On My Bookshelf: Shooting Kabul by N. H. Senzai

The basic plot from Amazon: In the summer of 2001, twelve year old Fadi’s parents make the difficult decision to illegally leave Afghanistan and move the family to the United States. When their underground transport arrives at the rendezvous point, chaos ensues, and Fadi is left dragging his younger sister Mariam through the crush of people. But Mariam accidentally lets go of his hand and becomes lost in the crowd, just as Fadi is snatched up into the truck. With Taliban soldiers closing in, the truck speeds away, leaving Mariam behind.

Adjusting to life in the United States isn’t easy for Fadi’s family and as the events of September 11th unfold the prospects of locating Mariam in a war torn Afghanistan seem slim. When a photography competition with a grand prize trip to India is announced, Fadi sees his chance to return to Afghanistan and find his sister. But can one photo really bring Mariam home? Based in part on the Ms. Senzai’s husband’s own experience fleeing his home in Soviet controlled Afghanistan in the 1970s, Shooting Kabul is a powerful story of hope, love, and perseverance.

Why I liked it: Shooting Kabul is set in a time period similar to The Kite Runner. Fadi's family flees Afghanistan because of the Taliban’s increasing control over the country. The family lived in the United States while their father attended university, but returned to Afghanistan to help rebuild the country after the Soviets’ control ended. With his degree in agriculture, he helped rid the country of opium and plant crops. At first the Taliban seemed to be a force of positive change, but as their control increases, it becomes dangerous for their father to remain. The night of their escape is full of peril and in one terrible moment, the youngest sister is separated from the family and left behind in Afghanistan. The family joins extended family members living in the Little Kabul area of San Francisco. Fadi feels uncomfortable at school, but makes a few friends in the photography club. I appreciated the realism of the family's struggles to assimilate and start over in the United States.

Classroom application: September 11th occurs shortly after the family settles in San Francisco. There is increased hostility and violence toward Muslims and individuals mistaken as Muslims. Students could research the treatment of these groups following September 11th and many of the misconceptions about the Islamic religion.

Connections could also be made with the current refugee crisis in Syria. Students could explore the process of seeking asylum.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Shooting Kabul  for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

On My Bookshelf: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

The basic plot from Amazon: Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Why I liked it: Lola and the Boy Next Door, similar to Isla and the Happily Ever After, has an overlap in characters. Anna and Etienne, the main characters in Anna and the French Kiss, work at the same movie theater as Lola. At the end of Isla and the Happily Ever After, Lola and Cricket show up in Paris before going to see Cricket’s twin sister Calliope perform in the Olympics.

I appreciated that the novel moved away from the stereotype that the boy is always the heart breaker in teenage romances. While I don’t like to see anyone’s heart broken, the reversal of roles was refreshing. Lola’s indecision hurts both Max and Cricket.

Classroom application: As a competitive figure skater, Calliope does not lead a normal teenage life. She and her family move often to be with the best trainers, so Cricket is her closets friend. Students could research the challenges of Olympic athletes or teenagers in competitive sports.

The novel is set in San Francisco , specifically the Castro, the neighborhood I stayed in on my most recent trip to the city so I loved recognizing the names of real places, restaurants, etc. The novel could serve as a mentor text with students researching a place and then using real details about the place in a fictional story.

The twins Cricket and Calliope are related to Alexander Graham Bell, who Cricket describes as a fraud who didn't actually invent the telephone. Students could research the controversy and make a decision for themselves. The topic could lead to an argument essay or a debate.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of  Lola and the Boy Next Door for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.