This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Riverhead Books

Published by The Berkley Publishing Group

A division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

375 Hudson Street

New York, New York 10014

Copyright © 2003 by Khaled Hosseini

Cover design and imaging by Honi Werner

Title page illustration by Honi Werner

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials.

Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

The Library of Congress has catalogued the Riverhead hardcover edition as follows:

Hosseini, Khaled.

The kite runner / Khaled Hosseini.

p. cm.

ISBN: 9781101217238

1. Kåbol (Afghanistan)—Fiction. 2. Male friendship—Fiction. 3. Social classes—Fiction. 4. Afghanistan—Fiction. 5. Betrayal—Fiction. 6. Boys—Fiction. I. Title.

PS3608.O525K58 2003 2003043106

813'.6—dc21

btb_ppg_140207960_c0_r8

This book is dedicated to
Haris and Farah, both
the noor of my eyes,
and to the children
of Afghanistan. xz7yJfqFxD8nD4TTBkvLwHA8AJkSmR5wDdmDUM2mLOGk76jMunI2ka4Pz7Z250Ya