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allonsythornraxx's review
3.0
15/03/18
I can't wait for my younger brother and younger readers in general, to read this. I definitely have to watch the movie soon now too. So glad I stumbled upon this at the library.
I can't wait for my younger brother and younger readers in general, to read this. I definitely have to watch the movie soon now too. So glad I stumbled upon this at the library.
ohsoyhappy's review
2.0
Okay. What the heck? How could you even end this graphic novel in such a manner? You wouldn't even consider it a cliffhanger. More like incompleted... We never find out if they family will reunite, if she meets up with her friend again, what other troubles she'll face... GAH. I suppose I need to watch the animated film in which this graphic novel was adapted from now.
mandastgeorge's review
4.0
My first graphic novel and I really enjoyed it. I loved how you could pick up on themes through illustrations. I was pleasantly surprised with this one!
addison_reads's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Heartbreaking, but hopeful. I really want to read the book now and watch the movie based on it.
A young girl must pretend to be a boy to help her family. Her courage is inspiring. I can't help but think that thousands of families in war-torn countries go through similar hardships daily and they shouldn't have to.
The artwork in this was beautifully done as well.
A young girl must pretend to be a boy to help her family. Her courage is inspiring. I can't help but think that thousands of families in war-torn countries go through similar hardships daily and they shouldn't have to.
The artwork in this was beautifully done as well.
emkoshka's review
3.0
When I was in Kilkenny, Ireland, back in May this year, The Breadwinner was about to be released as a film and I was able to visit an exhibition of drawings and stills. I'd never come across the novel before and wish I had. This graphic novelisation is too fast-paced and lacking in detail to enable you to feel a strong connection with the characters and their struggles. The ending also doesn't give you any closure or faith in a good outcome for the characters. An important story, but I feel that the original novel or film would be better ways to encounter it.
skrobisaurus's review
3.0
I saw this graphic novel on the shelf at the library and was intrigued, since the animated film adaptation is currently on my Netflix list of things to watch and this seemed like it would be a relatively quick read. (I wasn't aware it all stemmed from a novel of the same name, at this point.) I tried to prepare myself for the emotional labor that I was sure would accompany this-- reading about oppression and suffering is never easy, but it seems infinitely harder when your country is perpetuating it-- and finally dove into it.
It was alright. The artwork was stunning, it was a heart-wrenching story, and I learned more about Afghanistan and its painful history of occupation-- but this slim volume oversimplifies everything. I wanted to see it delve deeper (so as to elaborate on, well, pretty much everything) but condensing it to an 80 page graphic novel means that plot points seemed to breeze past without due attention. I'm torn on the ending:though it's definitely symbolic of the ongoing conflict to which the people of Afghanistan are subjected, it was a wholly unsatisfying place to end. Does the family get reunited? Does Parvana see Shauzia/Deliwar again? Where does the family go from here?
An important tale to tell but the shortness of the graphic novel is to its detriment. Hopefully it will encourage kids to seek out more literature on the topic of military control in Afghanistan.
It was alright. The artwork was stunning, it was a heart-wrenching story, and I learned more about Afghanistan and its painful history of occupation-- but this slim volume oversimplifies everything. I wanted to see it delve deeper (so as to elaborate on, well, pretty much everything) but condensing it to an 80 page graphic novel means that plot points seemed to breeze past without due attention. I'm torn on the ending:
An important tale to tell but the shortness of the graphic novel is to its detriment. Hopefully it will encourage kids to seek out more literature on the topic of military control in Afghanistan.
leaflibrary's review
3.0
Mulan, but crushingly depressing. This was an okay adaptation, but a little clumsy, especially in dialogue placement. I'd like to read the original and watch the film, plus know more about the history that may have inspired this specific story.
elna17a9a's review
3.0
I've never actually read The Breadwinner, so I can't compare it to the novel or anything like that. The art is nice - it looks a little computer generated to me (I'm not entirely sure what I mean by that, though - the edges are too smooth? Everything is a little too glossy and put together?).
It seems like it ends so incredibly abruptly. I appreciate that everything is uncertain in times of war, and you don't get clear answers, but this seemed set up to give you all that. Parvana makes a promise to her friend to meet her in twenty years, she's reunited with her father, her mother and sister don't leave... but nothing is wrapped up and it seemed to be leading to. How will the family find each other again? Her mother and her sister are two young women walking around outside the city alone, which is dangerous normally, but we saw her mother beat up earlier in the book for doing the exact same thing! And now that they have their father back, what now? He's still unable to work, and the city is getting dangerous for more than just women. I'm not sure if the novel ends like this as well (and I know there are sequels to the novel, so those probably answer some questions), but it's suddenness is a little shocking.