Khaled Housseini’s novel The Kite Runner is a tale full of friendship, guilt, regret, shame, love, forgiveness, and redemption. Primarily set in the 1970’s and Housseini’s birth country, Afghanistan (and later in America), this story is not recommended for the light of heart.

The story is centered around Amir, a Pashtun boy who seeks nothing more than the love and good grace of his father, and Hassan, a loyal Hazara servant whose first word happened to be his best friend’s name. This heartwarming duo eventually faces the terrors that come along with their positions in society; a friendship doomed from the beginning. The Kite Runner puts the questionable bond between two boys to the ultimate test.

It really begins one winter, when the annual kite flying competition comes to the little town of Kabul, Afghanistan. Amir and Hassan successfully win and Amir finally excels in gaining his father’s approval. On the same day that Amir supposedly believed would be his best; he witnesses a terrible scene that leads to the downfall and chain of events between him and Hassan.

While the story of Amir goes on, readers are also exposed to Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan. This war eventually sends Amir and his father to live in America, and causes a guilt that runs for twenty-five years.

Khaled Housseini does a charming job of describing his home country. Readers will be able to have a grasp of Afghanistan through amazing descriptions of history, culture, and traditions. Housseini skillfully creates picturesque images that make any reader unable to put the book down.

Feeling emotion is the ultimate indicator of a good book and I will admit to crying while reading The Kite Runner. This book may not be for those who do not take well to tearjerkers, but I still suggest you read it anyway. Details are amazing; if you are a teen or older, I recommend you give this novel a shot. It may not be suitable for preteens because some scenes may not be suitable for this age group.

I am able to say that The Kite Runner was the first book to pick up my interest in the non-fiction genre. It was an excellent read for my summer and I am happy that my selection turned out for the better. For anyone who is in need of a book to read, I highly recommend Khaled Housseini’s The Kite Runner.