I hesitated to read The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis, knowing that it was the story of girl in Afghanistan. I was afraid it would be horribly depressing.
Parvana is a young girl living under the rule of the Taliban. She remembers when her family had a nice house, when she and her sisters attended school, and being able to shop for clothes and books. Now, under the Taliban, women and girls are forbidden to leave the house unless they are completely covered and escorted by a man. In order to make money her father sells things on the street along with a reading and writing service. Many people can’t read, so they pay him to read and write letters.
One night her father is arrested. The family has no way to make money, so they dress Parvana as a boy and send her out to read and write letters. Parvana is proud to be helping her family, but is also very frightened, particularly when a Taliban soldier wants her to read a letter. Parvana is surprised to find an old friend from school who is also dressed as a boy.
Parts of the story are hard to read. Many people have lost limbs in bombings. Since the women can’t go out of the house anymore, their husbands sell their artificial legs for money. Another scene has Parvana and a friend digging in a graveyard for bones to sell.
I think this story gives the reader a good idea of what daily life is like for the children of Afghanistan, without being unnecessarily gory or frightening. Parvana is a strong character, and the book ends with a message of hope. Lots of teachers are using this book in their classrooms.
The author traveled to Afghan refugee camps to research this story. All the royalties from The Breadwinner will be donated to Women for Women in Afghanistan, which is dedicated to the education of Afghan girls in refugee camps in Pakistan.
Also See:
The City of Ember – Jeanne DuPrau