The Breadwinner: A Graphic Novel

by Deborah Ellis, Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Aircraft Pictures (Adapter), Nora Twomey (Adapter)

This beautiful graphic-novel adaptation of The Breadwinner animated film tells the story of eleven-year-old Parvana who must disguise herself as a boy to support her family during the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan.

Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city. 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 having forbidden books, and the family is left without someone who can earn money or even shop for food.

As conditions for the family grow desperate, only one solution emerges. Forbidden to earn money as a girl, Parvana must transform herself into a boy, and become the breadwinner.

Readers will want to linger over this powerful graphic novel with its striking art and inspiring story.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Comics, War, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Deborah Ellis has achieved international acclaim with her courageous and dramatic books that give Western readers a glimpse into the plight of children in developing countries.

She has won the Governor General's Award, Sweden's Peter Pan Prize, the Ruth Schwartz Award, the University of California's Middle East Book Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award.

A long-time feminist and anti-war activist, she is best known for The Breadwinner Trilogy, which has been published around the world in seventeen languages, with more than a million dollars in royalties donated to Street Kids International and to Women for Women, an organization that supports health and education projects in Afghanistan. In 2006, Deb was named to the Order of Ontario.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

یه قسمتی از زندگی پروانه و شاید هزاران کودک افغانستانی دیگه رو به تصویر کشیده بود.
هم داستانی قلب رو فشرده میکرد هم طراحی ها خوب بودند.
شهریور ۱۴۰۴

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting and timely story idea, but I'm not sure about the final result. (Apparently this was also preceded by a regular chapter book and animated film adaptation.) A pre-teen Afghan girl disguises herself as a boy after her father is incarcerated and the family subsequently suffers from lack of food and money amidst Taliban rule. While I think the courageous Parvana is an appealing and original protagonist in this YA-themed edition, the occasional choppiness (there were at least two times I checked to see if I had skipped a page, thinking I missed something) and sudden, abrupt ending - though the lack of definitive resolution is probably more realistic than any of us would care to admit - make this sad but relevant story seem like a slightly rushed version to adult readers.

[₊˚ ⁀➴ kenzie ⠀❦ jacks’ version · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This was a courageous story of a young girl under the rule of the Taliban who has had to change the way she looks to spend all her time providing for her family while trying to find her captured father.
The emotions were the focal point throughout the story and the elegant and impactful art style emphasized them beautifully. It had such a strong perspective for a short story, and the full warm colors really set the mood for the setting.

[cynthia ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, I wish I could forget about this book.







So that I could read this again and experience all the spectacular emotions, characters, artwork, and storyline again.

*sniff*

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short graphic novel is based on the original book by Deborah Ellis and adapted from the feature film directed by Nora Twomey

We follow an 11 year old afghan girl named Parvana, who disguises herself as a boy as her father was arrested to support her family during the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan. 🇦🇫

Since it’s forbidden for girls and women to earn money, go to school, show themselves and even be outside without a husband, there’s only one solution for Parvana to do so her family won’t starve to death in their homes; become the breadwinner by transforming herself into a boy.

The graphics were painfully beautiful of this unforgettable story. It was too short which makes me either want to read the series and/or watch the animated movie, but my heart aches for all the families who have suffered under the rules of multiple emperors and now Taliban.

Especially as a Muslim woman myself who decides to wear Hijab herself, looking at these illustrations of the women who are forced to be covered from head to toe, it’s hurting and breaking my heart. They don’t have the choice which they should have, their lives are taken away from them.

May Allah ease the burden of the Afghan people and set them free. Free from the rules of the Taliban and free from the rules of any emperor afterwards. Ameen.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is a graphic novel adaptation of an animated movie adaptation of a book. I usually try to avoid something this watered down, but I knew I could read this slim little volume in a fraction of the time it would take me to watch the movie or read the original book, and I was unlikely to do either of those things anyway.

This is a sad story about an Afghan family suffering under oppressive Taliban rule. For context, the original book was published about a month after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, or about the same time the U.S. began military operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Thinking about how sad things were before the onset of 17 years of continual war and what they must be like now is just plain depressing. The author wrote three sequel books, so I suppose I don't need to just imagine, but honestly I'd rather not go down this road of suffering right now.

[Chasity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never read the series or seen the movie, but this made me want to! I’m intrigued by the story and wished I had just a little more from the graphic novel. It would have been 5 stars if it’d been a little more thorough. The family and cultural dynamics were so apparent even in the moderate amount that was told. I’d love to see this in an adult format. Would definitely recommend for middle grade youngsters!

