The+Breadwinner

= The Breadwinner - An Afghan Child in a War Torn Land = = by Deborah Ellis =

This is the story of a young girl whose life changes dramatically when her father, the only male in her family, is dragged off to prison by Taliban soldiers. Parvana lives in Kabul, Afghanistan, where women and girls are not allowed to leave their homes without following strict rules. All women must wear chadors and long dresses that completely cover them. Women and girls are not allowed to walk outside without being accompanied by a male relative. The Taliban rulers have also forbidden girls to go to school. Parvana's well-educated parents were kicked out of their jobs and the family was forced to leave their home. The family has been living in one small room for over a year. Every day Parvana has been going with her father to the local market where he reads and writes letters to earn money for the family's needs. Because her father has lost a leg in a bomb blast, she is needed to support him as he walks. When her father is arrested for no apparent reason, the family slides into an even more desperate situation. They decide to disguise Parvana as a boy so she can sell things in the market and buy food for the family. One day Parvana meets Shauzia, a former classmate, who has disguised herself as a 'tea boy' in the market. The two girls discover ways to make more money for their families but both girls long to return to school. They at least want to improve their current situation. When Nooria, Parvana's older sister, is given in marriage to a family who lives in the northern part of the country, Parvana's Mother and younger siblings travel with Nooria to her new home. Parvana is left behind with one of her former teachers. When word comes that there is renewed fighting and bomb attacks in the north, Parvana wants to go to see if her family is alive. You'll have to read the book to see how this part of Parvana's life turns out. If you enjoy reading about Parvana's life in Afghanistan, then you'll be happy to know that this is the first of three books in this series written by Deborah Ellis.

This is a eye-opening and also an exciting book filled with the reality of what it must be like to grow up in a country that is at war. This is not a story set in a war time long ago. This story could be happening to young people in Afghanistan today. There are some parts of this book that seem shocking to us because we are not used to reading or hearing about people who are treated with no respect or dignity. I think it would be awful to not be allowed to go to school, or, to not be allowed to live your life the way you want to. It's probably very difficult for us to understand what it would be like to never leave our house and not even be allowed to look out the windows into the sunny streets. Parvana shows a lot of courage as she faces her day-to-day life on her own in the market. If she is 'found out' to be a boy, then it might mean severe punishment, or even death, for her. I think Parvana's bravery is remarkable for a twelve-year-old girl. I admire her determination to carry on and overcome her fears. She even manages to find friendship and some happiness in this terrifying world. Two things that keep her motivated are her strong dedication to her family and her father's belief in her. If you enjoy war stories with real life adventures and young people facing challenges, then you will enjoy this novel. I would give this book an 8 out of 10.

Review by: Ms. Lee