Hamilton County Schools Removes ‘The Kite Runner’ from a High School English Class

Image of “The Kite Runner” novel

Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson announced Tuesday that a district review has determined the acclaimed novel “The Kite Runner” no longer meets age-appropriate instructional content standards and has been removed from classrooms.

The decision follows a complaint from a parent about the book's graphic content last week, after a high school teacher selected it as supplementary material for an English class. According to a news release sent to the Tennessee Firefly, the book was not part of the district’s curriculum or novel study list.

Robertson said the teacher selected the text “in good faith” based on resources used in previous years and provided a parental opt-out notice before the book was used in the classroom.

“As a district, we must hold ourselves accountable to both academic excellence and community standards. In this situation, I do agree that this book was not appropriate for the classroom setting,” said Dr. Robertson. “I’m proud of the diligent work of our teachers to challenge and inspire students through their commitment to rigorous instruction. When concerns are expressed, we use them as opportunities to reflect on whether classroom content aligns with our instructional goals and age-appropriate expectations. We believe rigorous content can and must coexist with respect for parents’ values. I encourage parents to stay engaged in their child’s educational experience and to connect directly with teachers, principals, and district leaders when they have questions or concerns. We will always take concerns seriously and act accordingly.”

“I heard the concerns brought before the Board last week and quickly connected with Dr. Robertson to learn more about the situation. I wholeheartedly believe this book should not be present in our classrooms and we agreed there was a need for immediate action,” said District 1 Board Member Steve Slater. “Parents have a right to know what is being taught and to have a voice in that process. I am glad that our team moved quickly and listened carefully. This is how we build trust.”

Acclaimed Novel of an Unlikely Friendship

“The Kite Runner” tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, set during the Soviet-Afghan War and the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan. It was a New York Times bestseller when author Khaled Hosseini published it in 2003.

The story also produced an Oscar-nominated film in 2007, but its content led the American Library Association to list it among the ten most frequently challenged books the following year.