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is interesting, but I think I need to just watch the movie. It is VERY obvious they just took still frames from the film and added dialogue. The ending seems unfinished and vague. The pacing is all over the place. It probably should have been adapted from the book and not the movie that was based on the book. Seems like they took the easy way out and/or it was a cash grab.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish that there had been a bit more story. I felt that I was missing out on information.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel is apparently based on an animated film, which I haven't seen. To be frank, I think I would've rather seen the film. I don't know if it's the e-book format or what, but the text adaptation is absolutely horrendous. Unfortunately, this detracts from what could be a moving story.

Parvana lives with her parents and siblings in Kabul. One day her father is taken away and thrown in jail, leaving the family without a means of support. Parvana cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy so she can go out into the city and make a living. Meanwhile, her mother has arranged a marriage for her older sister, and war is coming. Parvana makes a desperate attempt to see her father in jail, while her mother and siblings end up being taken away by family members.

The book ends like many graphic novels do, as if it's to be continued in future installments (which I don't think is the case here). So I'm not sure if I like the ending; there are a lot of unanswered questions.

The story and setting are fraught with peril and heartache, but I found it kind of difficult to concentrate on those things when the text was so abysmal. It wasn't even a matter of a few typos (although there was a rather spectacular one with "first" spelled as "fiflrst"). Every instance of the word "find" seemed to be capitalized. Random words were in all caps. Half the names started with lowercase letters (but only some of the time). There were missing spaces all over the place so words ran together. I have no idea what happened with the text, but it's awful. Its only saving grace is that it's still intelligible enough to get the gist of the story.

If the physical editions of the graphic novel don't have these technical issues, then this is a decent book. As to the version I read, it seemed like it was rushed and slapped together just to cash in on the popularity of the film. And that's disappointing.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful graphic novel about an Afghani girl who poses as a boy to help her family survive after her father is arrested. I found this to be a powerful story but I am confused that the story ended so abruptly with no final resolution.

[Jaclyn Hillis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis is a powerful graphic novel with striking art and an inspiring story.

This is a great story to bring awareness of what the people of Afghanistan have been through, especially girls and women. And this story will stick with me for a long time. However, I wanted a little bit more detail, as I have more questions than answers. I’m curious to read the original novels now because I want more of Parvana’s story, and hopefully it’s more fleshed out in those.

I will definitely be reading more from Deborah Ellis — she donates most of her royalty income to worthy causes such as Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, Street Kids International, the Children in Crisis Fund of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) and UNICEF. She has donated more than one million dollars in royalties from her Breadwinner books alone.

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully illustrated and beautifully told tale with a deeply heartrending plot. It was painful to read this tale of a young girl, forced to pretend she was a boy in order to save her father from prison and to help her family survive. Living in the West, it's hard to imagine the way that women lived in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, as recently as 2001 (when this story takes place). Honestly, it was hard to imagine how everyone lived, not just the women, but the men as well. However, the brutality and inhumanity were sharply contrasted by powerful moments of real kindness, generosity, and human connection. This was an excellent book.

I see that there is an actual book that inspired the graphic novel. I'll have to read that next.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the story and courage of the main character, Parvana, the graphic novel relied too heavily on the images to tell such an emotional and complex story. This version would serve best as a supplemental text to provide context and imagery for struggling readers. I would not recommend using it as a stand-alone instructional resource.

[Manisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOWOOWOWW! I finished this in one sitting and was on the edge of my seat by the end. I didn't know that this was a complete novel and that this graphic novel was an extremely condensed version. I will not be reading the novel because I feel like I already know the whole plot and did not love it enough to want to read all the small details that the novel would have. Beautiful nonetheless!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Shauna Yusko · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want a slim graphic novel adaptation of the book.

[Evan Yang · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, the pictures were great! But the other didn't draw enough pictures to show feelings and emotions. And I feel like the ending was rushed. So I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. And I was really confused with the title because this main character doesn't even sell bread. I thought breadwinner was a person who sells bread... I searched it on Google and it actually means someone who earns money to support their family.

[A Lib Tech Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Breadwinner: A Graphic Novel
Deborah Ellis
Rating: 4/5
Note:Special thanks to Groundwood Books for providing a copy for review.

I have not read the Breadwinner novel or watched the movie yet, so this is the first time I have come across this well-known heart-breaking tale.



I particularly love the art style and thought it was reminiscent of the 90's animations I watched growing up. It's simple yet it captures the lighting and the shadows perfectly in each scene. The details in the background also cannot be missed as the setting of Kabul Afghanistan comes to life behind the comings and goings of the characters. I particularly enjoyed the change in art styles during the tale of the Silk Road. The vibrant colours along with the almost 3Dish way it is presented highlight the clever technique of telling a story within a story; I could imagine it as the beautiful stop-motion animations that I favour.



