Author(s): Sue Sherman

Literature Study Guides

The Kite Runner, by Afghanistan-born, American Khaled Hosseini, confronts readers with sometimes difficult truths and deep moral issues of loyalty, kinship and faith. Amir and Hassan are inseparable childhood friends in Afghanistan, though Amir is the son of a rich man and Hassan is a lower caste servant. Amir betrays his friend with catastrophic results, but years later he finds a way to redeem his guilt. Written by an experienced teacher, this guide offers you background notes on the writer and the events in Afghanistan, as well as on the genre, structure and style of the text. You are given a storyboard synopsis of the novel, then taken through it chapter by chapter, with key quotes highlighted and teacher explanations to draw out the sub text. To extend your understanding and interpretation, this guide also includes comprehensive notes on characters, themes, advice on writing an exam answer, and two full length A+ essays on the text.