Reminders from Mrs. Dunne…
Hi, 5th graders! Don’t forget that your postings should consist of at least 6 sentences.
5R: You first entry is due on Tuesday, January 30th. You then must respond to 2 other postings by Thursday, February 1st. These responses should consist of 2 separate postings by you!
5S: Your first entry is due on Wednesday, January 31st. You then must respond to 2 other postings by Friday, February 2nd. These responses should consist of 2 separate postings by you!
I can’t wait to see what you have to say about The Breadwinner!
January 28th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
I thought this book is very interestin and kind of sad. I really don’t like the fact that women aren’t aloud to go into the village, shops, or anywhere without their husbands or a note from the husbands. I also don’t like the fact that women are beaten by the Taliban even if they didn’t do anything wrong. I was wondering why the Taliban don’t like women, what is wrong with them? Without women NONE of the Taliban would have been there. I thought Paravana was SO brave when she decided that she would dress up as a boy to save her family, I could not have done that because I would have been too scared.
Nooria is so mean to Parvana/Hossain! She always spits out rude comments. I really didn’t like it when she said “You look less ugly as a boy then a girl,” on page 69 because she wasn’t the one that had to go out in a dangerous world pretending to be someone you aren’t, and risking her life! I started to think she was going to turn nice when the father had just gotten into jail, but then when the mother and Parvana came back she was rude and snide again! I can’t wait to read the rest of the book!
Hayden
January 29th, 2007 at 11:49 am
So far I think The Breadwinner is a GREAT book. I’m not just saying that it is a great book. I do think some parts of it are pretty strange. One part is when Parvana talks about how people get whipped if they did something “wrong”. I put that in quotes because people get whipped for no reason it seems like. Say you see a women without a man, “Whip her!” is what you probably hear. I think it is absurd. Another part of the book I am mad at is the mother when she just sits on the toshack. Her children are starving and she is sitting on a couch for days feeling sorry for herself! The book is great though!
I can’t wait to read the rest!
January 29th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
This book made me feel strange. I’m glad I wasn’t there! It’s sad how people there had to keep moving when their houses were bombed. People even lost their legs and other body parts! Living there must be a nightmare. At least I’m a boy. I don’t have to stay home and I get an education. The Taliban aren’t the only problem for Afganastan. To be continued…
January 29th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
I like this book a lot, at first it was kind of slow but now it is very exciting. The fact that they took away their father (the only one legaly alowed to make money) and left the women on their own was terrible and vulgar. Parvanna (having to get a job) must feel very responsible but at the same time very scared, i would be very scared if i at 11 years of age had to make the family money. Also i think it is crude how Nooria is being a snob to Parvanna beause she has to make all the money when Nooria just sits in she house washing cups and stuff. Also Nooria doesn’t understand Parvanna is making money for way more than her own needs but their huge family. I am very excited to read the next half of this book!
Evan.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
I found the first half “okay”. I really do think it could be better. The auther uses good words to describe what he is saying. After a while when i got up to page 37 +… it did get a little bit better. I would never really want to continue the book if it did not have the story. I am not exatly sure when it took place . But i think it was around page 40-43…( where the story the father is telling to the two daughters, where it begings)… I also do agree with Hayden about how the women were treated. she said. . .
” I also don’t like the fact that women are beaten by the Taliban even if they didn’t do anything wrong. I was wondering why the Taliban don’t like women, what is wrong with them? Without women NONE of the Taliban would have been there. ”
(Hayden said that.)
I completely agree with the beating part… were they just board? And did this think it was fun? I can not wait to read the 2nd half of the book (Pp: 82+)
- Brad -
January 29th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
I like the book. I dont understand why the women cant go outside? Parvana is a very determind to make a change in her family and to make her mother try and be happy. The taliban is very crule and they could have a better and less violent place to live. As I was reading I wanted to keep reading when I reached page 82.
I dont understand why the talibs took Parvanas father? Why would they take him if he didnt do anything wrong? Do you think there is a reason that mrs. dunne made us stop at page 82 or not? There may or may not be a reason but i think there is because we are at the part where we get a feel of what parvana is going through, So now i think something might happen to Parvana.
Griffin
January 29th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
I think the first half of this book was remarkable! I can only think of one way to describe it:
SAD
Sorrowful
Awful
Depressing
Of course it was a very well writen book, but it was just well, awful! I couldn’t bear to write this book, who would?! I can’t even imagine what I would say if my mom just came up to me and said “Hey Honey, we have to make you look like a boy so that we can survive, it may be very dangerous though, or you could lose your life!” I wondering what was going through Parvana’s mind as her mother explained it to her.
I could not imagine what it would feel like to have your house bombed for almost the fourth time! This wouldn’t matter much, but I was just wondering why a bomb wouldn’t take out a whole staircase! Anyways, on page 35 there was a horrible quote that moved me. “You can’t truly be an Afgan if you don’t know someone in jail.” That just marveled me. How could there be so many people in jail. On page 28 and 29, there was a story, I don’t why, but somehow I think it will be somehow winded into the story later. I had to read it like 10 times to really get it into my head. So, pretty much my overall comment is, WOW, this is amazing, I can’t wait for more! I have the feeling something bad will happen…
Kira
P.S.- HOW COULD SHE MISS HER FATHER’S SNORING?! I CAN”T STAND MY DAD’S!
