I was surprised when browsing the American Library Association’s list of banned books to find that “The Kite Runner” has been threatened in libraries and schools across the country since 2008, when the novel appeared in the top 10 of the association’s list of frequently challenged books.
One school located outside of Chicago upheld the removal of The Kite Runner from its English curriculum because parents objected to the the assigning of the controversial book to sophomore honors students.
Northern Kentucky University defends its use of The Kite Runner, but advises teachers that ‘this text should be taught with caution as it contains scenes of graphic violence and sexual assault. . . Reserve this for mature students.’ One common objection to The Kite Runner relates to the representation of victims and monsters.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini appeared on the American Library Association’s (ALA) list of the most challenged books in 2008.
What is the theme of the Kite Runner?
The Kite Runner is mainly a coming-of-age story about two boyhood friends, Amir and Hassan, in Afghanistan during the 1970s. It takes place over four decades. Flash forward to modern-day California, where we find the protagonist as an adult dealing with guilt over his abandonment of his childhood friend. The novel deals with themes of bullying, compassion, forgiveness, and shame.
When parents and teachers challenge the use of a book, they raise objections to a school’s use of a certain book. If a school board upholds their objections, they’ll remove the book. This process is way of saying that a school and its surrounding community have voted to ban the book. More than 5,000 books have been challenged in the past decade, according to the ALA. The top three challenges included age inappropriate material, sexually explicit content, and offensive language.
Who is the protagonist in The Kite Runner?
The protagonist of The Kite Runner is Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman, who befriends Hassan, the son of one of his father’s servants, in 1970s Afghanistan. The story transitions in time between pre-revolution Afghanistan and the 1990s, when Amir, now a successful novelist in the United States, learns that Hassan and his wife have been killed …
In 2017, it was the fourth most challenged book according to the American Library Association. It was challenged for sexual violence, and Islamophobia fueled some challenges, with would-be censors arguing that the novel would inspire terrorism and promoted Islam. The book also appeared on the top ten lists for 2014 (offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence), 2012 (homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit), and 2008 (offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group).
Why is the Kite Runner controversial?
According to the ALA, the novel was the fourth most challenged book in 2017 because it “was thought to ‘lead to terrorism’ and ‘promote Islam.’”.
The main concerns about the novel include its sexually explicit content, offensive language and age inappropriateness. In 2012, it rose to sixth place on the ALA’s list, and in 2014 it placed seventh. Other objections to “The Kite Runner” include its treatment of homosexuality, religious viewpoint and violence.
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An Arizona school district removed the book from the English curriculum without prior notice and without explanation after having taught the novel in the school for five years. Despite the district’s assurance that the case was not one of censorship, the removal does seem a little suspicious.
Image courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com. “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini, set in Afghanistan during the dying years of the monarchy, tells the unforgettable, heartbreaking story about the unlikely friendship between Amir, a wealthy, young Afghan boy, and the son of his father’s servant, Hassan. The uncommon bond that the boys have shared …
Reynolds High School in North Carolina suspended the use of “The Kite Runner” in its honors English class when a parent and former school board member expressed her concern that “The Kite Runner” was replacing classic literature, such as “All’s Quiet on the Western Front.”.
