The Breadwinner

By: Deborah Ellis

Narrated by: Rita Wolf

Imagine living in a country in which women and girls are not allowed to leave the house without a man. Imagine having to wear clothes that cover every part of your body, including your face, whenever you go out.

In this powerful and realistic tale, 11-year-old Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan's capital city during the Taliban rule. Parvana's father - a history teacher until his school was bombed and his health destroyed - works from a blanket on the ground in the marketplace, reading letters for people who cannot read or write. One day he is arrested for the crime of having a foreign education, and the family is left without someone who can earn money or even shop for food. As conditions in the family grow desperate, only one solution emerges.

Forbidden by the Taliban government to earn money as a girl, Parvana must transform herself into a boy and become the breadwinner.

©2001 Deborah Ellis (P)2008 Listening Library

A Great Read With Your Daughter

I enjoyed listening to this with my daughter - it allowed us the opportunity to learn about another country together and discuss our similarities (pesky siblings!) and differences (too many to list).

Amazing

Amazing Amazing Amazing Amazing Amazing So So So So so Amazing Amazing Amazing Amazing Amazing😄😄😄😄😄
I Love It So Much Historical

I love the narrators voice

This is a beautiful story of courage and strength. Very inspiring - especially for young women trying to find their way in the world. 

Really interesting book!!

This book is such a good book, I needed to read this book for an English essay. It has made it so much more easier listening to the audiobook then having to read all the book!!!😄
It also has such a good storyline and ending, so excited to hear the second book📗

Thank you for making this such a good and interesting book!!!
Abby👑

Sad story! Had to get used to the British accent!

This is a good book we had to read for school. The reader's British accent took me a while to get used to, but, it was a good audio book.

Sara's Thoughts

Great story and well done in the audio version. Liked by adults and children alike.

School project

Any additional comments?

I needed to read this for my Global History class and then tie it in with a study of modern Afghanistan. Being able to listen to the book while reading it helped me to understand all the different points being made.

Emotional read

This book gives us a glimpse of life in a country we tend to associate with many evils of this world. What a refreshing view to be reminded that the people of Afghanistan have lost so much in their own homeland and struggle with the day to day situations many of us take for granted.

Exceptional Listen!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

My 12 year old daughter chose this book and I would recommend to to adults and children alike.

What does Rita Wolf bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

The vocals were excellent. Great differentiation between characters, clear and concise annunciation.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, myself & my two daughters 12 & 10 listened while commuting 50 minutes to school and it made the drive seem like five minutes long and we all were eager to resume after school. This could have easily been listened to in one sitting.

Great story

This was a really good telling of a horrible situation. The characters real in my minds eye. it helps one understand the real horror the country is going thru.