{"id":3459,"date":"2019-12-05T13:11:59","date_gmt":"2019-12-05T18:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/?page_id=3459"},"modified":"2025-09-17T12:46:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T16:46:14","slug":"kite-runner","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/bannedbooks\/kite-runner\/","title":{"rendered":"Banned Books 2025 &#8211; The Kite Runner"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"marsha-row mt-4 mb-4 flex flex-wrap -mx-2 lg:-mx-6  justify-start border-0 border-gray-100 first:mt-0\">\n\t\n<p><!-- *  START LEFT COLUMN  *--><div class=\"columns w-full lg:w-3\/12  lg:px-6    mt-6\">\n<div class=\"\">\n\n<h2>Links<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a id=\"current\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/bannedbooks\/bannedbooks-2025\/author\/\">2025 Author<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/bannedbooks\/bannedbooks-2025\/title\/\">2025 Title<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/bannedbooks\/\">Banned Books Home<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Cover<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3464\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/files\/2019\/12\/kiterunner.jpg\" alt=\"kite runner cover\" width=\"1128\" height=\"1755\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/files\/2019\/12\/kiterunner.jpg 1128w, https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/files\/2019\/12\/kiterunner-193x300.jpg 193w, https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/files\/2019\/12\/kiterunner-768x1195.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/files\/2019\/12\/kiterunner-658x1024.jpg 658w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1128px) 100vw, 1128px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mulibiiidb.marshall.edu\/record=b1385785\">Held at Marshall (Drinko &#8211; PS3608.O832 K58 2004)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- *** ** END LEFT COLUMN ** ***-->\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/p><p><!-- *** ** START RIGHT COLUMN ** **--><div class=\"columns w-full lg:w-9\/12  lg:px-6    mt-6\">\n<div class=\"\">\n\n<p><strong>Marshall University does not ban books!  The information is provided to let people know what has been banned\/challenged elsewhere.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>2025<\/h2>\n<p>The Hernando County School District (FL) discussed censoring <strong>The Black Friend<\/strong> and <strong>The Kite Runner<\/strong> during their February 7 board meeting. Review committees recommended retaining both books in the high school library in accordance with district policy. Board chair Shannon Rodriguez falsely claimed the entire board could be arrested if they remained in circulation. The board voted to ban both books.<\/p>\n<h2>2024<\/h2>\n<p>In September, the board of Marietta City Schools (GA) issued a directive to the superintendent to remove all \u201csexually explicit\u201d books from school libraries. The directive explicitly required review of \u201cover 20,000 books\u201d and circumvented approved reconsideration policies. The board named several titles they wanted removed, including <strong>The Kite Runner<\/strong>. While 23 titles were banned to date, <strong>The Kite Runner<\/strong> was retained.<\/p>\n<h2>2023<\/h2>\n<p>In response to one parent\u2019s formal complaint, the Cedarburg High School (WI) removed The Kite Runner from the 10th grade curriculum while it was being used by two teachers. Though their child had been provided an alternate text to read, the parent believed the novel\u2019s depictions of sexual assault, depression, and attempted suicide were inappropriate and requested that teaching of the novel be suspended for all current and future students.<\/p>\n<h2>2022<\/h2>\n<p>The Protect Nebraska Children Coalition brought an extensive list of books to the Wauneta-Pallisade (NE) Public Schools board meeting and wanted the books removed from both the elementary and high school libraries. The list of more than 30 titles included <strong>The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian<\/strong> by Sherman Alexie, <strong>Ghost Boys<\/strong> by Jewell Parker Rhodes, <strong>Thirteen Reasons Why<\/strong> by Jay Asher, <strong>Go Tell It on the Mountain<\/strong> by James Baldwin, <strong>Speak<\/strong> by Laurie Halse Anderson, <strong>Dear Martin<\/strong> by Nic Stone, <strong>The Color Purple<\/strong> by Alice Walker, <strong>The Kite Runner<\/strong> by Khaled Hosseini, <strong>Beloved<\/strong> by Toni Morrison, <strong>The Undefeated<\/strong> by Kwame Alexander, <strong>Pink Is for Boys<\/strong> by Robb Pearlman, and <strong>Harbor Me<\/strong> by Jacqueline Woodson. The books were removed for evaluation.<\/p>\n<p>At the Bedford County (VA) Public Schools, Moms for Liberty challenged <strong>The Bluest Eye<\/strong> along with <strong>Beloved<\/strong>, also by Toni Morrison, plus <strong>The Kite Runner<\/strong> by Khaled Hosseini, <strong>The Glass Castle<\/strong> by Jeannette Walls, <strong>#MurderTrending<\/strong> by Gretchen McNeil, <strong>Two Boys Kissing<\/strong> by David Levithan, <strong>All Boys Aren\u2019t Blue<\/strong> by George M. Johnson, <strong>What My Mother Doesn\u2019t Know<\/strong> by Sonya Sones, <strong>Rick<\/strong> by Alex Gino, <strong>Freakboy<\/strong> by Kristin Elizabeth Clark, <strong>Love Drugged<\/strong> by James Klise, and <strong>Beautiful Music for Ugly Children<\/strong> by Kristin Cronn-Mills. The group said it objected to graphic depictions of sexual acts, violence, substance use, and LGBTQIA+ representation. Board members cited policy, which limited challenges to one book at a time. BCPS administrators and book review committees made the decision not to remove any of the challenged titles from school libraries.