January 29th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
I liked the book! But the part I didn’t get was that Parvana and her sister would fight a lot. Only when Parvana and her sister were in a bad situation were they nice to each other. I thought it was very mean that the Taliban had to make very insane and mean rules, like all men have to grow a beard. That is very crazy. Also, I don’t like the rule that women can’t leave their home without a man. Also, the women had to be covered up from head to toe with cloth and the only way to see out was with tiny holes. I thought it was very mean that Parvana’s dad was arested just becouse he got an English degree. I don’t understand why they don’t just leave the country and go somewere else. I thought it was very clever though, that Parvana’s dad hid his English books in a cupboard behind a fake wall. I was very shocked when Parvana and her mom went to get her dad from prison, but insted of getting her dad they got hit with a stick. It is so mean that the Taliban made the rule that women can get hit with a stick. In the part of the story when Parvana and her mom got home, and her mom went to go to sleep on the bed and never got up until Parvana’s mom’s friend arived once Parvana got chased by a Taliban, it was like Parvana was the mom, even though the mom should be taking care of her children. I can understand that she is sad, but Parvana was with her mom, and Parvana is sad but Parvana is not just laying on the couch. No, Parvana is getting chased by Taliban for getting food for the faimly. In the story, it seems to me that Parvana is the mom. Even her sisters and her brother are very sad that their dad got in jail but they are being good. They are not just laying there on the couch. Also, I just don’t get it that when the friend comes they come back to order. Overall, I liked the book! I can’t wait until I can read the rest of the book!
Sarah
January 29th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I felt the book so far is terribly sad, because of the limtitions women are given. Not being allowed to go out without “permission” from their husbands, being beaten for every mistake. It drove me nuts how cruel Nooria is. She seems not to have any kind feeling for Parvana. She is just nasty! I thought there must be nice to her sister sometimes, but no. I think something will happen later in the book that will cause father to be released. At this point, Nooria will be nice. I also feel sorry for Parvana’s mother. Having her son die and her husband jailed, it’s no wonder she went into the state after they visted the prison. I really want to find out what happens in the second half!
January 29th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
I thought that so far the book is pretty interesting. What I found odd was that everyone was really hard on Parvana most of the time when she had to do a lot of work. When she had to take the part of father by selling things and doing the shopping she was scared, and her sister was mean about that. That got me mad because she didn’t have to be as brave as Parvana did. What also got me mad was the fact that the Taliban did some things that seem very irrelevent, such as making all men grow beards, telling people that they should spy on their neighbors, and that they had to paint their windows black. Those things in addition to the horrible way they treated woman, made me angry. This book really forces you to think about how horrible life was in Afghanistan at that time.
January 29th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Hayden,
I could not agree with you more. I think Nooria is quite the snob, and I would like to know if I am wrong for wondering how she got to be a snob if her parents are so nice. I hate how highly Nooria thinks of herself. for example what she said in this conversation,
“You’re not cutting my hair,”(Parvana)
“How else would you look like a boy?” (Mother)
“Cut Nooria’s hair…” (Parvana)
“No one would belive me,” (Nooria)
she examines her so called “pefect body” fondly
“I’ll look like that soon” (Parvana)
“you wish” (I don’t even have to say who said that, it’s so obvious)
(page 65)
I feel very bad for Parvana and how she has to cope with everything. I think she will get caught by the Taliban but who should the soldier be but her father be forced to work as a Taliban sodier.
I have a couple more questions though. First what would you do if you were Parvana and your house got invaded by the Taliban and your father was captured? Why would you do that?
Also, If you and Parvana swithched lives how do you think she would handle your life, but how would you handle her life?
I look forward to reading the rest of the book and hope everyone else likes the book!
Dborah
January 29th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Ava,
I totally agree with you! It is pretty reasnable that the mother was so depressed. Shes’s probably just sick of it all! I don’t blame her! I’m sick of it all and I’m the one reading the book! I hate to keep agreeing, but I also agree that the Father will get out of jail. It is almost always a happy ending, exept for Freak The Mighty. Since this is a very disturbing book (it was probably meant to be that way!) it could very well also have a sad ending. I supose we just have to wait and find out! AHHH!
Kira
January 29th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Hi everyone,
I thought the first part of the book was really good. The only sad part was when Parvana’s dad got arrested.Also when Parvana had to cut of her hair just to go to the store nd outside to get the family some food. The only thing that really annoyed me was that Nooria did not have to be as brave as Parvana had to and she did not have to cut of her hair and stuff like Parvana had to do. My favorite part of the first half of the book was either when Parvana’s mom ws cutting of her hair or when she went to the prison where they thought Parvana’s dad was. Mtke y favorite quote in the book was “take care of the others.” That ouote was said by Parvana’s dad when he was being taken away. I thought the book was making you really think about what Afghanistan is like when Parvana was living there.
Paige Crotty
January 29th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Sarah,
I totally and all out agree with you. Parvana acts like the mother! The real mother needs to get her act together and get everything back in order without her friends help! I mean she has four kids to take care of, and what is she doing? Laying on the couch sleeping for four days!!!!! When Nooria keeps saying rude stuff to Paravana she should think about it first! She doesn’t realize that Paravana is saving the family! Nooria is just sitting around and doing dishes, not even getting water or going outside! About all those insane rules; I think they just made them up because they had the power to. I also think it is absurd that the women can only go outside with a cloth covering them head to toe and only tiny holes for them to see out of!
Hayden
January 29th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Kira,
I so agree with you! If my mom looked at me and told me i had to save our family and risk getting killed, i would look at her and say “ARE YOU MAD?”
I think to answer your question about the stairs. I think that the bombs were aimed at another building. Or were the ones in the ground, and some of the bomb came into the building and ruined the steps.
