Plot
Who does Fadi feel guilty for leaving behind?
Fadi felt guilty for leaving Mariam behind.
How old was is Miriam when she was left behind?
Mariam was six years old when she was left behind.
Was it a mistake for Habib to go back to Afghanistan?
Yes, Habib returning to Afghanistan was a mistake.
Where did Habib go after getting his Ph.D.?
After receiving his Ph.D., Habib went back to Afghanistan to help his fellow afghans.
Fadi attempts multiple times to save Mariam and is destined to save her from the agony he believed he put her through.
Perseverance
What was the author's purpose for writing the story of "Shooting Kabul?"
The author's purpose in writing the story was to show a story of love and perseverance.
Why did Fadi's family return to Afghanistan after living in the United States for a period of time?
Habib and his family returned to Afghanistan because Habib wanted to help his friends in Afghanistan.
Did Ike and Felix deserve the punishment of being thrown in the lake for what they did?
Yes, they did deserve the punishment. After bullying other kids as well as Fadi, they deserved to feel as bad as those they bullied and hurt.
Why was Fadi trying to sneak onto a Virgin Airline flight to England?
Fadi wanted to get to England and sneak onto another flight to Afghanistan so he can get to Miriam and bring her home safely.
In which country was Mariam left behind?
Mariam was left behind in Afghanistan.
What is the most important message in "Shooting Kabul?"
the most important message is the value of Family.
What color is used throughout the story, as a symbol of Mariam?
The color used was pink
Why was Fadi so interested in winning the photography competition?
Fadi was so interested in winning the photography competition because it was the only way to get to Afghanistan without having to pay so much money.
Did Habib had anything against Fadi for leaving Miriam behind?
No. Habib did not hold any anger or animosity toward Fadi because he knew that it was Habib's own fault as a father to look after Mariam.
What was the problem with Fadi joining the photography club?
Fadi needed money in order to join the photography club and did not have it.
Where did Habib's family stay after reaching the United States?
The family stayed in San Fransisco.
Fadi's father blames himself for the loss of Mariam due to a lack of responsibility as a father
Guilt/self-doubt
What do the dolls remind Fadi of?
The dolls in "Shooting Kabul" remind Fadi of his younger sister, Mariam.
Why did Ike and Felix jump on Fadi?
The reason Ike and Felix jumped on Fadi was that, during this period of time, the terrorist attack of 9/11 took place, which caused the Muslims living in the United States to be targeted by Americans. They felt targeted.
How does Fadi's family and friends view him as a person?
Fadi's family and friends view him as a strong individual who learns from past mistakes and one that always does the right thing.
What happened on the morning of September 11, 2001?
On the morning of September 11, 2001, a group of terrorists hijacked four planes, two of which hit the twin towers in NYC; one hitting the pentagon; and one was brought down by the passengers on board, on a field in Pennsylvania.
Where does Habib take Fadi after finding him in the back of his Taxi?
Habib takes Fadi to a restaurant for Coffee.
What theme does the friendship of Anh and Fadi show in the story?
The friendship between Anh and Fadi shows the theme of Cross-Cultural friendship.
What did the photo competition meant to Fadi?
For Fadi, the photo competition meant a way to save Mariam from the agony he believed he put her through.
What world's events take place during the time this book was written and how does it affect the protagonist?
Shooting Kabul takes place around the time of the September 11, 2001 attack. These events indirectly led to the protagonist/ Fadi, to be subjected to stereotypes, hate, and discrimination.
Anh reminds Fadi of which book character?
the book character Anh reminds Fadi of is Claudia from the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Why were Fadi and his family concerned that America is waging war on Afghanistan by bombing them with missiles?
The family was concerned because they believed that Mariam might still be in Afghanistan and that her life could be endangered.
What place does the family believe that Mariam is in?
The family believed that Mariam is safe in Peshawar, which is a city in Pakistan. But later on in the story that changes.
Overtime, Fadi learns to be calmer and more positive even in the most desperate and excruciating situations
Discipline/Maturity
How did Fadi's friends remind him of home?
His friends reminded him of his old afghan friends before he escaped. They spoke the same language; had the same cultural background and family values.