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: Paperback / softback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 17 March 2022
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc

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's journey back to Kabul is fraught with danger and uncertainty. She must navigate a complex web of political intrigue and personal betrayals, all while trying to uncover the truth about her family's murder. Along the way, she meets a young journalist named Samir, who becomes her ally and confidant. Samir has his own reasons for seeking the truth about the coup and the subsequent tragedy, and he is willing to risk everything to help Aryana.

As Aryana delves deeper into the mystery, she discovers that the coup was not just a simple act of political violence. It was part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by powerful forces within Afghanistan and beyond. She also learns that her father was not as innocent as she had believed, and that he had been involved in some shady dealings that may have contributed to the tragedy.

As Aryana closes in on the truth, she faces a moral dilemma. Should she seek revenge against those who murdered her family, or should she try to find a way to forgive and move forward? Her decision will have far-reaching consequences for herself and for Afghanistan as a whole.

In the end, Aryana emerges from her quest for the truth with a newfound understanding of herself and her country. She has learned that the past cannot be undone, but that it can be used to shape a better future. She has also discovered that the power of forgiveness can heal even the deepest wounds, and that the truth can set us free.

This novel is a powerful exploration of the human condition, and it is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery, and for anyone who wants to understand the complexities of the Afghan conflict.

Weight: 348g
Dimension: 134 x 204 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780063008298