That quote that you mentioned “you can’t truly be Afghan until you know someone in jail,” just made me think. When I had thought about i was kind of disgusted. Just the thought that so many people were in jail, it makes me tense up as if someone i know will be taken to jail any moment! I kept thinking about it and then this thought popped into my head: So many innocent people must be in that jail, it’s not like today in America where most people in jail actually comitted a crime,, and are guilty!
Hayden
January 29th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
I thought the first half of the book was sort of boring in the beginning but got exciting at the end. I think the Taliban in really mean. They even beat kids! I felt sorry for the man who had Parvana read the letter. I’m sure Parvana felt the same thing when her father was taken away. I also think that Nooria has no sensitivity for other people! Especially when Parvana came back from selling and said, “Father could have made more money.” Will she ever be nice to Parvana? She should at some point because Parvana can at any time decide to stop getting food. I look forward to the rest of the book.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Hi everyone,
I thought the Breadwinner was very fasinating book to read for the first half of the book. My favorite part was when Paravena father goes to jail from the Tailban. In the book I think that it is going to be ahappy ending because her father is going to get out of jail and Paravena is not going to get caught by the Tailban. This passage reminds me of Willy Freeman because she dresses up as a boy to help her family. I also think why wouldn’t the Tailban let them raed books? I hope everybody is enjoying there read of the Breadwinner.
from, Sean
January 29th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Deborah and Hayden,
I do strongly agree with you that Nooria is a snob. Howeve I think you might be wrong Hayden when you talk about that one inpaticular quote on page 69 because after that the author puts “If Mother started remebering Hossain, she’d just start crying again.” It might not be the best thing to say, but she did have the right to be rude in that case. That’s just my opinion, feel free to disagree, anyone. I thought it was starnge in the begining, because it sounded like Parvana were friends. “Where ever Parvana went,Nooria went with her.” Weird how I later found out they were sisters!
Kira
January 29th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I think this book was slow and sad until Parvanas mom gets up and says they need Parvana to get food and money. I think this because they talk about how the girls and women were kicked out of their jobs and schools. It also tells how Parvanas homes got smaller and her family gets poorer.This part kinda of gets the book going because Parvana gets a good feeling and gets a little money the first day of selling. I extremly dislike Nooria she’s always torturing her sister. I don’t like her also because Parvana comes back every day tired and Nooria is such a mean little snob to her! I don’t think the father is a main character because he gets “stolen” by the Talibad on page 30-31. I think the father was just someone to show how their life was and then show how it will be with Parvana as the “man” of the family. By this I mean Parvanas family may never see him again. Two of my predictions of the ending are the Talibad
is defeated or Parvana keeps doing her job and eventually Maryam does what her sister before her did.
Peter.
January 29th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I am really liking The Breadwinner so far. One of the reasons that I like it so much is because the author is very discriptive. Also, I think the characters in the book are very interesting. I can’t believe that the taliban made little girls wear the chadors. I didn’t get why Parvana’s sister was so grumpy, though. The taliban was a hard time, and I think that Nooria’s attitude was making it harder on Parvana. One part I thought was pretty odd was when it said that Parvana’s dad sold his fake leg for money. I also thought the breadwinner was sad. Like when it said that bombs were a part of Parvana’s whole life! I wrote in the book that I would be terrified if I was Parvana. It was also sad when Parvana’s dad was put in jail, but I think he will get out soon. (or at least I hope so!) I would not really like it if I were Parvana on page 65 either because I would not want to have my sister maching me while I was doing something that I didn’t want to do. I would be scared and sad (about my dad) and I would not want my mean sister doing what she does best! (Being mean) At the first part of the book, I thought that Parvana was kind of rude for being so snotty about not being at school. Even though she didn’t know about the taliban, she was acting like she was un-aware of everything that was happening around her. I bet that if Parvana could go back in time, she would fee the same way as Nooria. But I guess I would fell the same way if I had know idea what was going on.
January 29th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
I agree with Hayden. Even though I’m not a i still think it is kind of stupid not letting women go outside without a man or a note from a man. I also agree with her becuase in another note i wrote i said people or women for the most part get whipped for no reason. They say they whip them because they are breaking a rule, but half the time it seems like they’ve done nothing wrong. I think Hayden might have thought about this because she is talking about how people get whipped for no reason, in the book it said that if a women was shopping inside the shop the shopkeepers were whipped. Now I’m kind of going back on what i said i think it is stupid what women get whipped for but in a case like this i think the women should be whipped no the shopkeeper, the women came in the shop! I still think it is stupid what people get whipped for along with Hayden and probably many other people in our classes or people who have read this book.
Nick
January 29th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
I really like this book , but when the father was taken away it got me more frustrated with the taliban. When Parvana had to get a job it made her feel like she had the most responsiblity in the whole family. When ever Nooria made Parvana do most of the work I told myself that Nooria should be pulling her own weight. Also when Parvana started her job she got money by saying”give me whatever you want to give me.” but then she started to bargen with the people.
Even when her father was there she still had to go with him to work. It also got me more caught into the book when they stould up to the soldiers. I can’t wait to find out what happens next in the second half of the story.
