Sparks Like Stars: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of graphic violence, death, mental illness, racism, and suicidal ideation.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel opens with the violent Saur Revolution that shatters Sitara’s idyllic childhood in the presidential palace. What emotions did this abrupt transition stir in you as a reader? Did you find that the intensity of this opening affected how you connected with Sitara’s character throughout the rest of the story?

2. Readers encounter two distinct versions of Afghanistan in this novel: the culturally rich pre-revolution country of Sitara’s childhood and the war-torn nation Aryana returns to decades later. Which portrayal left a stronger impression on you, and why?

3. Sparks Like Stars shares themes of displacement and hidden identity with Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. In what ways do these novels differ in their portrayal of Afghan characters who must navigate life in America while carrying the weight of their traumatic past?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Throughout the story, the protagonist keeps her past hidden from nearly everyone in her adult life, including Adam, her boyfriend of a year. Have you ever concealed an important part of your identity or history? What were your reasons, and how did that decision affect your relationships?

2. The turquoise and garnet ring becomes Sitara’s tangible connection to her lost family and homeland. What objects in your life serve as powerful connections to your heritage or important memories?

3. Throughout the novel, Aryana struggles with survivor’s guilt, wondering why she lived when her family died. How do you think people can work through feelings of guilt after surviving a tragedy when others did not? Have you observed effective ways that people process this particular form of grief?

4. When Aryana returns to Afghanistan, she discovers a country transformed by decades of war yet still containing traces of the place she knew. Have you ever returned to a place important to your childhood only to find it dramatically changed?

5. Antonia becomes a surrogate mother to Aryana, creating a new family bond through choice rather than blood. In what ways have you seen families form beyond traditional biological connections?

6. Running serves as Aryana’s way of processing overwhelming emotions and memories. What activities help you manage difficult feelings or memories in your own life?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The historical context of Afghanistan forms the backdrop for Sitara’s personal tragedy. What insights did you gain about Afghanistan’s complex history from reading this novel? How does Hashimi’s approach of weaving historical events into a personal narrative affect your understanding of this history?

2. After 9/11, Aryana experiences harassment when men on the street tell her to “get out” of the country and point their fingers at her head like a gun. What parallels do you see between that period and current attitudes toward immigrants and refugees? What factors contribute to these cycles of xenophobia?

3. While reading novels about Afghanistan from before and after 2001, like A Thousand Splendid Suns and Sparks Like Stars, readers encounter very different portrayals of the same country. What responsibilities do Western readers have when approaching literature about countries primarily known to them through the lens of conflict?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The novel is structured in two parts, with a 30-year gap between them. What purpose does this structure serve in developing both character and theme? How would the story have differed if Hashimi had chosen to tell it chronologically or through flashbacks instead?

2. Aryana becomes obsessed with the story of Anastasia Romanov, another young girl who might have survived when her royal family was executed. What does this parallel reveal about Aryana’s psychological state?

3. Flight and falling appear throughout the narrative as recurring motifs, from Sitara’s dangerous escape across rooftops to her contemplation of jumping from a window. How do these images reflect her internal journey and emotional state at different points in the story?

4. The name “Aryana” connects to both the protagonist’s lost sister and an ancient name for the region of Afghanistan. In what ways does this naming reinforce the novel’s exploration of identity and belonging? What is gained and lost when Sitara takes on this new name?

5. Hashimi uses contrasting settings and characters throughout the novel. What do we learn from the juxtaposition of Sitara’s childhood home versus Janet and Everett’s house, Antonia versus Tilly as mother figures, and Adam versus Clay as potential partners?

6. From museum artifact to personal talisman to returned treasure, the garnet and turquoise ring undergoes a transformative journey. What does this evolution symbolize about the relationship between personal attachment, cultural heritage, and healing from trauma?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you could write an additional chapter set five years after the Epilogue. Where would Aryana be in her journey of healing and reconciliation? How might her relationship with both Afghanistan and America have evolved?

2. The novel suggests that Aryana might become involved with Dr. Nazari’s maternity hospital. Write a scene where Aryana uses her medical expertise to help Afghan women while processing her own connection to the country.

3. Design a memorial that honors both Sitara’s family and the many others who died during Afghanistan’s decades of conflict. What elements would you include to represent both personal and national loss? How would your design acknowledge both Afghanistan’s painful history and its resilience?

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