Amir Utu

Amir is the protagonist of the novel. He is an eight-year-old boy from Syria forced to flee his home country with his family.

Amir struggles throughout the first half of the novel with his step-father, Younis, referred to more often as Quiet Uncle. Quiet Uncle remarried Iman after Amir's father disappeared in a political protest with his other brother Loud Uncle. Amir remembers his father and Loud Uncle with respect and reverence, emotions that he doesn't feel for his stepfather. He often has to step in and play the role of man of the family when Quiet Uncle is unable to do so.

Amir doesn't trust his stepfather, and feels distant from his mother, like he doesn't know her. He reflects on this and wonders about his relationship with her early in the novel when they are together, and throughout the time of their separation he recalls...