Sea Prayer by

Sea Prayer is composed in the form of a letter, from a father to his son, on the eve of their journey. Watching over his sleeping son, the father reflects on the dangerous sea-crossing that lies before them. It is also a vivid portrait of their life in Homs, Syria, before the war, and of that city's swift transformation from a home into a deadly war zone.

Why you'll like it: Moving. Powerful. Family.

About the Author: Khaled Hosseini was born in , Afghanistan on March 4, 1965. He received a bachelor's degree in biology from Santa Clara University in 1988 and a medical degree from the University of California-San Diego's School of Medicine in 1993. He was a practicing internist from 1996 to 2004. While in medical practice, he began writing his first novel, , which was published in 2003. His other books include A Thousand Splendid Suns and .

Discussion Questions 1. Families can talk about the refugees in Sea Prayer. Why did they have to flee their home? Where do you think they’re going? If they arrive safely on the boat, what do you think will happen to them? 2. How was the city different before the war? What does the father remember from when he was young? What will the son’s memories be? 3. Does the father remind you in any way of your own parent? How might he be similar? How is he trying to care for and protect his son? 4. Did the illustrations help tell the story? Would the book be different without the pictures? 5. Did you like the style in which the book was written? 6. Were you satisfied with the ending of the story? Why or why not? (Questions provided by Common Sense Media)