Eleven-year-old Parvana's life used to be filled with family, school and friends. However since the Taliban came
into Kabul, her life has been severely restricted. In order for her and her family to survive after her father is unjustly
imprisoned, Parvana must dress as a boy so that she can go into the marketplace and make money for her family.
Deborah Ellis provides such a moving picture of life in Afghanistan for young readers. Parvana is presented as
a real and believeable young Afghan girl. She fights with her older sister, she thinks her mother and sister conspire
against her, she is headstrong and loyal to her family. Ellis opens the story by offering a "slice of life" picture
of what it is like to live in Afghanistan for Parvana and her family. There is no school, limited food, and no leaving
the house. Detail after detail the reader comes to sense the severity of their lives: Parvana's father sells his wooden
leg to help provide for the family; Parvana's father is unjustly imprisoned and the family can do nothing.
The theme of the novel is one of loyalty and survival and is relevant to today's times. The Taliban and country
of Afghanistan are familiar words in today's society, but The Breadwinner provides a different view of these words.
The evil of certain parts of society doesn't mean the whole country is evil and Parvana's family gives a realistic glimpse
into what life might be like so many thousands of miles away.
The setting is briefly used to show the perils of living in Afghanistan - such as the land mines or the girls getting
jobs as bone diggers.
Parvana's character is revealed through dialogue, through her own thoughts and feelings, and through her actions to help
her family. She is brave but scared; persistent but vulnerable. The story told is very engaging. It tells
a simple but powerful story. According to Huron, "The strength of this moving story is in Ellis'
ability to create a main character who does the kinds of things many girls her age do: she fights with her older sister and
she welcomes the chance to get away from the stifling boredom of being indoors all the time. But living in a totalitarian
state is an extraordinary experience and this is where Ellis takes her readers into new territory"
(2001).
Ellis, Deborah. The Breadwinner. Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre, 2001. ISBN 0888994192.
