"The Kite Runner" On American Library Association's List Of Challenged Books

NEW YORK — Not everybody loves "The Kite Runner."

Khaled Hosseini's million-selling novel about friendship and betrayal between two Afghan boys, a book club favorite that became a feature film, was among the releases mostly likely to inspire complaints last year from parents, educators and others, the American Library Association announced Thursday.

"The Kite Runner," which includes a rape scene, has been criticized for offensive language and sexual content. A parent in Champaign, Ill., and a school board official in Morganton, N.C., were among those who challenged "The Kite Runner" last year.

The ALA listed 513 challenges last year, an increase of 93 from 2007, but well below the levels of 700 and higher in the 1990s. The ALA defines a challenge as a "formal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness."

For every challenge tallied, about four or five end up unreported, according to the ALA.

For the third year in a row, the most challenged book was "And Tango Makes Three," Justin Richardson's and Peter Parnell's award-winning picture story about two male penguins who become parents. "Tango" was cited for being anti-family, pro-gay and anti-religion.

Also high on the list were Philip Pullman's "Dark Materials" trilogy (complaints for being violent and anti-religious), Cecily von Ziegesar's "Gossip Girls" series (language, sexually explicit), Alvin Schwartz's "Scary Stories" (violence, occultism) and Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (drugs, suicide, nudity, language).

ALA spokeswoman Macey Morales said that books were actually pulled at least 74 times last year. Those removed included Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" (refers to masturbation), Jodi Picoult's "My Sister's Keeper" (sexually explicit) and Mark Bowden's "Black Hawk Down" (profanity).

In the fall, the library association will co-sponsor the 28th annual "Banned Books Week," a nationwide program founded in 1982 that highlights banned and challenged books. Thursday's list was released just days after "Banned Book Weeks" founder Judith Krug died of cancer at age 69.

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On the Net:

. http://www.ala.org

Comments

[Meggie]

I find it difficult to believe that any of those jumping on the bandwagon to ban this book have ever bothered to read it.

[zest]

The American Talliban falling in line with the Afgan Talliban.

[Rolf618]

So they want the Kite Runner banned because it describes a brutal assault in which a young Afghan boy witnesses the rape of his best friend as the hands of a sadistic bully (who later becomes a leader of the Taliban)

What do they think, that this promotes a homosexual lifestyle?

[Heady]

These people shouldn't be considered adults.

"offensive language and sexual content" don't exist in the real world.

[justpissed74]

Because in America if it makes someone uncomfortable it shouldn't exist, kids shouldn't know the truth (they should be absitnent only, lmao). The truth, no matter how unpleasant or graphic, will set us free.......

[adogslife]

Can we add the Bible to the list: talk about anti-family: kill the first born; slavery; multiple wives; kill others of a different religion; stone women; force the maid-servant to be the surrogate mom for a sterile wife. Wow!

[BikeFreak]

Yes....the bible is one of the more disgusting books ever written.

It is the most absolute piece of fictional trash ever penned.

[johnie2xs]

Here, Here !!!

[YouFnPeople]

No matter how much I try, I can't imagine what the bubble that people like this live in looks like.
If their view of how they see the world could be projected onto a screen I honestly think I would be terrified.

[ChangeNow]

"If their view of how they see the world could be projected onto a screen I honestly think I would be terrified"

Very well put.

[lillibelle]

This is especially ironic, as book burning is detailed in Khaled Hosseini's gripping novels. It all sounds quite Talibanesque. Both of his novels were devoured by all of my teenagers, even my reluctant reader. Now, they eagerly await Mr. Hosseini's next novel. (A parent's dream!)

Years ago, when my son was voraciously working his way through the "Goosebumps" series, an elderly gentleman chastised me for approving "anti-family books." When asked if he had ever read any, what do you suppose his answer was?

Presently, my youngest is hooked on the Vampire series. Even though we are regulars at the library, these are books I gladly purchase and consider money well spent. I love listening to her talk excitedly about it with her friends.

Kudos to the ALA!

[Eric8869]

When you hear these things isn't the first thing you think "THOSE PEOPLE NEED A LIFE!"

[eeVas]

I raise my children so differently then these people.

