April 16, 2022
Not for under 18!
This book is fine for an adult. It is not for high school students! It is dark and disturbing and has graphic depictions of child rape. Rape and violence are strong themes throughout the book. Pedophilia is also featured. I wouldn't want my kids to read this.
This title has:
Too much violence
Too much sex
February 15, 2022
Should be required reading for all American Students
This title has:
Educational value
Great messages
November 9, 2021
Good book, but it destroyed me emotionally
I read this for AP Literature and my teacher never taught the book before, so we spent a long time on it. Spoiler alert. It's beautifully written, but how different events transpired is messed up. The story revolves around a rape of the protagonist's best friend, Hassan, and Amir, the protagonist, failed to stand up for Hassan. Hassan stood up for Amir when their neighborhood bullies (who were Hassan's rapists) tried to hurt him and Hassan was always a loyal and honest friend, in general. Amir immediately felt guilt after he let the assault happen and it stayed with him for most of the story. When he got to America, it got to a point where he vividly expressed a desire to forget it. Of course, he didn't tell anyone about his feelings regarding that event. The Kite Runner being messed up didn't stop there. When Amir learned about how Hassan's adult life went from his father's best friend Rahim Khan, Hassan was shot by the Taliban for being Hazara, the Afghan ethnic minority, and he also learned that Hassan was his half-brother. After that, it became obvious that Baba, Amir's father, and Sanaubar, Hassan's mother, slept with each other when Sanaubar was married to Ali, Hassan's adoptive father. All in all, it's an excellent book that is challenging to analyze, but not too hard to decode. Most older teens will be able to handle it. It will help people get a picture of what Afghanistan was like, since the book was kind of based on Khaled Hosseini's own experiences of being Afghan. The violence of the Taliban, especially the executions, is described graphically. Sohrab, Hassan's son, also attempted suicide, and the description was also pretty graphic. Amir wasn't a coward by the end of the book anymore because he faced his past and atoned for his betrayal of Hassan. The betrayals and redemptions also help to give good messages about those topics, such as that committing betrayals can motivate people to become better people.
This title has:
Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
August 28, 2021
Extreme violent rape scenes
I threw this in the trash and tried to scrub out the pages I read for days from my eyes and brain. I'm appalled this was included in a Christian curriculum of all things. It is not at all appropriate for even an adult such as I who has worked with rape victims and prostitutes for years and heard horrible stories. This book was disgustingly graphic. Save your eyes.
This title has:
Too much violence
Too much sex
August 19, 2021
Important and moving novel
The overarching theme of the book is redemption. Amir, the main character, is seeking a "way to be good again" to make up for his mistakes in childhood. While there are some sensitive scenes, the positive messages of the book far outweigh any mature content.
This title has:
Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
June 12, 2020
Moving, inspiring, haunting
The reviews say no sex but there is rape and sexual abuse described only in the violence section of these ratings.
March 15, 2020
It’s a good book
I think this book tells and conveys to our kids about the harsh realities of life. Life is not all sunshine and rainbows on this world. Every day a person may be raped. Every day a person may be being trafficked. Every day a person may be abused. It is our duty to give knowledge to child about these realities and answer their questions when they come up.
May 21, 2019
This book is very inappropriate
My kid should not hear of awful things like this he read it and he is only 14
December 3, 2018
Content is graphic and brutal
This book is not for high school students. As an adult I was appalled at the brutality of the forced sexual scene and had to stop reading the book.
October 28, 2018
Not for anyone under 19
This is not for high school students. No matter how well written a novel may be, this is not educational - its disturbing. My son showed me several pages and then refused to read on. That's the same young man who watches Avengers, plays video games, and hits hard on the football field. He was disturbed by this book.
This title has:
Too much violence
Too much sex