Title: The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Year: 2003
# Pages: 371
Category: Banned/Challenged 2008
Genre: Historical fiction, Bildungsroman
Awards & Honors:
ALA Notable Book
Alex Award 2004 (YALSA "books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults.")
Summary:
This story fits the genre of Bildungsroman very well. The main character, Amir, tells the story as an adult, looking back on the events of his life.
“A Bildungsroman tells about the growing up or coming of age of a sensitive person who is looking for answers and experience. The genre evolved from folklore tales of a dunce or youngest son going out in the world to seek his fortune. Usually in the beginning of the story there is an emotional loss which makes the protagonist leave on his journey. In a Bildungsroman, the goal is maturity, and the protagonist achieves it gradually and with difficulty. The genre often features a main conflict between the main character and society. Typically, the values of society are gradually accepted by the protagonist and he is ultimately accepted into society – the protagonist's mistakes and disappointments are over. In some works, the protagonist is able to reach out and help others after having achieved maturity.” (from Wikipedia)This story follows Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman living in Kabul, Afghanistan in the 1970s. Amir spends much of his time playing with the son of his father's servant and they are inseparable, an unbeatable team in the yearly Kite flying competitions. Amir and Hassan have a friendship that reflects the tension of their backgrounds because they are not really allowed to be friends. Yet, Hassan has a loyalty and love for Amir that Amir recognizes and values but doesn't fully return. When Hassan's loyalty is tested and he endures terrible abuse at the hands of a bully, Amir must learn to live with the choice he made not to intervene and to keep this terrible secret. It is a secret he carries with him, burdening him, throughout his life. This story chronicles Amir's growth, through the pain of that choice, his relationship with his father, the effects of Russian invasion of his country, his escape to the United States, and his eventual redemption.
My Thoughts:
Before I say any more, I have to explain why I chose this novel to read. In 2008, in my home county--Burke County, North Carolina--there was an uproar concerning this novel. In response to a complaint by a concerned parent, a school board member led a challenge to this book, citing language and sexual content that was objectionable. The response was overwhelming from the community and there was argument for both sides of the issue. Below is an excerpt from a letter written to the school board:
February 26, 2008
Dear Mr. B_________ and Members of the Board of Education:
We write to oppose efforts to remove the book, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, from Burke County Schools. We understand that a community member has submitted a formal complaint objecting to the book, and one school board member wants to circumvent the normal procedure for challenging books to have The Kite Runner removed because of its vivid descriptions of sexual violence and graphic language. In the meantime, in direct violation of district policy, the Superintendent has told all schools in the district to suspend use of the book pending a review by a Media Advisory Committee.
We also understand that the same board member who objects to The Kite Runner has proposed an amendment to current media policy to ban audio and visual materials “containing sexually inappropriate content, profanity, and vulgar and obscene language or the insinuation thereof.” Books should be evaluated using educational criteria, and “objectionable” content must be viewed in the context of the work as a whole. The proposed amendment, however, which would apply to all materials including books, demands that educators evaluate literature based on inherently subjective criteria and places an overwhelming burden on schools, teachers, and librarians. Even deciding who will judge whether a book’s content is “inappropriate” raises problems. There is no way to ensure that different individuals will view the material the same way. We strongly oppose both the removal of the book and the proposed amendment and urge you to reinstate the book pending review and to adhere to standing district policies in your review of The Kite Runner.
Interesting articles related to the challenge in Burke County:
- http://www2.morganton.com/news/2009/apr/21/kite-runner-among-most-challenged-books-ar-64503/
- http://65.49.16.213/literature/20080226~NC-Morganton~Free_Speech_Groups_Oppose_Challenges_To_The_Kite_Runner.cfm
- http://1stroughdraft.blogspot.com/2008/02/book-too-raw-for-school.html
As a result of this challenge, the book was initially removed from the accepted curriculum during the investigation, but there was an outpouring of support for the book from students, parents, and teachers. Eventually, the school board enacted a policy requiring all texts to be used by teachers in the county to be listed at the beginning of each course. Parents would then have the opportunity to reject any particular text that they felt would be too offensive so that their child could "opt out" of that particular text and be given an alternate text assignment to read.
There were other challenged books that I was interested in reading, but I was compelled to read this one because it was challenged in my hometown. As I began reading, I was drawn into the story, the characters, the emotions and there were times that, honestly, I couldn't contain my sadness, my sorrow for what the characters were enduring and it was difficult for me to continue. Faced with a looming deadline, I debated reading an easier, less emotionally taxing novel, but that, to me, was just not acceptable. This was a novel that had to be read. I knew it would be important for me to finish because it is the type of story that reaches deep into your heart, stays there, and never leaves. This is not the type of story that I could just skim, just get the basic plot line and move on. I buried myself into this story, and when it was done, when it was over, I had to take some time to recover from its emotional burden. I am not convinced I'll ever be free of that burden. I hate the thought of having to assign my unworthy words to this masterpiece. People shouldn't read about this novel; they should read it for themselves.
Now, pertaining to the book challenge, I agree that there are language and scenes described in the text that are objectionable in their content, and every parent has the right and responsibility to monitor the types of material to which their children are exposed in school. However, I do believe that this book is extremely well-written; it teaches about culture and injustices in a way that no history textbook can; the language of the scenes in question is not overly graphic--it is artfully subtle in details but the power and horror of the actions remain. Do I think most high school students should read this book? No. It is the type of book that is meant for adults, for people who have lived long enough to have regrets, to be familiar with guilt, to have appreciation for the role of government in society, to have a personal testimony of the impact that one decision can have on a life. No, most high school students are not ready, are not worthy yet of this book, but some are. And they should not be denied.
