A Thousand Times Over
By Maia Polito
On September 30th, Ms. Goodman’s classes left the classroom to have a picnic celebrating the conclusion of their book study on Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner.
The Kite Runner examines loss, guilt, redemption, and the emotions involved in returning home. Due to its coverage of sensitive topics, The Kite Runner is restricted to seniors in many school districts, but Ms. Goodman believes it deserves to be taught. The novel provides a perspective many Americans never see, the Afghanistan that exists past political turmoil and violence. While these themes are covered, Hosseini also creates a beautiful depiction of the people in Afghanistan and their culture. Mysha Azhar, a student in Ms. Goodman’s first period, stated that she enjoyed learning about the culture and traditions in Afghanistan before terrorism fractured the nation.
Every year, Ms. Goodman hosts a picnic after her students finish The Kite Runner, but every year is a little different. The students plan their celebration as a class and bring in the food themselves. This year, Mysha made an Afghani Pulao. When all the food was set out, it ranged from Mysha’s Pulao, to popcorn chicken, to pasta, to focaccia, and many things in between. Some students decorated kites that Ms. Goodman provided, and some flew them blank, but kites filled the sky. Mysha noted that she loved coming together to share culture, chat, and fly kites.
The Kite Runner celebration highlighted the merits of the novel: shared culture, understanding, and beauty. Hopefully the coming novel celebrations will be just as enjoyable.
Source(s):
Azhar, Mysha, Personal Interview, Sept. 29, 2026.
