The End of Innocence
By Moni Mohsin
This is a hard book to find, but if you liked Kite Runner, chances are you’ll enjoy this debut by Mohsin. While the title is somewhat lofty, The End of Innocence is a simple, all-too-familiar story, with strong parallels to Khaled Housseini’s bestseller: both books feature two children growing up as friends, one rich and sheltered, the other from a poorer caste. But this is a tale of young girls struggling with the reality of growing up while their nation faces escalating violence and the threat of war. Mohsin’s beautifully simple narrative captures the spirit of Pakistan in the chaotic 1970s as artfully as it weaves an adolescent tragedy. Click on the image to buy now!
 

The Children of Hurin
By J.R.R. Tolkien, Edited by Christopher Tolkien
Is J.R.R. Tolkien the literary equivalent of Tupac, busting out work long after his death? Hardly. But when I heard that yet another lost history of Middle Earth was coming out, I was skeptical. While The Silmarillion ably served as the rich mythology of the mythical world of the Lord of the Rings, other books, such as Unfinished Tales, were random collections to fill in the gaps and squeeze a bit more lore out of the fantasy world. But The Children of Hurin is a wonderful step back in time for Tolkien fans (and fans of the movie) because it sticks to a consistent theme: the plight of the greatest tragic heroes in Tolkien’s realm. Step back in time and read about the forefathers of a legend. Click on the image to buy now!