Friday Favorites: April 25
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- April
- 25
This week’s recommendation was inspired by the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, an offshoot of the Tarrytown-based American Booksellers Association.
The book is “Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini (Penguin Books) was challenged, but eventually received approval from a committee at Freedom High School in Burke County, North Carolina.
Apparently, a community member in North Carolina had objected to sexual violence and graphic language in the book. A group mobilized a coalition of six free speech groups and sent a letter opposing the challenges, according to an announcement from the ABFFE.
The book is about a young boy from Afghanistan who learns about friendship, family, and love while making mistakes, cheating death and living in a war-torn region. There is so much to this book. The characters are real and face genuine issues. The backdrop is timely and it educated me about what it might be like to have lived in Afghanistan. It is true, certain parts are graphic, but part of the story.
So, if you haven’t read this book, check it out. There was a movie made from it which is good as well. I started the book, then saw the movie and returned to the book. While I liked both, the book was a much better telling of the complex tale of emotions and offered greater insights into human nature and nurture.
This entry was posted
on Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 4:02 pm by Barbara Nackman.
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A municipal reporter for The Journal News since 1997, 
banning books. unreal. maybe have them read Fahrenheit 451.
I read catcher in the rye in 5th grade because it was banned by the catholic school system. I got it from the public library. I also made sure my kids read it just before 6th grade.
I think many of the classic books are missed. even some teachers dont know about certain books. I had long discussions via email with my eldest’s english teacher. discussing books etc. He added a few of my recommendations to the curriculum.
It is always amazing to me to learn that communities seek to ban or challenge books that seem appropriate and really worthwhile reads. Some of these are classics. For many years “Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, as you noted, was on a list from the American Library Association of the most banned books in the country. It was joind by “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain — but finally, in 2006, this trio did not make this list.
True, too, that sometimes challenging a book gives it more attention and gets it read.
agreed. I read Of Mice and men the same year i read Catcher…
I find it interesting that Rockland HS have it as mandatory reading.