The Breadwinner By Deborah Ellis True and False

Parvana was not supposed to be outside at all according to Taliban's orders.

Parvana's mother was still allowed to work at a Kabul radio station.

Parvana's sister Nooria was allowed to go to her high school.

Parvana had to leave her sixth grade class due to Taliban's orders.

Parvana's life in Kabul has been marked by constant bombing and conflict.

The Taliban, who mean 'religious scholars,' have taken control of much of the country.

Parvana's father believes religion is about kindness, but he thinks the Taliban are not making Afghanistan a kinder place.

Despite fewer bombs, there is still a war in the north and many destroyed buildings in Kabul.

Parvana and her father sell their belongings to survive, including a false leg that was sold to a customer for a high price.

Street conditions make it difficult for women in burqas to navigate, but Parvana's favorite mountain remains a source of comfort and nostalgia.

Parvana and her father live in a damaged apartment building, with a long, damaged staircase and a water tank that often needs refilling.

Parvana's mother and sister often ask her to fetch water, which is a heavy burden due to the stairs and the size of the family.

The family's interactions are characterized by a sense of struggle and survival, with a strong sense of love and connection.

The father's stories of old Kabul and the family's laughter serve as a reminder of happier times and a source of hope.

Parvana, her mother, and younger siblings had a traditional Afghan meal, eating on a plastic cloth spread out on the floor.

Father was a history teacher before his school was bombed.

A tiny girl in a historical battle led the Afghan troops to victory, demonstrating the courage of Afghan women.

The Taliban unexpectedly entered the family home, causing fear and panic among the family members.

The soldiers accused Father of having 'foreign ideas' from his education in England.

The family huddled together in fear as the Taliban took Father away, with Mother shielding her children.

Nooria shared stories about Hossain, who was amicable and enjoyed playing games with her, despite her gender.

The family had a joyful time playing games and sharing stories together before the Taliban's arrival.

The Afghan meal was eaten at a dining table with chairs.

The Taliban entered the family home with prior notice and permission.

The soldiers accused Father of being a former member of the Taliban.

The family members were calm and composed during the Taliban's unexpected visit.

Parvana was one of the few literate people in her community and wished she could attend school.

Parvana's family had been displaced several times due to bombings and had lived in a small room in a single residence for some time.

A man had lost part of his leg and was injured in a bombing at a high school where he taught.

Mail delivery had recently resumed in Afghanistan after years of being disrupted by war.

The Taliban had ruled Afghanistan for a while and forbidden girls from attending school.

Parvana, a girl, was sitting with her father in a marketplace and helping him read letters for customers.

The marketplace was a quiet place where only women shopped.

There had been a long-lasting war in Afghanistan, starting before Parvana was born, and resulting in the loss of their family's possessions and larger living quarters.

Parvana helped her father read a letter for a customer who wanted to forget its contents.

The marketplace was a busy place where men shopped and various goods and services were sold.

Parvana's family had never been displaced and had always lived in a large house.

Parvana wished she could attend school but was forbidden by her family.

Parvana had thick, beautiful hair like her sister Nooria.

Parvana was responsible for fetching water despite her resentment.

The family had many belongings after the destruction of their previous houses.

The Taliban discouraged neighbors from spying on each other.

Parvana's mother and sister had many activities to do besides cleaning.

Parvana's mother sold their valuable shalwar kameez without considering Parvana's objections.

Parvana's family had a son named Hossain who died in a land mine explosion.

Parvana's sister Nooria was younger and contributed to the household chores.

Parvana often felt lonely due to their isolated lifestyle and lack of social interaction.

Parvana and Nooria lived in a large house with their mother and sister Maryam.

Parvana's family had a son named Hossain who died in a car accident.

Parvana's mother and sister had many other activities and were not limited to cleaning.

Parvana was allowed to walk in the streets without being fully covered according to Taliban's orders.

Parvana was hit by a Talib but didn't feel it because she was so angry.

Parvana's family had to sell their belongings to survive.

Parvana knocked over a pile of turnips while running away from the Talib.

Parvana sets up a letter-reading business in the market using her father's pens, writing paper, and her fancy shalwar kameez.