January 29th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Griffin,
I agree that it was stupid for them taking the father but they did have a reason, they didn’t like that he had had an edjucation because they don’t want anyone being smart enough to get them out of power. That is why they closed the schools. One thing i don’t get about them taking him is how did they know he was well edjucated? Also, why did they destroy there stuff when they took him away. Now that the father is gone i am excited because Parvana is being a man!!! Parvana is the onlyone who could do this, no one else in our grade could do it or in this book. You would have to be so scared while doing this. When she read the note i was like “Oh my gosh, is she going to run!” I felt better when the Talib caller her boy and she read the note fine. It was wierd when she read the note having the Talib cry, it made me think, “Wow, maybe they aren’t all bad.” Then again, who knows what he has done in his life.
I hope this helped you understand more Griffin and anyone else who was wondering the same thing.
Nick
January 29th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
So far I think the book is pretty good. The book makes me feel sad and grateful. It makes me feel sad in the sence of how poorly women were treated in Afghanistan. This book also makes me feel really grateful that I own a nice house,and go to a nice school,and well taken care for. Unlike Parvana’s family where she had a one room house, she was very poor, and had very little education. When I picture this happening in makes me feel really, REALLY sorry for the women who had to go through this time! I just can’t imagine how hard it was to live life with hardly going outside! It’s almost a scarey feeling!
January 29th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
So far, I think the most interesting parts of The Breadwinner are the stories about Afghan history. I think this because it is amazing how Afghanistan keeps getting taken over, but later kicking the invadors out each time. I think it is sad that Parvana’s dad got aressted and also that she has to do all of the work at her house. A question I have about the book is why Parvana’s older sister is so mean all of the time. I also wonder why Parvana’s family sleeps a lot. I think it is because the Taliban wouldn’t let them do much so they slept to pass the time. So far, I think the book is really good and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Ben
January 29th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Kira,
Why Parvana misses her dad’s snoring is because she doesn’t feel safe anymore. Her dad’s snoring kind of reassured her that she was some what safe
Also my dad’s snoring is awful too!
January 29th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
I think the book is really good, but it is very sad that everyone lives in fear of each other. The taliban really had an awful rule over thier people and they arrested Parvanas father for not much of a reason. All they said was he went to a collage in england and arrested him for it. The book also shows you that the taliban aren’t all heart less goons. In the book when parvana starts to get customers she is confronted by a taliban and he tells her to read the note and starts to crying so they can’t be all bad. As I was reading I realized that they was never a society that took away mens rights. For example the taliban took away womens rights but never took away mens right as much. i cannot belive how crule the taliban are to women they are people to not just garbage. they would beat them and ruin they lives. they couldn’t even go out side with out thier husband our a note from thier husband or a note from thier husband. I can’t even think about wifes to husbands who think the taliban are doing good. Thew last thing is I can’t belive that parvana went from weathy to poor just because of the war. Thier lives are compeletly ruined because of the taliban. They used to have a mandson, but all thier houses got bombed until they lived in a one room apartment. The book is very very good, but it encourges you to stay out of afganistan.
Willy
January 29th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Ava I agree and I don’t agree with you. I thought the book was kind of good but I can’t belive the tariban treated girls unfaerly none of them would be there if it was not for women.
And Hayden and Deborah I totally agry with you to if I had to do somthing really dangeris I would not like it if older sister said you look less ugly as a boy than you do as a girl. And she is 17! What a snob. At laest she got a little bit beter after the dad went to Jall . And why is it always them fiting not the smaller ones?
Is sombody else beside me wondering why the taiban “his” chest. And why he cares so much about his whif so much?
I can’t wait to read the rest of the book I hope it is not sad like the beging.
January 30th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
I think it is a really good book. It began to get better and had more action in it when the father got arrested. (Not saying that it was a good thing that the father got arrested.) I think it is a really bad life style to live for women. Especially when the Taliban were hitting Parvana and her mother when they went to go try to free the father. When i got to the part that they gave up because they got beaten very bad, I was wondering what they would do because none of them were going to be able to go outside without a man. They were clevor enough to make Parvana look like a boy. She probably felt really bad when her mother had to cut her hair and everything but she ended up to like it. I was amazed that when she went out to take over her fathers job that no one noticed that she was a girl.
January 30th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Brad, I agree with what you said about the book. I agree that the father telling thew story about the two girls really helped you know what is going on in the story. I don’t agree that they were board when they were beaten the women in the streets. That is why I don’t agree with you and I do agree with you.
January 30th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Response to Willy:
I agreet with you willy. About everyones lives. you said…
“but it is very sad that everyone lives in fear of each other. The taliban really had an awful rule over thier people and they arrested Parvanas father for not much of a reason.”
(Willy said this.)
I really do agree. If everones lives were not in fear of others ( the Talaban). . . tThen everyone would be happy and eveyone would not end up shy. People would get along alot better and the woman cound go back to school.
January 30th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Sean , I agree with you and I don’t agree with you. I do agree that it is a good first half of a book . But I don’t agree with you that it was good that the Taliban took the father away from the family was good part of the book. I do think that it was cool when Parvana got a job and the Taliban can’t get her.
January 30th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Hayden,
I agree with your commment! The only part I do not agree with is that
“Without women NONE of the Taliban would have been there.” I get what you are trying to say but I don’t think women were didn’t have the education back then. Unless they had a good education they probably, then they proably they could run their own country. Also about Nooria being rude I agree but also she is probably under lots and LOTS of stress! I mean she is basicaly the mother of the family. I know how my mom gets stressed A LOT! It must be a hard life to live!!!!!!!!
January 30th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Jackson, I also thought it was really mean for Noorina to keep telling Parvana do all of the work. After all, Noorina was the oldest and Parvana mentoined that in the book so I thought that that ment that she should do all of the work. It ws probably really hard for Parvana to do all of the work by herself. And the fact that she had to become a boy.
