The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis****

Realistic Fiction
　
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis is an interesting novel that helped me realize how families must really feel about war in Afghanistan. Parvana, the main character, is a young girl who must dress up as a boy after her father is arrested by the Taliban to make money for her family. In Afghanistan at the time, the Taliban did not allow women to go outside without wearing clothes that cover their entire body and face. Women could also not go out if they were not with a man. However, since Parvana’s father was arrested, her older brother had passed away, and her youngest brother, Ali, was just a toddler, she, her mother, and her sister could not go outside. This was a big problem, since the family now had no source of income. Her mother became depressed and the children began to starve. Luckily, a friendly neighbor Mrs. Weera came over to help the family along. She helped Parvana’s mother get out of her depression and coached the family, treating them like a team. Paravana now had to be the one to make money, no matter what it would take.
One day, Parvana’s sister Nooria was asked for her hand in marriage. The
family needed to move to get to the suitor’s home, but Parvana decided not to go. She stayed with Mrs. Weera. Unfortunately, Parvana soon met an upset girl who had run from the same town her family had just left to meet Nooria’s suitor. The Taliban had destroyed it, and Parvana had no idea if her mother, sister, baby brother, and baby sister were okay. A knock arrived on her door one night, and she was surprised to see it was her father. Two men had helped him get home since he was weak, but the fact that he was home and out of prison cheered Parvana up a lot. She was unsure of her future and family, but by being strong, she was a big help to everyone. Her bravery and curiosity definitely made this novel special.
Alana F.
Period 3