The Kite Runner

About this book

Set in Afghanistan from the 1970s through the early 2000s, the novel follows Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, and Hassan, the Hazara servant-boy he grows up with. Widely assigned in 10th-12th grade world literature units, the novel is frequently listed in districts' challenged-book lists.

Why widely assigned

This Literary Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 10–12. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on guilt and atonement and friendship; cited across 2 curriculum frameworks.

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

• 
  Fahrenheit 451
  Ray Bradbury · 890L
• 
  The Diary of a Young Girl
  Anne Frank · 1080L
• 
  1984
  George Orwell · 1090L
• 
  The Great Gatsby
  F. Scott Fitzgerald · 1070L

See all books like The Kite Runner→ — matched on theme + reading level.

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.

How long does it take to read The Kite Runner?

It takes about 6h 50m to read The Kite Runner (371 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 410 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is The Kite Runner hard to read for 10th grade?

At 840L, The Kite Runner reads below the typical 1050–1335L text-complexity range for 10th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.

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.