P.S.- sorry for all of the posts, this computer is so stupid. (if they appear unless Mrs. Dunne Deleted them)
January 30th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Peter,
I politly disagree with you about the father. I think he is important to the story because he is the reason for Parvana’s whole issue. I believe the only way the book could end properly is if the dad comes home. I do not think the book could end with the Taliban being defeated because that would not make sense. It has nothing to do directly with the family.
Ava.
January 30th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Alev, I agree with you about Ava’s comment. I also liked the book and I thought it was also sad. I thought that Nooria was such a snob for dissagreeing with EVERYTHING that Parvana said. I felt so sorry fofr Parvana when she said “You were such an ugly baby” to Parvana. And I am also wondering why the Taliban didnt go into his book chest. I cant wait to see what happenens next!
January 30th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
The Breadwinner is a fascinating book to read. I never really thought of what it would be like to be living in Afghanistan at the time the Talibain were coming into power. It is hard to comprehend their treatment of women. It seems truly disgusting to me that the women were beaten if they showed their face in public! Those long burkas were totally ridiculous. I cannot imagine my mom putting up with having to stay in the house unless she had my dad’s permission to leave. I feel really bad that Parvana cant go to school anymore. It is good to know that she had already learned how to read and write. It is really sad that she has to dress in her brothers clothes to go and buy food. I can’t help but wonder if she is going to get caught and beaten.
January 30th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Jane,
yes I belive Parvana is under a lot of stress. imagine to have to cut off all of your hair just to feed the family. now that is one big sacrifice! the book makes me sad about how the woman were treated. one good point though is that it makes us girls very grateful that we live in america, and are treated equally, and that we have religeous freedom. that’s why we live in America. but the thing is that these people don’t have the chance to leave afghanistan.
PS- my dad snores really bad too
January 30th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Jessica,
I agree with you about how mean Nooria is. Nooria is probably mad because she knows the freedoms she used to have, wereas Parvana doesn’t remember. Also, Nooria could be jealous of Parvana, because she can go outside with their father. Nooria is undoutably frustrated, and she can’t take it out on her parents, because that’s something you don’t do. She can’t be that mean to the younger children because you don’t yell at little kids. THat leaves Parvana.
The Taliban soldier didn’t find the father’s book stash because Parvana bravly distracted him.
Ava
January 30th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Peter,
I agree with you that the beginning of the book was kind of boring until Parvana had to become the breadwinner finally. I also agree with you about Noorina always being mean. But they don’t really mean that to eachother probably. They are just sisters. I don’t agree with your prediction though. I think that they will eventually free the father in the end.
January 30th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
At first I thought that I would not like this book, but I think the book is great! I can not wait to read the rest of the book. I was sad when Parvana was dressed as a boy when the man from the Taliban asked her to read him the note. She wondered if the Taliban had another side to them- a side that was senstive and sad. I think it is because he is treating her as a boy not a girl! I do not think it is fair how they were treating women. What do you guys think?
January 30th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Kira,
I think you are right! I didn’t know how I would describe this book. It is both SAD AND SCARY! I think it would be so scary to be Parvana. In the begning of the book I thought that I would want to be her if I were there. I do not know what I would do if my mom told me that I had to be a boy to save my family. I think that I would turn around and say no! I would never go outside after being chased by the taliban and whipped by them! It is so descriptive that I had trouble writing anything in my book. I would put my pencil on the page and then be so anxious to read the rest that I wouldn’t write anything.
I hope you alll like the book! I can’t wait to read the rest!
~Emma
January 30th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
I wonder if Parvana’s dad will get out of jail. I sure her will, this is a children’s book. There is always a happy ending. I also want to know if Parvana will get caught as a girl. Why dosen’t Parvana wear a burquas? Is it because she looks younger than she is because she is short? I am interested to know why a member of the Taliban would be sad because his wife died. I thought the Taliban did not respect woman. I thought it was weird that Parvana’s mother was so calm about getting her husband out of jail. She said, “Let’s go get your father out of jail,” like let’s go to recess. It is even weirder (I know, weirder is not a word. I had to use it) that Nooria is so mean to Parvana. It seems like she is very nice to other people. I only have one connection to another book. I am going to connect this book to The Bridge to Teribetha(TBTT). In both The Breadwinner and The Bridge to Teribetha, a girl acts like a boy. In The Breadwinner, Parvana is forced to be a boy. In The Bridge to Teribetha, she just acts like a boy. I can’t wait to read the next half of the book.
January 30th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
I agree with Evan about the part that the book started off slow but then got really exciteing later on. I also agree with Evan about wondering why Nooria is such a snob all of the time. An example of this is when the Taliban came to take Parvana’s dad away. Parvana got beaten trying to save her dad’s
books while Nooria was curled up in a ball. I think that Parvana was being brave and Nooria was freaking out and thinking about herself. This book got really good and I can’t wait to read the second half!!!!
Ben
January 30th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Hi Nolan,
I agree with everything you said. I love the first half of the book and i thought the best part was when Either Parvana’s dad got arrested or when Parvana’s mom was cutting of Pairvana’s hair so she could be the boy in the family and go out and get al the food for the family. I think that was very nice for her to do that for her mom and the rest of the family. I think that in the next part of th ebook either someone is going to findout htat she is a girl. Got to go Buy! Buy!