Parvana is instructed to introduce herself as her father's niece Kaseem if asked.

Parvana faces difficulty in the first hour of business as men in the market ignore her, making her feel vulnerable.

The Taliban soldier demands that Parvana reads a letter from his deceased wife.

The Taliban soldier is moved to tears upon reading the letter from his deceased wife.

Parvana offers to write a reply to the Taliban soldier's letter.

The Taliban soldier declines Parvana's offer to write a reply.

Parvana reflects on the Taliban soldier's human emotion, wondering if they could have feelings beyond being oppressors.

Parvana's reflection leads her to believe that the Taliban soldiers are incapable of feeling emotions.

Parvana returns home for lunch, reflecting on the day's events and the complexity of human emotions.

Parvana's father joins her for lunch, and they discuss the events of the day.

Parvana's letter-reading business is successful, and she earns a significant amount of money.

Parvana felt scared when she realized she had forgotten to cover her face with a chador while outside as a boy.

Parvana's mother was pleased with her successful shopping trip.

Parvana's sister, Nooria, encouraged her to continue wearing her father's clothes even inside the house.

Ali, Parvana's sibling, was crying and seeking attention from their mother.

Parvana's mother found it difficult to look at her after she returned from the marketplace.

Parvana's mother asked her to take her father's writing materials and blanket to the marketplace.

Parvana was excited about the idea of going to the marketplace to earn money.

Parvana felt light-headed and free as she walked to the marketplace without her hair or chador.

Parvana's father's shoulder bag was heavy and uncomfortable as she walked to the marketplace.

Parvana hoped to never have to do housework again if she could earn money at the marketplace.

Parvana's successful shopping trip made her feel confident about her ability to handle herself in the marketplace.

Parvana's head felt lighter without the weight of her hair or chador as she walked to the marketplace.

Parvana's family decided to turn her into a boy so that she could move around the market without being stopped by the Taliban.

Parvana was happy and willing to cut her hair to look like a boy.

Nooria, Parvana's sister, was the one who cut Parvana's hair to make her look like a boy.

Parvana's new haircut made her feel like a different person, and she liked her new look.

Parvana's mother sold their valuable shalwar kameez without considering Parvana's objections.

Parvana's mother and Mrs. Weera made the decision to turn Parvana into a boy without consulting her.

Parvana's new appearance made her feel more confident and ready to take on the role of a boy.

Parvana's family was very supportive and understanding of her feelings and concerns about the drastic change in her appearance.

Parvana's sister Nooria was envious of her new look and wished she could have the same haircut.

Parvana's decision to disguise herself as a boy was met with reluctance and disapproval from her family.

Parvana's new appearance made her feel more vulnerable and exposed in the unfamiliar role of a boy.

Parvana's mother and Mrs. Weera believed that turning her into a boy was the only viable solution for their family's survival.

Mrs. Weera was a physical education teacher before the Taliban made her leave her job.

Parvana's mother sold their valuable shalwar kameez without considering Parvana's objections.

Parvana's family had a joyful time playing games and sharing stories together before the Taliban's arrival.

Parvana's mother and sister had many other activities and were not limited to cleaning.

Parvana's sister Nooria was allowed to go to her high school.

The Taliban unexpectedly entered the family home, causing fear and panic among the family members.

Parvana's family had been displaced several times due to bombings and had lived in a small room in a single residence for some time.

Parvana's family had never been displaced and had always lived in a large house.

Parvana and her father sell their belongings to survive, including a false leg that was sold to a customer for a high price.

Parvana and her father live in a damaged apartment building, with a long, damaged staircase and a water tank that often needs refilling.

Parvana had to leave her sixth grade class due to Taliban's orders.

The Taliban discouraged neighbors from spying on each other.

Parvana and Shauzia plan to work together to make more money in the marketplace.

Parvana's father is coming back according to Parvana's belief.

Parvana and Shauzia plan to sell items off a tray in the marketplace.

Parvana and Shauzia have enough money to buy a tray and items to sell in the marketplace.

Parvana and Shauzia dug up bones in the cemetery to sell to a bone broker.

