Parents need to know that The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini tells the story of Amir, who grows up in Afghanistan during the 1970s and '80s and eventually moves to the San Francisco Bay Area. Cultural prejudice and the political power shifts as the Russians invade, and the Taliban later takeover strongly affects Amir's relationships. The novel includes graphic descriptions of extreme cruelty and violence, including homosexual rape, murder, beatings, and a suicide attempt. Alcohol and drugs are used in appropriate ways, though the righteousness of drinking's part of religious discussions about Islam. This beautiful, moving novel deals with complex adult issues about religion, prejudice, forgiveness, and the nature of "goodness."
