Connection: The Kite Runner and October Sky

Although we finished reading the Kite Runner a while ago, I recently watched October Sky and found some striking similarities between the two stories. Both stories have main characters with controlling fathers who have specific plans for their futures. Amir's dad wants him to be a lawyer or a doctor or some other respectable profession while Amir wants to be a writer and Homer wants to be a rocket scientist while his father wants to follow in his footsteps and go into the mines. Both main characters have a supportive character who encourages them to follow their dreams. Amir has Rahim Kahn who is very impressed with his writing and wants him to continue, so he gives him a journal to help him write. Homer has his mother, but more importantly, Miss Riley who gives him the resources to help him pursue his rocketry like the rocket science book and the general science help. Both main characters end up pursuing their interests and gaining at least partial approval from their fathers.