AP Worthy?

I am now about one half of the way through The Kite Runner (Chapter 9-14). As I have progressed to this new checkpoint, it has become an incredibly emotional journey. The story is extremely intriguing, but is the book of enough literary merit to be put to use in an AP course?

For me, the answer to this question is yes. I say this for a few reasons. First, I think that this book fosters independence. What I mean by this is that in each of Amir’s story’s a new lesson is introduced; whether that be about loyalty, love, responsibility, gender inequality, or even ethnic prosecution, there is always a message. I’m sure that all of these collective ideas will arise to a greater ultimate meaning at the end of the book, but as the reader follows Amir on his journey he/she is allowed to latch on to any such lesson that they please. Isn’t this what literature is about? Conveying ideas through words and allowing the recipient to make what they please from them. I think this is an essential theme that every Advanced Placement English student must realize at some point, we need to be able to think for ourselves and draw our own conclusions from literature. Hosseini creates these heart-wrenching stories in order to allow the reader to make their own conclusions. Because of this quality I believe that The Kite Runner is an AP quality piece.

Secondly, The Kite Runner is filled to the brink with strong characters that could easily be weaved into most AP English exam questions. An example of one of these multi dimensional characters would be the main character Amir. He begins the story as an extremely selfish and cowardly young man.  He watches the rape of his loyal servant and lifelong friend Hassan because he doesn’t want to risk losing the final kite in the kite running ceremony. He lets Hassan get punished for stealing after he places money in Hassan’s bed. And he breaks the forty-year brotherhood between Baba and Ali. But when Baba sacrifices everything to bring Amir to the United States, he finally realizes the ends that people have gone to in order to make his life meaningful. After Amir’s graduation Baba buys him a used car. He has a moment of realization about the kindness of his father and wants to, “tell [Baba] how touched [he] was by [Baba’s] act of kindness, how much [he] appreciated all that [Baba] had done for [him], all that [Baba] was still doing” (133). This scene shows Amir’s development, he is becoming less selfish and more appreciative. He begins to value, and spend time with his well-respected father. He finally begins to begins to understand what it means to become a man. His new character development especially shows when he marries a beautiful young woman named Soraya. Although Soraya has made mistakes in her past, ones that are seen as unforgivable by the Afghani society, Amir fully accepts her and even defends her. Soraya reveals to Amir that when she told him about her past mistakes she was sure that he would, “‘change [his] mind,’” (179) about the marriage. Amir responds by saying that there was, “‘not a chance of that” (179). This newly gained courage and sense of loyalty is a new development to his character. These journey characters who grow and develop with the challenges that they face in their lives tend to be great tools when it comes to the AP test. Amir is one of many diverse characters in the novel, which would make great subjects for a piece of an AP essay.  The ever-developing characters of The Kite Runner are another reason why it is worthy of use in an AP English course.

In conclusion, I think that The Kite Runner would be a great addition to any AP reading curriculum. It’s welcoming of independent thought is great for developing students, and it’s strong characters would be extremely helpful for the AP exam. This story, however, goes past the AP exam. The lessons that it holds, and it’s shocking storyline make it a worthwhile read for anyone. It really does give a sense of perspective to someone like myself who has had the privilege of living in the United States for my whole life. So, yes, throw it on the reading list. It won’t disappoint! Until next time,

Nolan “the breeze” Burgundy