At my high school where I teach, parents have recently called the appropriateness of The Kite Runner, a novel in the sophomore curriculum, into question. While I did not experience any problems with my students or their parents, the other two English II teachers did. I decided to perform a survey to determine how my students felt about the novel. I wish I had used SurveyMonkey, which would have analyzed the results for me. But I figured taking the survey in the computer lab would take way too much class time, so I had to tabulate the results myself. Without further ado, I present to you the results of the survey.

1. Kite RunnerSurvey Results Jason Stephenson Pre-AP English II January 27, 2011

2. Context of Survey Parents and students at Deer Creek High School have raised concerns about the content of The Kite Runner, an approved novel in the sophomore curriculum. I surveyed 88 of my students about the novel.

3. Survey Questions How much of the novel did you read? ____ All of it (100%) ____ Most of it (75-99%) ____ Some of it (26-74%) ____ A little of it (1-25%) ____ None of it (0%) Rate your satisfaction of the novel. ____ I loved it. ____ I liked it. ____ It was okay. ____ I did not like it. ____ I hated it.

4. Survey Questions Should next year’s Pre-AP English II students be required to read The Kite Runner? ____ Yes. ____ No. ____ They should have a choice between The Kite Runner and The Joy Luck Club. How did you feel about the language in this novel? ____ It was not too graphic for sophomores. ____ It was too graphic for sophomores.

5. Survey Questions How did you feel about the rape scene in the novel? ____ It was not too graphic for sophomores. ____ It was too graphic for sophomores. How did you feel about the violence in this novel? ____ It was not too graphic for sophomores. ____ It was too graphic for sophomores. What comments or concerns do you have about this novel?

6. PDF of Survey

7. The Results Most students said they had read all or most of the novel. Most students said they either loved or liked the novel. The majority of students thought the content of the novel was not too graphic for sophomores. A small percentage said students should not be required to read the novel next year.

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14. Student Responses At the end of the survey, students had the option to respond to the following question: What comments or concerns do you have about this novel? Most responses were positive, and some were negative. I typed their responses exactly as they wrote them, grammar mistakes and all.

15. This is one of the best novels I’ve read at school, and the material it goes over is information very relative to current events. I feel that it is very appropriate for sophomores. We are mature enough to handle it. its about things actually happening so it is good to know about. Best school book I’ve read this year It’s not like sophomores haven’t seen this kind of stuff in movies or other mediums already.

16. I feel like you hear worse things in the hallway. I loved this book because it really made you think. Extremely good book, almost inspiring. To think that any parent wouldn’t want their child reading this is absurd. Sophmores should be mature enough to handle the contents of the book. It was better than most books that students are required to read

17. It was a very depressing novel, possibly the most depressing thing I have ever attempted to read. It is my belief that reading this novel did nothing for my life and was a severe waste of many hours that I could have used to educate myself. Quite a few of my friends parents didn’t want them reading it. If your 15 or 16 you should be able to handle this book fine.

18. i didn’t think it was too bad, its stuff that actually happens I would have loved this book if it had only said he got raped & not described it. The story of the Kite Runner is very good, but the rape scene pushed the boundry of what’s appropriate. There may be parent concern.

19. Some students’ parents maybe stricter about certain materials in books. I think the book is fine for us to read. there was a reoccuring theme of sexuality in this book, but we’re sophomores. it‘s part of life and it’s part of this book. Sophomore should be mature for this This book was by far the easiest and fastest to read. I liked it, it was interesting, and I couldn’t put it down! Everyone should read it.

20. Although it was sad it was one of the best books that I have been required to read throughout school. Next to The Outsiders of course. I just think that compared to just being in the high school environment you hear much worse that this book has. I liked it. Kids need to be see some bad things that happen in life. There is more in the world than just rich kids and nice cars. Thats all we ever see. I’m glad to read a novel that broke a little boundaries, especially in high school.

21. I got tired of hearing peers’ complaints, so those who aren’t mature enough to handle it should be able to opt-out. It was way too depressing and disturbing. too bad for school I believe it [the rape scene] is not too graphic for the rest of these vulgar sophmores but for me I would have not ever read it.

22. Maybe a little bit tough for more innocent sophomores. Just be sure to address it at the start. I think the people who think the novel is too graphic are too sheltered. I loved it except for the part when the stoned the man & women. If sophomores aren’t mature enough to read a rape scene that wasn’t even that bad parents should be worried.