Character Analysis
R.I.P.
Hossain was killed by a land mine when he was fourteen, before our story begins. And though this is a terrible way to die, it's woefully common in Afghanistan, and part of his character's role in the book is to make sure we know this. His parents packed his clothes in the cupboard but don't talk about him too often because "to remember him was too painful" (2.40)—but from what Nooria tells Parvana, Hossain sounds like a great kid.