The Kite Runner is the first book written by Khaled Hosseini. It explores the story of two young boys at the invasion of the communist Soviet Union. The reader takes an emotional ride with these two boys who experience a cultural/ societal change in Afghanistan.
This book is great for the boys in your classroom through an easily relatable male point of view novel. There are so many options for English/ Social collaborative projects!
I had a pre-service teaching experience in which the students were reading The Kite Runner in eleventh grade and A Thousand Splendid Suns (see post below!) in twelfth grade. The students were really intrigued by the subject matter and really enjoyed the books.
ReplyDeleteBoth novels are incredibly well written and provide amazing insight into life in the Middle East. It's important to note, however, that both novels are graphic at times. It's important that the teacher know his/her students very well before bringing this book into the classroom!
Have either of you seen the movie? I just wondered how it was in relation to the book.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the movie but only vaguely remember it. I like the book a lot better though. I think because the narrator is such a strong character that it's nice to have that connection to the plot.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI am a student studying education for English with grades 7-12. I loved this book and completely agree that students should read this book. As you mentioned, you can take on many angles for teaching, either political, social, and\or even psychological. My only concern about teaching this book as a whole class or asking students to read it independently would be the rape scene. How would you 'handle' it?
Krystle...for that reason I don't actually think I would be comfortable teaching it, but that's just my personal stance. I discussed this novel with my second placement teacher last semester, and she feels the same way...the rape scene just opens up a bunch of issues that a teacher may not be ready or be able to handle (such as students in the class who have been raped).
ReplyDeleteThat said, I would be more apt to recommend this novel for independent reading to a mature student, and even then I'd give them some sort of disclaimer about that graphic scene.