The Breadwinner (Breadwinner Series, 1) Hardcover – April 9, 2001

I had been hearing about this book for a while, but being from Afghanistan myself and growing up during this war I didn’t want to read a book that brings back all the horrible memories. I wasn’t ready and I waited. Finally, last week I decided that I am ready and I want to read this book. I have only finished the first book so far and it’s a beautiful story. The author has done a fantastic job. The book is super easy to read and understand. The story is of a young courageous girl who helps her family survive. This is the kind of book I would read with or to my daughter. It’s a book that shows how girls don’t need to wait for a Prince Charming to save the day. This story is proof that girls are strong, courageous, loving and kind. It proves that anyone can do anything and pull through hardships if they put their mind and heart to it. I recommend this book to anyone above the age of 8. I can’t wait to read the next 3 books.

Thoughts: I honestly can't walk two feet without being stopped and having this book recommended to me. This went on for about three years before I finally had enough of this and purchased the Breadwinner. And boy, am I glad I did. No one is more up for female rights than I am (I've probably written about a thousand female empowerment stories), and so this book instantly appealed to me. I loved I Am Malala, so hearing that this was in the same vein was immensely exciting.The Breadwinner is the kind of book that really anyone can read. Your age doesn't necessarily matter, since this book is written in a way that can transcend from eight to sixty year olds. But the writing wasn't what made this book impressive; the sheer character of Parvana herself, and the story she takes us along, is completely mindblowing. Sometimes, I had to stop myself and reread a section because it thrust me into disbelief. The things women had to go through under the rule of the Taliban - and STILL have to go through -.... it's just heartbreaking. This book serves not only to make us, as kids, aware of this difficult topic, but also spurs us to want to get involved. I was completely gripped the entire time while reading this book, and by the end of it, I was speechless. While, at some points, this is not the most engaging book per se, it is still a fascinating story that kids of all ages will enjoy.

I am considering teaching this book in a remedial English class. The great points about this book mainly are its readability and the fact that Ellis puts in enough detail germane to the action of the plot, but almost no extraneous description, or details for details sake. If you look into Deborah Ellis, she seems to be a woman of action, and has raised literal tons of money through charity organizations for Women's organizations in Afghanistan.The action is fairly quick, and I read it in one sitting. Your typical high school student will not complain as each chapter is short, and the pages turn quickly. You very early become endeared to Parvana, the protagonist through her interaction with her family members. As the book progresses you feel the pangs to continue.A well written book for young adults. Similar to The Kite Runner.

This was a must read for our sixth grader... Who decided to tell us a week AFTER her first 5 chapter review was due.. thanks Amazon for super quick delivery.. she did alot of reading that weekend. She was not real impressed with the story said it felt... Unfinished and struggled with the actual point of the story. Yet for a child used to comfort it gave her a glimpse of the life other children live...

Eleven-year-old Parvana lives in Kabul, Afghanistan, under the Taliban, and this multicultural middle school book shows us what life is like when they're in power. She and her sisters can't go to school. They're not even supposed to go outside, and neither is their mother, unless accompanied by a man. Women and teenage girls must wear a burqa, which covers their entire body and face, except for the eyes.Parvana and her family used to live in a big house, but the daily bombing, which has gone on for years, has destroyed almost everything they owned. Now they live in one room. Her father supports them by reading and writing letters for uneducated people. Even this existence is threatened when the Taliban break in and arrest her father for the crime of having gone to school in England. "Afghanistan doesn't need your foreign ideas," they tell him as they drag him off to prison.Soon the family runs out of money and food, a desperate situation since Parvana, her mother, and her sisters can't be outside unless they're with a man. A neighbor woman comes up with an idea: Parvana can dress as a boy, because boys can come and go freely. She agrees, and wears the clothing of an older brother who died. Since she knows how to read, she earns money the same way her father did and becomes the family breadwinner.Then the family gets exciting news--Parvana's older sister receives a proposal of marriage from the son of old family friends. They live in north Afghanistan, where there are no Taliban. A journey is quickly planned, but Parvana can't go because the friends know she is a girl. Her family can't let her secret get back to Kabul.Parvana stays with the neighbor woman, but then bad news arrives: the Taliban have invaded the very city where Parvana's family went for the wedding. Now what will she do?This book was a fast and absorbing read. The writing style is simple but the story is so powerful I could hardly put it down, and the spirit and resilience of Parvana and her family were inspirational.Author Deborah Ellis visited Afghan refugee camps and talked with many girls like Parvana. She is donating the royalties from this book to Women for Women in Afghanistan, dedicated to improving the lives of women there. Read about current conditions in Afghanistan in this article.Reading level: 10 and up. Parvana, her mother, and her father receive beatings, but the description is minimal. The girl witnesses a public punishment where men convicted as thieves each have one hand chopped off. No gory details, but it is a shocking moment.

Inspiring, heartbreaking and gripping. Parvana's story brings a level of insight and humanity to the struggles of living under the Taliban, and Ellis's writing is clear enough that 5th grader could read it. I had only read it for a class assignment, but now I need to read the rest of the series!

My 8 year old daughter and I couldn't put this down and read it over 2 evenings. We enjoyed it so much and are desperate to know what happens next to the main character so we have immediately ordered the follow up books in the series. Specially wonderful for our all-female family to have a story of female heroics against the harrowing backdrop of the Taliban rule over Kabul. The story is extremely engaging - my daughter could relate closely to the 11 year old Parvana, and so thought provoking for a child becoming more politically and economically aware, as it focuses on a very basic problem - how to get money to buy food for an all-female household when females are not allowed to set foot outside their homes alone. This book has provoked all sorts of interesting discussions between my 8 year old daughter and I about gender equality, gender identity, the welfare state, corporal punishment, the current aims of ISIS/Daesh, and the difference between fundamentalist Islam and true Islam. I was serving with the UN in Kabul when my daughter was conceived, so I am very grateful to have this story as a prop to help my daughter understand why I was there, why it was important to be there, and what it was like.

As a teacher, I like to dip into children’s literature for ideas in the classroom. I genuinely enjoyed the story of this story and didn’t want it to end where it did. I like how the author has made it into a series that makes you want to read more and more about what happens to the family involved in the story. Also a very real and stark book which tells of the horrors that Afghan people faced on a daily basis under the Taliban regime. Very easy to read and follow for children and adults. The themes within the story could offer some very poignant conversations with young people.

Very moving book which is an eye opening read for children who live in a western society and can't comprehend life in a very different, but real, world so contrasting to their own. It is a well written book that is very impactful. My ten year daughter enjoyed reading it with me but we were both a bit surprised towards the end of the book when some truly brutal realities were introduced. It was quite a shock (dogs eating corpses in the street amongst other things) so something I think you should be mindful of before purchasing.

This book was recommended to me by a child in my class who said, ‘This is the most true book ever, you need to read it because then you’ll understand.’ With that review, I knew I needed to read it. And oh, I’m so glad I did. Not only do I now understand the particular child more, but I also have a greater appreciation for what life in other areas is like, which I am so thankful for.The Breadwinner has opened my eyes to what those who live in different societies face, and I feel far richer for it; everyone should read this book.

a young couragous girl who lives is a world where women are looked down apon,Parvana must try to survive after her father is takent to prison; personally the book was amazing and Ms Ellis has really shown us what is happening in this world. the book was so good, i couldnt put it down! i think anyone between 5 to 14 would enjoy this book as much as i did! -julia age 6 ( and a half )