The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini
- Lexile
- 840L
- Grade range
- Grades 10–12
- Age range
- Ages 15–18
- Pages
- 371
- First published
- 2003
- Genre
- Historical Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9781594631931
About this book
Amir, the son of a wealthy Kabul businessman, betrays his childhood friend Hassan — a son of the family's servant — and spends decades seeking atonement against the backdrop of the Soviet invasion and Taliban rule. Hosseini's debut novel appears on AP Literature and IB DP English Literature reading lists.
Themes
- guilt
- redemption
- friendship
- ethnic conflict
- immigration
Content notes
- sexual assault
- violence
- child abuse
- war
Common Sense Media recommends age 16+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- recommended· 12th gradesource: AP Lit representative text — contemporary world literature
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 10th gradesource: Common Core aligned summer-reading list — rising 10th grade
- recommended· 11th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B adjacent — grade 11 world literature
- recommended· 11th grade · Californiasource: CA CCSS ELA grade 11 world literature text
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is The Kite Runner?
- The Kite Runner is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 10–12, with a Lexile measure of 840L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of The Kite Runner?
- The Kite Runner has a Lexile measure of 840L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign The Kite Runner?
- The Kite Runner appears on reading lists for AP English Literature & Composition, Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Kite Runner banned in schools?
- The Kite Runner has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 4 states (TX, MO, FL, PA) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does The Kite Runner explore?
- Central themes in The Kite Runner include guilt, redemption, friendship, ethnic conflict, immigration. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.