SUMMER READING QUESTION #1. 

      In my opinion, the most "interesting" book I read over the summer was The Kite Runner. This particular book had everything I could have hoped for in a novel such as mystery, adventure, and some comedy. My father use to work in afghanistan for over a year, and the book helped me realize what the people and their surroundings are like. The Kite Runner had multiple unexpected twists and turns that left me shocked, and I never wanted to put it down.

     Other things that I enjoyed reading over the summer besides The Kite Runner, were magazines and the book called The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I enjoyed flipping through multiple teen magazines to learn about the latest fashion trends, and to see what's "in". I find those extremely interesting, considering I enjoy fashion itself. Also, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is one of my all time favorite books- and I have read it around 5 times. I think it's interesting because it involves real and typical situations that teens, such as myself, have gone or are going through.  

** Would you believe I have read "The Perks..."?? I thought it was interesting too! If you enjoyed Kite Runner you will have to find time to squeeze Hosseini's second book A Thousand Splendid Suns into your life somehow! It's great! (and it has FEMALE protagonists!) How interesting that you have a firsthand connection to Afghanistan! I felt like I learned so much about that country from the novel!

SUMMER READING QUESTION #2

     The novel I read for the theme self-discovery was The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. The novel takes place in Afghanistan involving two young boys during the time period when the Russians invaded Afghanistan. Amir, is one of the boys, and is constantly faced with difficult situations and internal battles. Amir is shown to be very jealous of his friend Hassan, and the way his father adores Hassan. As a result of this, Amir abandons Hassan when bullies began to abuse Hassan. Amir begins to discover the guilt that is left upon him after that incident, and is continued to feel this guilt throughout his whole life. He also discovers that he is a coward by hiding his true integrity and individuality.

     The entire novel is based on Amir's continuous struggle with wanting to fix the past. He tells the readers in the very first chapter that "I became what I am today at the age of 12" (Hosseini, 1), which was the age he was when the incident involving Hassan happened. Later in the novel, Amir finds a way to redeem himself and the "way to be good again" (Hosseini, 1) The character of Amir is shown to have multiple discoveries within himself such as jealousy, guilt, redemption, cowardice, and most of all he hides his true identity. He also discovers and realizes that his whole life he ran from his problems, and this just creates more guilt upon himself.

     The main thing I think readers will learn from The Kite Runner, is that you should always be true to yourself. If you always stay true to yourself, then you will never have to hide your true identity. I think readers will also learn that by living in the past, you are not facing the present or living in the present. If you are not living in the present, then you aren't really living. In the begining of the novel, Amir runs from his problems, but by the end he faces his problems and is ultimately redeemed- which shows that he should of faced his problems all along.I know I personally learned all of these life lessons as I watched the character of Amir change in The Kite Runner.