The Breadwinner Audiobook By Deborah Ellis cover art

The Breadwinner

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The Breadwinner

By: Deborah Ellis
Narrated by: Rita Wolf
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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 Difficult Discussions Explore the World Fiction Geography & Cultures Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Literature & Fiction Social & Life Skills Friendship
Heartwarming Story • Compelling Storyline • Distinct Narrator Tone • Eye-opening Tale
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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).

A Great Read With Your Daughter

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To begin with I really loved the reader Rita Wolf. Her distinct tone and style really brings the story to life. I realize now that this is the first book in a series and I feel compelled to continue with the subsequent books. Highly recommend this timely story of hope and hardship!

Heartfelt Story

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The beginning of the book launches you into the rising action and next thing you know the climax has passed and you are filled with heartwarming thoughts about the ending.

Great book

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

Amazing

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

I love the narrators voice

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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👑

Really interesting book!!

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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.

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

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

Sara's Thoughts

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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.

School project

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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.

Emotional read

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