I watched the movie with my 10 year old. If so many children have to live in those awful situations, my son can at least get an understanding of them from our living room.

[kjara]

The Kite Runner is one of the best books I have ever read. It was required reading in my son's college English class. It is not really a book for younger than high school age. A Thousand Splendid Suns was another fantastic book, albeit difficult to read because of the Taliban's brutality toward women. I find it humorous whenever I hear that books are being challenged because of scary or violent content. Have these people seen what kids are exposed to on a daily basis??? I have three sons and spent many years trying to shield them from violenc and sex in the media. Finally I gave up and decided they would be better off if they were well informed (with our guidance and teaching) as they go out into the world without my husband and me. Now that they are 22, 19, and 15, whenever I object to a violent game they gently remind me that they know the difference between real life and games, 'duh, Mom'! We are only cheating our children when we deprive them of superior literature because it deals with difficult subjects. The world is a difficult place. I developed a deeper appreciation for the Afghan culture because of those books. Rather than being challenged, they should be REQUIRED reading for all American adults.

[Pleneras]

Well said.

[MexDiva]

I enjoyed the book but there is a "detail" that makes me uncomfortable. The play of the US in the raising of the Taliban was not even mentioned once. Removing a significant part of the History that actually impacts the story make it a reader's pleaser book. Good books challenge our pre-conceptions.

One side of a coin is all the horrors happened "away" and all the blessing occur "here" is reinforcing our own believe system. It is sad that such a well written work lacks an more rounded historical perspective.

[1Troubles]

I agree with your excellent post. As a retired librarian I cringe every time I hear the word Banned. No book should be banned.

I had a readers group meet at my library monthly for over 10 years and 2 of thier favorite books were Kite Runner and My sister keeper.

[Patriot68]

"Not everybody loves "The Kite Runner."

Well not everybody in this country has a reason to read in the first place. The ignorant prefer to sit around and watch faux all day and idiotic reality shows in between.

Also the kite runner doesn't use big letters and had no pictures I could find so I'm sure that was a major drawback to a lot of conservatives. I'm thinking the smartest of their group found the word ra pe, pointed it out to the rest and they pooled their hatred as quick as they could.

Th real shame here is that these enemies of intelligent thinking are allowed to proliferate.

[dengal]

faux news is contributing to the dumbing down of america
Reality shows do too.

Reading can teach me something, take me somewhere else, or just engage me til I finish a good story - such a simple pleasure.

[Annieke]

Oh my God!!!!

One of the best books I have read in years challenged because of a rape scene!

Guys, wake up. This is what is happening in the world. people get raped. Shamefull, terrible, disgusting, but still it is happening.

Did the people who complain about the sex-scene also complain against all the violence in day-to-day life thanks to the lousy gun-control laws in the US? Or is that just part of the Constitutional rights.

Oh wait...FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

[dengal]

no, no, no, you can only have liberties like freedom of speech if christians and wingnuts agree with you silly.

get a clue people children are raped everywhere all the time! the outrage should be at the crime not the truth

[Cacaoatl]

i would just like to commend the ALA and librarians in general for being on the forefront of the war against censorship. Americans need to read books instead of banning them.

[Pleneras]

I just returned this netflix video 1 hour ago. Had it sitting around for 4 days before I watched it. The reviews made me take a chance so I ordered it. WHAT A MOVIE!!!!! Brilliantly scripted, brilliant story, and absolutely brilliant performance. These people are just like us. When I took my son to live with me for a year in Korea he was excited but scared. I kept telling him along the 12 hour trip, "Dear, they work, live and love just like all the rest of us, except in another language."

There are many great movies out there we failed to watch because of trailer promotions of big budget films no matter how bad they are. Thanks to online ordering we can find treasures of great films like the French's Manon Of The Springs, which is in my top 25.

Kite Runner is in my top 3! It never bores, disappoints or fails to leave you wondering. It's about love, friendship and redemption with uplifting twists! When others say it's impossible there is hope. The people of Afghanistan need to retake their country and rebuild a flourishing new country. I wonder if this movie is show in all of Afghanistan?

[1Troubles]

If you enjoyed the movie you should try reading the book-nothing can compare to actually reading what the author was saying.