A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled Hosseini's novel A Thousand Splendid Suns chronicles the lives of two female characters during the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The novel follows two female characters through their struggles with the oppressive Taliban regime, abusive arranged marriages, and the way women were generally viewed in society.

In the social studies classroom, A Thousand Splendid Suns gives insight to the treatment of women in a culture that is so stereotyped and misunderstood in the United States. It also provides a good tie to current events.

This would be a great pick for the English classroom because it is a popular piece of popular literature that provides different viewpoints. Furthermore, the author is from Afghanistan and his experiences bring authenticity to his writing.