Blog #3
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
This is the story of Parvana, an 11 year old girl who live in Kabul, Afghanistan. The setting is early 21st century following the takeover of the Taliban. Parvana learns and accepts what has to be done to help support her family and how to survive daily in the country. This story addresses social issues and conditions along with determination and perseverance.
The genre for this story contemporary realistic fiction, a story that is plausible, the conflict is clear. The characters in the story are believable in behavior and action and this is a multicultural story.
Motivational activities: Groups, individuals and split groups (male and female)
1- have students do a comparison of the life style of their country verses the lifestyle of Parvana’s
a. Are their laws or dangers for females being out in public (with or without being accompanied by a male family member)?
b. Does your country require females to dress a certain way- are they different from how men dress?
c. If so, why?
2- How would you feel if you live in the same environment that Parvana describes?
a. There are soliders walking around,
b. they live in a small room that has been bombed,
c. there is no running water
d. trips to the tap to bring water to the family must be done everyday.
e. How would you feel if you could not go outside at all?
f. What would you do to occupy your time?
g. Would you like to live the way Parvana has had to live?
This story was a good story that was actually a very terrible story. This focused on a 11 year old girl and the horrors she dealt with each day in her young life. From losing her home, to living in a constant nightmare of brutality and pain and in self sacrifice just to survive. I enjoyed the story and thank God that I live in the United States.
(Ellis) (Ellis, fis.edu, 196-2012)
This seems like a great book for children. Especially because it is about a different culture and I believe it can get the kids excited to know more about how things operate in different countries. I think class discussions would be an excellent idea. I also believe a good activity would be to get the kids to learn an Islamic word and define it and use it in a sentence. Give them a list of words and allow them to chose one. Have them do the research and present it in front of the class.
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