Paige
January 30th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Hayden: I agree with you that the book was very interesting. I also don’t get why the Taliban doesn’t like women. In the part of the book when Parvana was reading the letter to a Taliban man, when Parvana finished reading she saw the man cry. So if the men cry if their wife gets hurt (for example, getting hit by sticks), why would the Taliban make up the rule? Also, I think Parvana was VERY brave when she had to cut her hair and dress like her dead brother Hossain. If Hossain was there, they would not be in this kind of a situation because Hossain would be working for the faimily and since he wasn’t a girl he could be let outside. I also agree with what you said about when Nooria was making all these rude comments about Parvana having to dress like a boy, and she wouldn’t be saying them if she were in that situation. Overal I liked the book.
Sarah :^)
January 30th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
So far I think the book is fabulous. This story made me feel really lucky that I have a loving family and a safe family. The story made me feel this way because there is not a Taliban and there are not bombings. As I read the story my thoughts were whats going to happen next constantly. This book is one of those books you just can’t put down. During the story my feelings changed dramatically from happy to sad to mad constantly. My feelings changed because of the way the book was written with its intense craft in writing. I think Parvana is the most important character because I think she is the narrator and the narrator tells their life from their point of view. While reading this story I found a connection between another book. This book really touched me and so did the book “So Far From The Bamboo Grove.” Both of these books had the same vivid description of pain as if it were happening to myself. During some parts of the story I thought there was a little too much detail that made no sense. The book so far is great and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
January 30th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
i agree with jackson,
why does she give the talib a choice of price after she had gotten beaten by them and then when a normal man came by she barganed with him?
January 30th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
a question to seans entry,
why was your favorite part when parvanas father gets taken to jail?
January 30th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Hi everyone,
I thought that the first half of the book was very very good. my favorite part about the book was when parivar dressed up as a boy. I also thought it was sad when the dad got arested for no reson. I also thought that when the mom got beated it was for no reason. I also thought when the she read the leater to the person it is going to efect her. I can’t wait until the second half of the book.
January 30th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I thought that this book was very interesting. Also it is very sad, especially when the father was taken by the Taliban. It was really cool when she cut off her hair and became a boy because how many kids get to do that in there life. My favorite part was when Parvana describes herself while she is in the shop with her father because she is sitting there saying how she is nothing and she is invisible when she is really isn’t. In this story the Taliban are all big and scary to the people of Afghanistan, except the part when Parvana reeds the letter to the Talib about his wife. Besides the bombs, guns, fighting, and the Taliban it is a really great book so far.
January 30th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Hi Sarah,
I agree with a couple things you said. I mean i agree with everything you said. I just don’t know why they went to find their dad and instead they get hit by a stick and get really hurt. I thought the book was really good besides those parts. By the way right now i can feel how much that would hurt. I also think that Nooria is kind of a brat and snob because she gets everything she wants. I can’t wait until we can read the next set of chapters.
Paige
January 30th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Kira: I agree with your comment about how the book was a well wrirten book because the book was a well written book the author made me feel like I was right there with Parvana’s family and life. When you wrote about if your mom told you that you were going to be a boy, I would have probably have said no. You are right about the bomb not taking out a whole staircase. It was probably because back then they might not have had the objects and materials that our bombs have that make them blow up more objects and people. I was very confused about that part when the book said ‘You can’t truly be an Afgan if you don’t know someone in jail.’ I had to read that over again to get the understanding about it. Overall, it was a good book!
Sarah :^)
January 30th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Responding to: Jessica
I know from reading your blob that that no one likes that girl Nooria because every time she is talking with talking with Parvana they start fighting like two snobby sisters. The only other person I know that does that with their sister is me but I am not a girl so someone want to tell me what sisters do when they fight?
January 30th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Hi everyone,
How do think the book is so far? Well I think the book is really good so far. I can’t believe that Paravena actually cut her hair off for her family. I wonder if paravena is going to get arrest? In my opinon the Taliban is being so cruel over really nothing because books aren’t threatig at alll. I wonder if the Taliban is going to release Paravena father from prison? Welll I hope the second half of the book is as good as the first half.
January 30th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Hello everyone,
I argee that Paravena is taking the responible job, but Nooria is being a lazy snob. I think the oldest should do the job. It must be rough for the family because the father is in jail, but if Paravena gets caught then both will be in prison. This reminds me of blacks and whites becaus ehow everybody is treted and the lanuage. How the Taliban treats the people it seems like it is a people from back then with whips. I hope everything works out for Parravena family works out.
January 30th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
I agree with you Willy it is pretty awful that they all live in fear of other families. I also agree with you on how the book shows that all of the taliban weren’t heartless goons. I also agree that the Taliban were way to mean and treated the women like garbage. I also agree with you on how bad it was when they would beat them and ruin the womens lives for no reason. I also agree that it was absurd to not let women go outside with out a note or their husband. My last agreement with you is it doesn’t make sense on hoow Parvana got poor because of the war.
Peter.
January 30th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Responding to: Nolan
You and Jackson are right why should Parvana be doing all the work when Nooria is the oldest? I am the oldest in my family and we all share the chores in the house.
January 30th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Quintin,
I toatly agree with you. Ecpacally when you said it would be like a living nightmare. this book also made me feel strange. I am gladI am a boy also. i still can’t belive that people lost their legs and body parts. I would never want to go there also.
January 30th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Sean I also think the breadwiiner is a fasinating book so far. I also thought the Taliban was way to mean. I disagree with you on thinking the father will come back. Like I wrote in my entry I think he was a sub character to show how Parvanas life was. I think I have the answer to your question. I think it was so the people couldn’t learn about ways to over through the Taliban, or make find away to leave.
Peter.
