Introduction

“Suspenseful…emotionally compelling. I found myself eagerly following in a way I hadn’t remembered for a long time, impatient for the next twist and turn of the story."—NPR

An Afghan American woman returns to Kabul to learn the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives in this brilliant and compelling novel from the bestselling author of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, The House Without Windows, and When the Moon Is Low.

Kabul, 1978: The daughter of a prominent family, Sitara Zamani lives a privileged life in Afghanistan’s thriving cosmopolitan capital. The 1970s are a time of remarkable promise under the leadership of people like Sardar Daoud, Afghanistan’s progressive president, and Sitara’s beloved father, his right-hand man. But the ten-year-old Sitara’s world is shattered when communists stage a coup, assassinating the president and Sitara’s entire family. Only she survives.

Smuggled out of the palace by a guard named Shair, Sitara finds her way to the home of a female American diplomat, who adopts her and raises her in America. In her new country, Sitara takes on a new name—Aryana Shepherd—and throws herself into her studies, eventually becoming a renowned surgeon. A survivor, Aryana has refused to look back, choosing instead to bury the trauma and devastating loss she endured.

New York, 2008: Thirty years after that fatal night in Kabul, Aryana’s world is rocked again when an elderly patient appears in her examination room—a man she never expected to see again. It is Shair, the soldier who saved her, yet may have murdered her entire family. Seeing him awakens Aryana’s fury and desire for answers—and, perhaps, revenge. Realizing that she cannot go on without finding the truth, Aryana embarks on a quest that takes her back to Kabul—a battleground between the corrupt government and the fundamentalist Taliban—and through shadowy memories of the world she loved and lost.

Bold, illuminating, heartbreaking, yet hopeful, Sparks Like Stars is a story of home—of America and Afghanistan, tragedy and survival, reinvention and remembrance, told in Nadia Hashimi’s singular voice.

Editorial Review

No Editorial Review Currently Available

Excerpt

No Excerpt Currently Available

Discussion Questions

1. Did you find the book engaging right from the start? Or did it take some time to become invested in the story and characters?

2. There are many themes in this book: love, the meaning of family, living in a war-torn country, searching for answers and trying to find peace, starting a new life, grief, survivor guilt, the compassion of strangers, the culture of Afghanistan, and women in Afghanistan. Which theme did you want more of? Less of?

3. Do you think the author presented believable characters? Did she change your opinion of Afghanistan women, especially the modern-day Afghanistan woman? Did you have a favorite character? Least favorite character?

4. Did you learn anything about Afghanistan's history or the relationship between the United States and Afghanistan? Did the story change your viewpoint of anything?

5. Sitara suffers from survivor guilt, with haunting memories of the day of her family's murder. She's on a journey to reclaim her heritage and accept what happened. How has this shaped her life in a good way? What do you think the negative impact of this experience was?

6. Did any character make you angry? Did you relate to all the characters?

7. Why do you think the guard helped ten-year-old Sitara? How did you feel about Shair re-appearing in her life many years later when Sitara is a doctor, and he is her patient? Do you think she treats him fairly? Why isn't she grateful he helped her escape?

8. Antonia made sacrifices when she adopted Antonia. Why do you think she did it?

9. The book highlights the early foster care system. Discuss how this made you feel? Do you think it was realistic? Do you think the current foster care system has any of these issues?

10. Could you sense the author's deep passion for her country and culture in the writing style? What do you think her most meaningful message was?

11. This is a long book. Were there any sections that needed to be shorter?

From Princeton Book Review

Weblinks

There are no web links at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 1 of 1 members.

Member Reviews

Rate this book