The Breadwinner, A novel by Deborah Ellis Novel Study/Lit Link Grades 4-6

Based on the true-life stories of women in Afghan refugee camps.

The Breadwinner is an engrossing novel that delves into the harsh realities of life for girls and women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Eleven-year-old Parvana and her family have rarely been outdoors for a year and a half. No longer can she or her siblings attend a school or play outdoors. The family's situation becomes perilous when Parvana's father is taken away to jail. It is then that Parvana is forced to take on the responsibility of being the breadwinner for her small family. Disguised as a boy, Parvana goes out to the marketplace each day to offer her skills as a reader.

Reproducible chapter questions, plus comprehension questions, a story summary, author biography, creative and cross-curricular activities, complete with answer key.

The students will:

develop their skills in reading, writing, listening and oral communication

use good literature as a vehicle for developing skills required by curriculum expectations: reasoning and critical thinking, knowledge of language structure, vocabulary building, and use of conventions

become meaningfully engaged in the drama of literature through a variety of types of questions and activities

identify and describe elements of stories (i.e. plot, main idea, characters, setting)

learn and review many skills in order to develop good reading habits

provide clear answers to questions and well-constructed explanations

organize and classify information to clarify thinking

learn about the destructive nature of the abuse of power in a society and its repercussions on the people of that society

relate events and feelings found in novels to their own lives and experiences

appreciate the importance of family, friendship and loyalty in personal relationships

discern that strength is often found during difficult circumstances and is made possible through the love and support of family and friends

learn the importance of dealing with adversity and developing perseverance in the face of adversity

state their own interpretation of a written work, using evidence from the work and from their own knowledge and experience

64 pages