January 31st, 2007 at 7:18 am
Sean,
I argee with you. I am wonering also why they din’t let them read books. I agree with you that the father will get out of jail and Parivar won’t get coaught. I alo think the Breadwinner is a good book. I also thought this book was like Will Freeman. i can’t wait until the second half of the book.
January 31st, 2007 at 10:52 am
Ava,
I agree and disagree with you. I don’t think the fact that woman have no rights is sad, but rather disterbing. I couldn’t agree with you more about Nooria. It seems like she is “nice”(Mrs. Dunne I used nice) to everyone except Parvana. I think it is weird that Parvana tthinks the Taliban government will end in a few days and she will be able to go to school again.
January 31st, 2007 at 10:57 am
Hayden,
I completly agree with you. If it wasn’t for woman, none of the Taliban would be there. I think it is almost funny(not ha ha! funny) that woman have to have a note from their husband to go outside. They’re not in Kindergarden! I think it is so weird that when Parvana went to the market as a girl the member of the Taliban asked her “Where is your father, where is your husband”. She is too young to be married, and too short.
January 31st, 2007 at 11:14 am
Rebecca,
I agree with you because I do not think that is sad but more disterbing. It is also sad but mostly disterbing. I would hate to be a women onder the order of the Taliban! Could you imagen being whipped! It would hurt! And not being able to say stop! Parvanna is so brave because in the market she did yell STOP! I do not think that I would be able to ever do that! I have trobble even standing up to an adult! Do you think you could stan up to the Taliban?
January 31st, 2007 at 11:20 am
Jared, Even though Parvana is not the oldest and Nooria is, Nooria and the mother can not go outside. If they did they would have to wear their burquas. They would trip and fall. They might also be whipped by the Taliban!
January 31st, 2007 at 11:30 am
Rebecca I agry with it was really wired that the taribam was crying . it he cares so much about his wife why is he a taribn. Nooria is so mean to her . And did the mother really think that going to the jall and begging was a good idea? But Idon’t agea with you when you realated it to the brig to taribthea the gail is not forst to be a boy and evry one knows she is a girl.
January 31st, 2007 at 11:37 am
Jessica i agry with you parivan would probly more confidint if nooria was not being so negitiv and putting her down .I hope later in the story she will get a tast of her own medison
January 31st, 2007 at 11:45 am
Emma I agry with you the book was kind of scary I could never live in that time I would have been so creeped outand I can’t belive all the bad carma that has happend to her she has grown up with things getting bomed her father oes to jall and now she has to be a boy and could get killed
January 31st, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Paige
I disagree with you when you said that the only sad part is that their Dad got arrested. I think that a lot of the pure atmousphere was sad. It wwas sad the way woman were treated so unfairly,and that neighbors were told to spy on each othere. The fact that the Taliban was so crule was enought to make the story sad. In edition to that this story is relistic fiction and to relize that this sort of thing went on is misarelble! I do however agree with the fact that Nooria was kind of mean.
January 31st, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Nick,
I totally agree with you. I was completly wrong for the Taliban to treat woman like that. I also think that it’s absurd,and horrible. I also got a little mad at the mother because she just laid on the bed. After a while though I relized that if I were her I would have a hard time getting up and back to work. I think that she was scaried to face her knew responiblity which is easy to understand but is a bit irresponable. I f I was one of the kids I would be really scared!
January 31st, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Peter, I agree with you about the fact that the dad wasn’t a main character in the story until he got aressted. I dont think he will even be in the story until close to the end because I think he will be in jail for most of the book. I also wonder why they arrested him just for going to college in England. In my opinion, I don’t think it matters where you go to college unless it’s a really bad school(like Ohio State). I think people should be able to learn about whatever they want to. If they stop them from doing this, they stop that person from getting a good education. I really want to read the 2nd half of the book!!!!!!
Ben
January 31st, 2007 at 8:47 pm
I think the bread winner will be the best book we are forced to read this year. But I thought the book as a little hard to understand at first but later on I understood it better. I got a bit lost when the mother is up then down then half way up, pick a side! Half way through the book I thought they would want the Engish to take over, but then I noticed that Afghanistan is only bad becuase of the Taliban and then I kept on reading and then I thought they weren’t all bad, so now I realy want to read the 2nd half of the book and find out are they not so bad or are they a moc of the human race like the stuipid selfish nazis.
January 31st, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Ben I disagree i think the dad was never a main chareter. He just got arrested on page 30 and thats what got parvana motivate. I think that is the only reason the athor put him in. I also think the dad is a big part of the story because without him parvana woulden’t be motitved or have a reason to do what she is doing. So in a way he is a main charicter but not really he just does somthing important. I agree with the last thing i want to see how the book ends.
January 31st, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Emma i commpletly agree with you the whol rest of the famly is depending on pavana. If parvana wasn’t there they would all die. Yet noria still treats her like dirt. She sould really cosider her opions its ether she is nice to parvana or she dies. they should start to work togerther more if they want to survive. I think they will start to work together near the end. if they don’t I don’t think it will be a very good ending.
January 31st, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Nolan you are right, that was a clever thing to do. I feel bad that Parvana had to cut her hair. That must have been so strange to pretend to be a boy. I can’t believe she had to do that to be safe. Can you believe she went to her father’s work and no one recognized her? You and I are thinking exactly the same.
January 31st, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Ben,
I think you are right. It has been really interesting to learn about life in Afghanistan. I also think it has been rather scary. The Taliban had a terrible rule over these people. Can you imagine living in fear all the time? The men have very little freedom and the women have even less. It is a cruel society.