Parvana and Shauzia found a skull in the cemetery and used it as their mascot.

Parvana was worried about landmines when she went to the bathroom.

Shauzia reminded Parvana of her brother who had been killed by a landmine.

The girls were focused on making money and ensuring they were not disturbed while digging up bones.

Parvana and Shauzia worked quickly to unearth bones that were easily accessible due to the bombings.

Parvana and Shauzia's decision to dig up bones was met with reluctance and disapproval from their families.

Shauzia joked about landmines and the dangers they faced while working in the cemetery.

Parvana had to step inside a nearby ruined building due to a bathroom emergency and successfully avoided any danger.

The bone broker bought bones from Parvana and Shauzia for resale.

The girls made bundles of bones to sell to the bone broker.

The girls discovered a skull in the cemetery, which they used as their mascot.

Parvana and Shauzia laugh at the idea of a secret field hockey school in their apartment.

Mrs. Weera shares her plans to smuggle stories about girls out of the country for publication.

Nooria, a friend, expresses interest in teaching at the secret school.

Parvana receives a handkerchief from the Window Woman, and Shauzia shares news of a way to make money through bone-digging.

Parvana expresses concern about bone-digging but follows Shauzia to the site.

Shauzia shares her struggling home life, living with in-laws.

Parvana invites Shauzia to meet her family.

Mrs. Weera proposes starting a secret school for girls to learn.

Parvana and Shauzia discuss the possibility of starting a business.

Parvana and Shauzia, old classmates, walk and reminisce about school days.

Parvana and Shauzia laugh at the idea of a secret field hockey school in their apartment.

Mrs. Weera, Parvana's mother, expresses concern for Shauzia's education.

Parvana's mother was supportive of her decision to ask if their father would be taken to the stadium.

Parvana's days at home were spent coaching Maryam, learning mending from Nooria, and listening to Mrs. Weera's stories.

Parvana did not receive any criticism from her family when the bread ran out.

Parvana and Shauzia earn more money selling goods in the markets of Kabul than they did in the graveyard.

The stadium where Parvana and Shauzia decide to sell their goods turns out to be filled with Taliban soldiers executing prisoners.

Parvana and Shauzia witness the Taliban soldiers executing prisoners by amputating their hands in the stadium.

Parvana's family is very supportive and understanding of her feelings and concerns about the drastic change in her appearance.

Parvana takes a few days off to be with her family and recover from the traumatic experience at the stadium.

Parvana and Shauzia have learned to navigate Kabul and its people during their time selling goods in the markets.

The text provides a vivid depiction of the peaceful and prosperous conditions in Kabul under the Taliban regime.

Parvana's reflection leads her to believe that the Taliban soldiers are incapable of feeling emotions.

Parvana's family had never been displaced and had always lived in a large house.

Parvana's successful shopping trip made her feel confident about her ability to handle herself in the marketplace.

The Taliban had ruled Afghanistan for a while and forbidden girls from attending school.

Parvana and Shauzia decide to dig up bones in the cemetery to sell to a bone broker.

Shauzia and Parvana decided to keep all the money they earned from selling bones for themselves instead of giving it all to their families.

The money earned from selling bones was more than what Parvana made in three days last week.

Parvana hid the money she kept for herself in the bottom of her shoulder bag.

Parvana's mother was shocked and planned to stop Parvana from digging up graves and earning money.

Nooria supported Parvana and argued for her to continue digging up graves, as the family was in need of money for rent, propane, and fuel.

Mother eventually agreed to let Parvana continue digging up graves, under the condition she would share the details with the community through the magazine.

Parvana's family had been displaced several times due to bombings and had lived in a small room in a single residence for some time.

The Taliban discouraged neighbors from spying on each other.

Parvana and Nooria lived in a large house with their mother and sister Maryam.

Parvana's family had never been displaced and had always lived in a large house.

Parvana's family had to sell their belongings to survive.

Parvana had to leave her sixth grade class due to Taliban's orders.

