Riverhead Books

Grandfather’s Passion In the story “The Leader of the People,” written by John Steinbeck, Grandfather tells stories to his grandson about how he crossed the plains and how he was an important leader. Although everyone in the family does not appreciate his stories, Grandfather values his past leadership role in leading a wagon train across the plains. As soon as Grandfather gets to the Tiflin residence, Jody immediately asks him if he wants to help him kill the mice in the barn. Once Joey sees…

“Martyrdom of Andy” was written to portray the devastating consequences of group think. In this story, the author looks back upon his childhood where he and his friends were members of a special group. Andy longed so badly to be accepted and fit in that he endured their ridicule and harassment. The author seemed to go along with the group’s notions that they were superior to Andy. However, because Andy was different from them, he had to endure their cruelty if he wanted to be a part of their…

The roots of the past can become the unbreakable chains of the future. Finding the light he grows towards is unreachable until he disconnects himself, the narrator in “Sonny’s Blues” realizes Harlem will forever hold him captive. Unwilling to leave his brother behind in the darkness of drug addiction and dangerous streets, his hope of a better life seems unobtainable. Accepting him and his brother, Sonny, are trapped, the narrator settles for distance twinkles of salvation. Baldwin uses light…

controversial topics regarding high school and middle school academics is the issue of including explicit and potentially inappropriate content in course curriculums, and amidst these discussions sits The Kite Runner, one of the most commonly challenged books in the past decade. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, was published in 2003 and tells the story of Amir’s coming-of-age in Kabul, Afghanistan starting in the late 1970’s. Amir lived with his father, Baba, and their two servants, Ali and…

sincere his novels are, some may argue that they are just like any other fictional novel. “While Hosseini drew much of the book — its cultural richness, accounts of ethnic conflicts, even its evocation of annual children’s kite contests — from his own experience, Amir’s harrowing story is fiction.” (Milvy 1) Since it is a story that involves the Muslim and Islamic religions, it is a book often banned or challenged at schools. While people dispute that his novels are just fictional and could…

The Kite Runner is a book that gets more complex the more in depth you get into it. The Character development is fascinating, especially with a main character, Baba. Reading you see different sides of him and what he holds to the most, but is he a good man or a bad man? I believe Baba is a bad man for some of his actions that changed his relationship with Ali a childhood friend and servant, made his son wonder if his life was a lie, and a young boy who may never known who his brother was or his…

Author Wes and Other Wes Moore both had role models that contributed in their lives. Role models for both of these men were e one dealing with fathers and mothers, the other Wes Moore also had Tony and author Wes Moore had the military. These were all role models that affected them in some way. The other Wes had very poor role models. A first poor role model Wes had was his older brother, Tony. Tony was there for Wes, whenever he needed him, would be there for him. Tony tried to keep Wes on…

Hassan. The book contains some controversial scenes that some feel are not appropriate for high school students; yet, they are the exact reason students should read The Kite Runner. This novel shows there is evil in the world and through that teaches students valuable life lessons and broadens their cultural horizon. The novel takes place in 1970 Kabul, Afghanistan. Before the Taliban takes over, we see through Amir’s eyes the beauty and wonder that Kabul has to offer. Throughout the book…

This theme is revealed through six literary devices. Firstly, XXXTENTACION writes¨I think I, I think I finally found a way to forgive myself/ from mistakes I made in my past/ I think that's the first step, right?/ you agree?¨ These lyrics describe how he's has had a hard past and is finally forgiving himself and trying to become a better him. Secondly, the lyrics ¨Ive dug two graves for, us my dear/ Can't pretend I didn't leave you in fear.¨ He is saying that if he gets revenge he will fall too…

At the start of Chapter 1, generally as the book starts, Amir writes these words. With them, he goes straight to the focal point of the story,"That because quite a while prior, however it's wrong what they say in regards to the past, I've educated, about how you can cover it. Since the past paws out. Thinking back now, I understand I have been looking into that betrayed rear way for the last twenty-six years." To the reader, the citation functions as a teaser. It provokes the reader's attention…