One of the most acclaimed novels of the past decade, Khaleid Hosseini's "The Kite Runner," is a poignant tale that tells of a friendship between two boys, Amir and Hassan, over a lifetime of tumultuous events.
Amir is born to a wealthy family in Afghanistan, while Hassan is the son of the family's servants. The two boys strike up a friendship that is sometimes marred by the class distinctions between them. The title of the name comes from their roles – Amir was a skilled kite-flyer in competitions, while Hassan would "run" after kites to snag as trophies for Amir.
It's during one of these events that the key event in the novel takes place. Without spoiling it, this incident tears the boys apart and causes Amir a lifetime of guilt. After Amir and his family go to the United States to escape the war between Afghanistan and the Soviet Union, Hassan is left behind. It isn't until many years later that Amir returns to the place of his birth and hopes to set things right by helping Hassan's son, Sohrab.
Overall, the novel teaches about personal responsibility and the importance that the past plays in shaping the future. Due to some mature themes, it's best read by high school students and older.
