Reading this book for AP Lit in high school

[Roxanne]

My son had to read it as well,I read it and loved it.children see far worse on network tv.I don't feel it is too harsh for a sixteen year old.

[Meran]

I'm 59. I cried also. Repeatedly. I think that it's a very appropriate response, and I'm glad she cried. It shows she is tender-hearted, and very sympathetic. It's a good thing, especially in a teenager :)

I also think that reading books written by authors from other countries and ethnic backgrounds is very important, for eventual Workd Peace.

I agree that there's MUCH worse on regular tv.

[[deleted user]]

Personally i didn't enjoy the book but it does teach a lot about issues that normally people don't want to discuss. If the book is too much for your daughter maybe she could ask the teacher to give her an alternative assignment?

Although i'm sure your daughter will find insight in the book, its a really powerful book that should be read. And besides, when she gets to college, she'll have to start reading a variety of issues.

[[deleted user]]

I don't think tears is an inappropriate response to this book. However it does seem to me that there is an evident irony in your being concerned about your 16 year old reading about the treatment of a child younger than herself. In another life this could be history to her...

It must be difficult to strike a balance, but you can't stand between your daughter and the real world all her life. Do you monitor her television watching and prevent her from watching the unpleasantness that is avaliable wall to wall? At some time she'll have to venture out and experience it for herself. At least by experiencing it first by reading about it, while in a safe environment, means she might be a little less unprepared for everything the real world can throw at her.

There's far worse happens to real people every day than what will happen to her by reading this book. It might upset her in the short term (I think nightmares is an exageration), but it might also ignite a keen social awareness and there's far too few of those around.

[Lia]

yeah i read this book for an AP class really good book. and i have no problem being a 16 yr old and reading this it gives you perspective maybe it is a little iffy but just because you don't approve dosent mean it an happening you know what i mean.

[Joclyn]

I've read this book twice, I think if my sixteen year old daughters were to read it I wouldn't have a problem with it. "A Thousand Spendid Suns" should be read by every woman , young and old. I know this is a book of fiction, but if you watch the news and keep up on current events, then we are well aware that this is an on going practice in Afghanistan. My question is "as women how do we remedy these atrocities and rescue our sisters in great need?"

[Sandra]

Paige, I think it's helpful that your daughter is reading a really important - though very disturbing - book in a context where she can talk about the book and the subject, and the feelings that it raises in any sensitive, intelligent reader.

By talking about it, with you and in class, it will hopefully have a positive effect on her understanding of the world and won't be buried deep inside where it could feed nightmares.

[Roberta]

fabulous read

[Andrea]

I've personally never had a nightmare from a book I've read. Maybe from watching the news, but never a book. This was a wonderful book and this author has obviously had some strong female influences in his life. I've been thinking that the high schools should require his novels in addition to the classics. I learned a lot about the people of Afghanistan and what the old country was like. I found it very enlightening.

[BeeCee]

I would fully encourage my 16-year old to read it even if it were not on the school curriculum. Most of those reading and responding on this forum and therefore most of our daughters, would have had a safe, warm and 'privileged' upbringing by grace of birth. Place, family, time and culture can be the makers and breakers of individuals. I want my daughters to be cognizant of and grateful for the freedoms and choices they have and to strive for the those same things for their global sisters.