Children’s book about dressing as a boy to survive during the Afghan Civil War
Some time ago I watched the film adaptation of this book without realising it was originally based on a book. I had really liked other films by the Irish animation studio that made it and was keen to try another of their films. When I found out that it was based on a book, I added it to my to-read list and recently discovered it was available through my library via the Libby app.
“The Breadwinner” by Deborah Ellis and narrated by Rita Wolf is a children’s book about a young girl called Parvana who lives in Kabul, Afghanistan with her mother, father, older sister, younger sister and baby brother. However, when her father is arrested by the Taliban, her family is left in peril with no male relative old enough to accompany the girls and women outside the home. With no other way to purchase food or earn money, Parvana is dressed as a boy and takes on the responsibility of earning money for the family and buying them food.
This is a short, impactful story about the danger and challenges for women and girls living under the Taliban in Afghanistan during the Civil War. Parvana is a courageous and resourceful child who has to take significant personal risks in impossible circumstances to help her family survive. Although this book is aimed at children, Ellis does not shy away from difficult topics and the violence experienced by Parvana and her community at the time. I really liked how the book explored different ways to be a girl and how Parvana and her older sister find an understanding despite their different personalities.
This book reminded me a lot of a book I read as a child called “Shanta” about a girl of a similar age who lives in a rural Indian village. Similarly, it was written by a white author and while both of them were very immersive and felt authentic (to a white reader who otherwise has no experience in the region), I think questions still remain about the importance of own voices in literature, the barriers that authors of colours continue to face being published and who should tell whose story. While I understand Ellis based her story on interviews of refugees, I think it’s good to balance out books like these with books by authors actually from the country or other authors growing up in repressive regimes.
A well-written and quick read, and an equally good film adaptation, but a good reminder to think about who gets to tell stories like these.