Parvana's family decides to leave her behind when they go to Mazar-e-Sharif for her sister's wedding

Nooria's family will financially support her education and send her to university

Shauzia suggests that someone should drop a bomb on the country to start again

Nooria assures Parvana that everything will be fine after she moves to Mazar-e-Sharif

Nooria's family is not well-educated and will not support her education financially

Parvana is happy about staying in Kabul while her family goes to Mazar-e-Sharif

Parvana's family will be accompanied by a woman from their women's group and her husband as the official escort to Mazar-e-Sharif

Parvana receives small gifts from a woman named Window Woman through her blanket at the market

Parvana hears a disturbance coming from above her and is given a letter by a man

Nooria is getting married and will be moving to Mazar-e-Sharif where girls can still go to school

Parvana's family is leaving for Mazar-e-Sharif for the wedding, but they decide to take Parvana with them

Shauzia shares her dissatisfaction with life and suggests that someone should drop a bomb on the country to start again

Parvana's sister Nooria was the teacher at the secret school for girls.

The secret school for girls held only five students, including Maryam.

Nooria was allowed to leave her younger brother Ali at home to get a break from him.

The Taliban would close down any school they discovered, so the secret school had to be careful and held classes for only a few hours a week.

Parvana and her family left Taliban territory with only a few people in the truck, including Mrs. Weera and a women's group member.

Parvana spent more time with Shauzia and began to read her father's books during her free time.

Parvana met a woman named Kaseem who was pretending to be a boy to earn money and offered to help her by introducing her to Mrs. Weera.

Parvana returned home and discovered that Kaseem was a girl without a burqa, and she helped her hide from potential trouble.

Parvana got caught in a rainstorm and waited in a bombed-out building until it passed.

Parvana's father's stories of old Kabul and the family's laughter serve as a reminder of happier times and a source of hope.

Parvana and Shauzia witnessed the Taliban soldiers executing prisoners by amputating their hands in the stadium.

Parvana's mother was supportive of her decision to ask if their father would be taken to the stadium.

Parvana's family decided to turn her into a boy so that she could move around the market without being stopped by the Taliban.

Nooria was allowed to go to her high school.

Parvana's new appearance made her feel more confident and ready to take on the role of a boy.

Parvana, a girl, was sitting with her father in a marketplace and helping him read letters for customers.

Parvana finds Homa in a building and tries to comfort her, but Homa is inconsolable.

Mrs. Weera encourages Parvana not to give up hope that her family is alive.

Two days later, Shauzia convinces Parvana to come back to work in the market.

Homa hides in a closet and stays there for a long time, believing they will come back for her.

Homa recounts her experience of soldiers coming to her house, taking her father, brother, and mother outside, and shooting them in the street.

When she leaves the closet, she finds bodies of her family and others on the street and is forbidden to move or cover them.

Homa runs from building to building, avoiding soldiers and wild dogs, and eventually finds a truck to hide in.

She travels for a long time in the truck and eventually arrives in Kabul.

Parvana's father is released from prison, reunited with the family, and requires extensive care from Mrs. Weera.

Homa's family members were taken outside and shot by soldiers.

Parvana's father required extensive care from Mrs. Weera.

Shauzia convinced Parvana to come back to work in the market.

Parvana and the frightened woman were waiting in a building for it to get dark to return to Parvana's place together.

Parvana wanted to let Mrs. Weera know where she was, but the woman did not want to be left alone.

Parvana shared her dried fruit and nuts with the woman to help them think.

They decided to wait until it was very dark to leave and head back to Parvana's place together.

Parvana remembered Kabul as a city of lights, progress, and excitement before curfews and conflict.

They made their way through the dark streets, trying to avoid drawing attention to themselves, and almost encountered Taliban soldiers.

Homa, the woman, revealed her name and shared that she had escaped from Mazar-e-Sharif after the Taliban captured the city, causing Parvana concern for her family there.

Parvana's new appearance made her feel more vulnerable and exposed in the unfamiliar role of a boy.

Parvana's days at home were spent coaching Maryam, learning mending from Nooria, and listening to Mrs. Weera's stories.

The family members were calm and composed during the Taliban's unexpected visit.

Parvana's mother asked her to take her father's writing materials and blanket to the marketplace.

Parvana was one of the few literate people in her community and wished she could attend school.