Book challenge: The Kite Runner, in Asheville, North Carolina.

From the Citizen-Times:

Reynolds High School has temporarily suspended the use of the bestselling book "The Kite Runner" in an Honors English class following a complaint from former school board member and parent Lisa Baldwin.

Students in the class are using an alternate book until a school committee can review the book.

The book was being used as a supplementary instructional text in the class. Individual parents could choose to opt out of having their child take part in the assignment.

Let me just repeat that last line: "The book was being used as a supplementary instructional text in the class. Individual parents could choose to opt out of having their child take part in the assignment."

Reasons the book is being challenged: Because it replaced All Quiet on the Western Front in the curriculum? According to the challenger? Except that The Kite Runner has been being taught there for years? So I'm not sure what the deal is there.

More reasons: Language, adult themes, the rape scene—which the school did mention in the heads-up letter, though they didn't mention that it was the rape of a child—and the fact that the rape scene is about a male character being raped, rather than a female. Because I guess the rape of a male gets more Horror Points than the rape of a female? I honestly don't know.

I am finding all of these book challenges more depressing than usual for some reason.

Previously: Challenge resolved in Wisconsin.

Previously: Top Ten Challenged Books in 2014.

Previously: Challenged in Indiana.

Previously: Challenged in Illinois.

Previously: Challenged in North Carolina (at a DIFFERENT school).