<\/p>\n<h2>2020<\/h2>\n<p>A parent of a ninth grader at Park City (UT) School District expressed two concerns: first, that <b>The Kite Runner<\/b>&#8216;s child rape scene could cause students who have been sexually abused further trauma, and second, that there were other school-approved novels whose sexual content violated criminal code. The school board said it would take all comments under consideration<\/p>\n<h2>2018<\/h2>\n<p>Delayed but ultimately approved in August 2017 for use in the curriculum at the Conejo Valley (CA) Unified School District Board because of board president&#8217;s objections to sexuality and profanity in the book. Challenged but retained after a school district board member requested the novel be removed from the Advanced Placement English curriculum at Fishers (IN) High School, after discovering her daughter reading it. The parent objected to its inclusion of same-sex gang rape scene and depiction of distrust in adults. The book was retained in the curriculum, and teachers sent an end-of-the-year letter to parents, offering an alternative assignment if requested. Higley (AZ) Unified School District removed Khaled Hosseini&#8217;s contemporary classic from the English curriculum, after 5 years of it being included on the list. Students at Williamsfield High School were in the middle of reading the book when it was pulled with no explanation. Students spoke up about the censorship and as a result, the administration shut down the high school newspaper.<\/p>\n<h2>2016<\/h2>\n<p>Suspended, but later reinstated as approved reading at the Buncombe County (NC) schools. The complainant, a self-described &#8220;conservative government watchdog,&#8221; cited state law requiring local boards of education to include &#8220;character education&#8221; in the curriculum. She also said schools must teach sex education from an abstinence-only perspective. The book is used in 10th grade honors English classes and parents can request an alternative reading assignment for the child.<\/p>\n<h2>2014<\/h2>\n<p>Challenged, but retained as part of the Waukesha (WI) High School curriculum despite claims the book &#8220;desensitizes students to violence.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>2013<\/h2>\n<p>Challenged as optional reading in the 10th grade honors class at Troy (PA) area schools because the novel depicts a rape in graphic detail and uses vulgar language.<\/p>\n<h2>2012<\/h2>\n<p>Challenged, but retained as part of Senior Advanced Placement English at the Valley High School in Jonesboro (AR). The issue arose after two patrons disapproved of a scene depicting male-on-male rape, sexual innuendo, and vulgar language, as well as religious content throughout the book. Challenged as optional reading in the tenth-grade honors class at Troy (PA) Area Schools because the novel depicts a sodomy rape in graphic detail and uses vulgar language.<\/p>\n<h2>2009<\/h2>\n<p>Challenged as appropriate study in 10th grade honors English class at Freedom HS in Morganton (NC) because the novel depicts a sodomy rape in graphic detail and uses vulgar language. Retained in the Jackson County School District (Marianna, FL) after being removed from the required reading list for one class. The school board voted to retain the book in the library by a vote of five to two. Removed from the reading list at Centennial High School in Champaign (IL) due objections from a parent whose child was assigned the book for summer reading. Challenged in Burke County schools in Morgantown (NC) by parents concerned about the violence and sexual situations portrayed in the book.<\/p>\n<h2>2008<\/h2>\n<p>Challenged as appropriate study in 10th grade honors English class at Freedom HS in Morganton (NC) because the novel depicts a sodomy rape in graphic detail and uses vulgar language.<\/p>\n<h2>On These Pages<\/h2>\n<p>A <strong>Banned<\/strong> book has been removed from a library, classroom, etc.<br \/>\nA <strong>Challenged<\/strong> book has been requested to be removed from a library, classroom, etc.<\/p>\n<h2>For additional information contact<\/h2>\n<p>Ron Titus, <a href=\"mailto:titus@marshall.edu\">titus@marshall.edu<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"tel:304-696-6575\">304-696-6575<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Last updated<\/h2>\n<p>July 30, 2025<\/p>\n<p><!-- ** ** END RIGHT COLUMN *** *-->\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n<p><!-- *** * END FULL PAGE DIV * *** --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"parent":2039,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-full-width.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3459","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3459","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3459"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3459\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15468,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3459\/revisions\/15468"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}