The Brevard County School Board in Florida has voted on Tuesday (January 26th) to stop the removal “The Kite Runner,” a book by Khaled Hosseini and Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five” in its district libraries. This decision comes amid a comprehensive review of dozens of books that has been ongoing in the district.
Khaled Hosseini advocates for empathy and understanding in education
Renowned author Khaled Hosseini, in a heartfelt letter addressed to the school board, stressed the profound impact his book has had on students. He wrote, “I am a parent myself. I understand the parental impulse to safeguard our children from harm. But banning books like The Kite Runner doesn’t ‘protect’ students at all. It betrays them.” Hosseini highlighted how his book offers a vital opportunity for students to develop empathy and understanding of diverse cultures and experiences.
“[Banning books] like The Kite Runner doesn’t ‘protect’ students at all. It betrays them. It robs them of the chance that we as parents and instructors owe them, the chance to broaden their human community, to let them walk the world in another’s shoes for a while, to foster empathy for others, to be challenged by the experience and perhaps take a small step toward becoming fuller, richer versions of themselves.”
Khaled Hosseini
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The school district’s decision arrives in the context of a larger debate over the content of school library books. About 40 books are still under review, including “Bible Stories for Little Angels.” In 2022, the Brevard chapter of Moms for Liberty raised objections to “The Kite Runner” and other books for reasons including sexual content, “racially divisive” rhetoric, LGBTQ themes, references to abortion, and criticism of Christianity.
Balancing educational freedom and book removal
“The Kite Runner” has been one of the most banned books in the 2021-2022 school year, with instances of it being removed from shelves across various districts. Just last week, a Texas high school teacher revealed the book being returned to the district along with numerous others.
Responding to the school board’s decision, Kasey Meehan, PEN America’s Freedom to Read director, expressed satisfaction: “We are gratified that Brevard County schools did the right thing by returning The Kite Runner and Slaughterhouse-Five to shelves…We hope that Khaled Hosseini’s words will resonate for all the books still being considered..”
Read: Afghan women in darkness as books and education restricted
In his letter dated January 23, 2024, Hosseini shared the profound insights and experiences high school students have communicated to him after reading “The Kite Runner.” The book, as per Hosseini, serves not only as a window into Afghan culture but also as a medium for students to learn about empathy, justice, and the complexities of human relationships.
The Brevard County School Board’s decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate about book censorship and educational freedom in school curriculums. The fate of the remaining books under review remains to be seen.