February 1st, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Jared,
I agree with you on the book. I felt sorry for the Talib who’s wife died. I agree that the Taliban are scary people, but they only join the Taliban to either make their life easier or women’s life harder. If Parvana’s dad was in the Taliban, he wouldn’t have been arrested. I think they had him arrested just to get the book going. If it hadn’t happened, it wouldn’t be interesting.
February 1st, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Nolan,
You’re right. Having the father arrested sort of “started the book”. I would not be able to live with stepping outside and getting hit with a stick. They were really clever when they made Parvana into a boy. I would have dreaded having my hair cut off. I wonder if Parvana will get caught?
February 1st, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Peter, ben
I agree with both of you on how the dad wasn’t a main character in the story until he got arresed. and how people should be aloud to get an education unless its a bad school that is not teaching you the right things you will need to learn (like Ohio state, go hurricanes!)
Matt i also i agree with you on how this may be the best book we are forced to read. and i agree that some of the talib are bad some not so bad like the man with the letter.
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:04 am
-Quentin
You are one greedy man thinking that you are a boy and you get education. But your wrong! In the book it says that Parvana dressed like a boy. Even though boys get everything it doesn’t mean they will nesesarily win in the end. (not that i red the whole entire book). I think that the Taliban will go in the end!
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:18 am
-Norah
I completly agree with you. It is so unfair to the people and Parvana. The things that the people had to do were so unfair. It’s amazing to learn what these people went through. So many people suferd. i thouught this book was sad frustrating and wierd all at the same time.
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:27 am
Evan, Peter, Ben
I don’t agree with you I don’t think the father was never the main character even after he got arested. But I do agree that evry one should get an free education unless thet’rebeing taught the wrong things. Do youguys think that Nooria was mean. She gave Parvana no credit exept when she gave her a hug.
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:38 pm
-Jackson, I don’t think you could be more right. Nooria wasn’t pulling her own weight. It’s almost as if the pressure skipped the mom and Nooria and went straight to Parvana. but don’t worry if the author is smart she would of had the mom and Nooria do at least a little work. I hated that Taliban! I was also surprised when she was tuff enough to read the Taliban man’s letter and try to free her dad from jail. But I thought that just goes to show how much she cares about her family (a lot) and how much her family cares about her.(not a lot)
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:58 pm
-Willy I think you are completely right. The Taliban aren’t all greedy goons but I still think a majority of them are. I would have to say that I would be scared to death for every second of my life if I was a woman and married to a Taliban man. (Hey that rhymes!) I can also answer why a society never took away men’s rights. It’s because early in the human race men thought they were stronger than the woman. I think the reason the Taliban ruined the lives of parvanas family is that the Taliban are trying to get rid of the British and started bombing their own country but were doing more harm than good.(Even if they were hitting the British it still wouldn’t be good)
February 5th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
I think that that the book is wriiten beatifuly. It may be a little wired and I would never read this book for fun but I bet it will be one of the best books we read all year. But I think taht Nooria may be so grumpy because ever since Hossain died she has had nobody to play with so she take’s on Parvana, or maybe she could just be jealous. Another thing I think about the book is why the author deciided to tell the story in the 3rd person instead of just have Parvana tell irt in the first person. Maybe it is beacuse it was easier that way. But so far I think the book is pretty good.
February 6th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
This is the same thing as my entery number 1… In my entery i had a respns it read:
” I also don’t like the fact that women are beaten by the Taliban even if they didn’t do anything wrong. I was wondering why the Taliban don’t like women, what is wrong with them? Without women NONE of the Taliban would have been there. ”
(Hayden said that.)
I completely agree with the beating part… were they just board? And did this think it was fun?
Brad-
February 6th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Even, Ben, peter I do not agree with you. I agree more with Kavan because her dad was in almost a smuch as Marraym and Ali and you wouldn’t say their not really main characters. But I don’t get why you think he gets more popular when he goe to jail. The dad maybe should get in a little more but the story is more about the girls and respect not about the dad. I think that the dad is a very important character because he tought Parvana how to read and write. I also think that Nooria should’nt be in almost every scene that Parvana.
February 6th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
This book is, well, wowful, that’s not even a word, I know, but it shoulld be! There wasn’t a sigle page where I didn’t say WOW at least three times. It is just a wowful book. Amazing, stupendous, outrageous, but in a way, horrible. I was suprised the aotor didn’t make such a big deal when the dad came home. She just sort of slapped it down at the end of a chapter! Ijust, well, AHHH~! How to describe a book so amazing, yet so horrible! Like I said in my other entry, WHO WOULD WANT TO WRITE THIS?! I liked a quote in the book, I don’t know where exactly it is so this isn’t the same as it was written. “This is nothing like a summer vacation. We are not working towards anything! This will not come to an end.”
Kira
February 6th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Brad I do not agree with you. I think that the only reasin that the taliban do’t like women is because it says in their form of bible. I deffinetly don’t think their bored because men have much more fun things they can do than women. Also why would it be fun do hit a girl. How could you live with yourself. I do think that it is very sad though that they think that is okay.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Kira I agre with you that book was asome. I know I can’t beleve that the actor didn’t evan make a big deal when the dad came home. And I agree who wuold want to write this. I also liked that quote. I also wsh that our summer vaction will never come to a end. Now i want to read the other book Pavarana Jorny.
February 11th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Kira I agree with you the book was really good but affle how they treated women and parivana did not make a big deal about her father comming home. alos who would want to write this I hope they did not go through that situation