The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

Reviewed by Aimee

Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Ratings Explanation

Violence:  Taliban soldiers burst into a home and attack the family.  The mother is beaten and the father is taken.  Parvana is beaten and her house is ransacked.  A soldier hits Parvana and chases her.  Parvana’s brother dies in an explosion.  There are mines designed to blow up children.  Soldiers bring prisoners out in public display.  They strap them down and cut off their hands and arms.  The soldier holds up a rope strung with four severed hands.  A girl tells about the Taliban entering her home and shooting her father and her brother.  Bodies were laid out in the street.  Parvana can hear a woman being beaten.  Parvana’s father returns home from prison beaten and sick.  Children dig up bones in a graveyard to sell.

Sexual Content:  Girls dress up like boys.  One girl is worried about her body changing which would make her unable to disguise herself.

Adult Themes:  There is war in Afghanistan.  The Taliban reigns with terror and death.  Parvana’s family lives in poverty.  Parvana’s mother sinks into a depression leaving the children to fend for themselves.  Afghanistan customs regarding women are discussed.

Synopsis

Parvana and her family live in the war torn country of Afghanistan.  Her home is in a bombed out apartment building.  When her father is taken to prison because of his education, Parvana and her family become desperate for money and food.  Because women are not allowed in public without a man, Parvana, her mother and sister devise a plan to get food.  Parvana cuts her hair and dresses as a boy.  She spends her days working to earn money to buy food for the family.

The story of Parvana and the plight of the people in Afghanisan is heart rending.  Although this book is set during the horrors of war, I was touched by the courage of Parvana, her family and the people around them.  I thought this was an insightful introduction to the war with the Taliban in Afghanistan.  The book is written with young readers in mind (ages 10 and up) but does have some violence and war situations that may warrant discussion with an adult.  As is usually the case after reading books such as this, I walked away with a profound gratitude for my country, my freedoms and those people who work and sacrifice to ensure those freedoms.