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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
In my second year of high school, I discovered the Kite Runner. The book was assigned for English class, but it felt like a pot of gold I had stumbled upon and clung to my chest. Whether I was immersing myself in the book at home with my parent’s cooking filling the air, or reading it aloud with my classmates, dissecting the pivotal sections, each and every page I turned brought me deeper into a more mature world.
Through the narration of Amir's life in and outside of Afghanistan, I learned about class, how friendship can breach social norms, and what regret truly looks like. I was fascinated by the contrast between Afghan and American culture, and I delighted in seeing the protagonist's evolution as he got older.
While it is undeniable that this book addresses challenging subject matter, that doesn't justify it being banned. Instead, it should be readily available for young Americans to explore and learn from. By understanding and appreciating the lives they lead in this country early on, teens can gain empathy and insight into the benefits they have. They can also grow to be more open to learning about the upbringings of others they meet from different backgrounds.
The Kite Runner is available for sale on Penguin Random House, among other sources.
