Reviews

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

emotional informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Misogyny

gertrudy's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

mdpbernal's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

ionamcewan's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A beautifully drawn tragic story but bizarrely ends in what feels like a cliffhanger 

julie_ann_harper_1633's review against another edition

4.0

Eye opening. What happens to the Pakistanis who did not leave? This book shows the reader what it is like to be a Pakistani girl and how hard they work to learn. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken.

jwinchell's review against another edition

4.0

I was struck this time by the mental health difficulties of Afghan people depicted in Parvana's first story: depression, agitation, varying responses to trauma. In addition to Parvana's 11 year-old world, which is the lens 6th graders read this for at my middle school, I was struck by the resourcefulness and the resilience of the women in this story.

bsmorris's review against another edition

3.0

A really good depiction of what Afghanistan was like under the Taliban. This book is aimed at young adult readers who probably know very little about Afghanistan, and manages to tell a compelling story while informing the reader both about Afghan culture and history.

madleb's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

kelleemoye's review against another edition

4.0

The Taliban has been in full control of Kabul, Afghanistan for years now. Because of this take-over, girls are no longer allowed to go to school, women must wear burqas when they leave the house only accompanied by men, and all females in general are pretty much stuck in their homes. The heroine of this novel, Parvana, wants more than anything to be a normal girl again, but for now she much be happy with going to the marketplace daily with her father. Even this small amount of happiness is taken from her, though, when her father is arrested for attending a university in Britain. With him gone, how are Parvana and her family going to survive without a male?

This book taught me about Afghan history and culture. I did not know the extent of the war and terror. I am grateful for Parvana and her family for showing me their life.

andreannechat's review against another edition

4.0

Beautiful and important. Will add to my classroom library.