each page. While melting the heart.