Sparks Like Stars: A Novel

In this novel, an Afghan American woman returns to Kabul to uncover the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives. The 1970s are a time of promise under the leadership of Sardar Daoud, but the ten-year-old Sitaras world is shattered when communists stage a coup and assassinate the president and her family. Only she survives and is smuggled out of the palace by a guard named Shair. Thirty years later, an elderly patient appears in her examination room, and Aryana embarks on a quest to find the truth, taking her back to Kabul and through shadowy memories of the world she loved and lost.

Format: Hardback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2021
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc

"Suspenseful...emotionally compelling." I found myself eagerly following in a way I hadn't remembered for a long time, impatient for the next twist and turn of the story.

—NPR

An Afghan American woman returns to Kabul to learn the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives in this brilliant and compelling novel from the bestselling author of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, The House Without Windows, and When the Moon Is Low.

Kabul, 1978: The daughter of a prominent family, Sitara Zamani lives a privileged life in Afghanistan's thriving cosmopolitan capital. The 1970s are a time of remarkable promise under the leadership of people like Sardar Daoud, Afghanistan's progressive president, and Sitara's beloved father, his right-hand man. But the ten-year-old Sitara's world is shattered when communists stage a coup, assassinating the president and Sitara's entire family. Only she survives.

Smuggled out of the palace by a guard named Shair, Sitara finds her way to the home of a female American diplomat, who adopts her and raises her in America. In her new country, Sitara takes on a new name—Aryana Shepherd—and throws herself into her studies, eventually becoming a renowned surgeon. A survivor, Aryana has refused to look back, choosing instead to bury the trauma and devastating loss she endured.

New York, 2008: Thirty years after that fatal night in Kabul, Aryana's world is rocked again when an elderly patient appears in her examination room—a man she never expected to see again. It is Shair, the soldier who saved her, yet may have murdered her entire family. Seeing him awakens Aryana's fury and desire for answers—and, perhaps, revenge. Realizing that she cannot go on without finding the truth, Aryana embarks on a quest that takes her back to Kabul—a battle.

Aryana returns to Kabul, a city she left behind as a child, with a heavy heart and a burning desire for justice. She reconnects with old friends and family members, but her search for answers is met with resistance and betrayal. As she delves deeper into the mystery of her family's murder, she uncovers a web of political intrigue and corruption that extends far beyond the walls of the palace.

Through her journey, Aryana learns the true cost of revenge and the power of forgiveness. She confronts the demons of her past and discovers the strength within herself to overcome the tragedy that has shaped her life. In the end, she emerges as a hero, a symbol of hope for the people of Afghanistan and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of light.

"The Kabul Girl" is a powerful and unforgettable novel that explores the complexities of love, loss, and the human spirit. It is a testament to the resilience of the human soul and the power of hope to overcome even the most devastating of circumstances.

Weight: 614g
Dimension: 169 x 236 x 45 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780063008281