It's difficult to adapt a novel into a movie that will please all readers, and it's even more difficult to then adapt that movie into a graphic novel. This is why I am especially impressed with this book. In the short 78 pages or so, it is able to tell a poignant story in a straightforward manner; there is never a lull in the plot for this graphic novel medium. It also conveys the personalities of the cast of characters so that they each come across as individuals with their own beliefs and opinions. I find that in some YA novels I read, multiple characters end up blending into one another without distinguishable traits, but I did not see that happen in the Breadwinner. Parvana is a strong and courageous female protagonist, one who is also very young and a lot more mature than you'd expect, and you can't help but admire her persistence to find her Baba. You could see the heartache and pain captured in both her and Mama-Jan's eyes in many distressing scenes.

I'll admit that I had no plans to watch the movie or to even add the Breadwinner to my reading list of 2018, but after devouring this graphic novel in just an hour, it's at the top of that list now.

[Priyanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had me bawling by the end. The illustrations were beautiful and there was just enough text to get the message across - and it's a powerful message. I had already seen the Netflix adaption, but I still loved this.

The story takes place in Afghanistan when the Taliban was in control and women could not even go outside alone without getting beaten, let alone earn an education. But Parvana - the main character - has a father who loves her dearly. He tells her stories and teaches her how to read. He understands that she is too young for marriage.

But, when her father is sent to prison by the Taliban, Parvana's family has no access to food, and Parvana pretends to be a boy, simply to go to the market, to earn a living. While she is selling items, she meets a kind man who asks her to read a letter for him. In it, she learns that his wife has passed away. Her name is Hala. "Sometimes, on a clear night when you look at the moon, you can see a bright outline around it. That outline is called Hala. My wife was named for that light," he tells her. He helps her find her father, a true act of kindness.

I loved the Historical Note at the end, where Deborah Ellis writes: "Afghans know war. They know oppression and they know too well the experience of one brutality coming to an end only to be replaced by another. Yet there are so many people in that country who get out of bed each morning and spend their days trying to make things a little better for their family, their community and their country. This everyday kindness takes tremendous courage, and we can join them by doing what we can, where we can and when we can to make the world a kinder place for everyone."

[Rebekah Gyger · Rating 5 out of 5]

What drew me to this graphic novel was the story matter. A few months back, I watched a short youtube documentary about girls in this situation of having to dress as boys to help their families. I had never heard of the original book or the animated movie, so I went in to reading it without much of an expectation.

The story is one that is very beautiful and powerful, despite the depressing nature of the situation. All of the members of Parvana's family are extremely courageous. I felt that the artwork highlighted their lives beautifully as well, though I know other reviews have criticized that much of it was taken from stills of the animation. However, I personally don't believe that the graphic novel suffered for this.

I also don't think that anything was lost in the abruptness of the ending. In a way, not knowing what happens drives home the struggle of surviving in a country like this, at the mercy of powers beyond your control. And as I have learned recently from reading other graphic novels, they often do end abruptly. Yet I was not disappointed with this story's conclusion as I have been with others, and it may be that there will be more to follow.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having literally just watched the animated film adaptation a few weeks ago, then seeing the delivery of the graphic novel in a new box of books, I was surprised and excited. It was literally the same animated style of the movie. I think I could have appreciated the movie better having read the graphic novel first because the style works well. It's a beautiful introduction to the story just like the picture books about Malala's story before reading her adult biography, etc.

There is conversation about equality of men and women, physical fitness, access to food and water, family, religion, and politics all in the neatly-done package of a graphic adaptation, I'm sure Ellis is happy with this. Definitely ordering additional copies now that I had one to read.

[Angela Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the full length novel of The Breadwinner and now I've read the graphic novel I shall have to get around to watching the movie next. It's currently free to watch on Amazon Prime at the time of writing this review.

The graphic novel is obviously shorter than the book and I think it still brings home the futility of war and how it affects people. The harsh rule of the Taliban as well as other invaders have made life hard for the inhabitants of Afghanistan. It is suitable for any age really from the ages of 8+

11 year old Pavana disguises herself as a boy after her father is dragged off to prison. Without her deception the family would not survive due to the strict laws. She risks much to get her father back and help her family.

[Jen Mays · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subject of the Taliban and the iron fist over Afghanistan is always hard to read about because of the fear and abuses that rained down over that region, but it's clearly one we need to continue reading and absorbing since we obviously have not learned any lessons about power-hungry madmen.

This is an inspiring story because of the resilience of Parvana and her family, but also incredibly sad because of why that resilience is needed. I'm not generally a fan of graphic novels as a format and because of the theme it's hard to say that I "enjoyed" this, but it was powerful, and very timely. Sadly, still so very timely.

[Urbandale Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel adaptation of the story of a young girl who must disguise herself as a boy to help her family. The story takes place in Afghanistan during Taliban rule. The story opened my eyes to the range of devastation and control the Taliban exerted over the population, largely targeted at women. The animated film won many awards and this adaptation has as well, which sparked my interest. It certainly was well worth the read.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

In those times, girls can't go out alone and only boys can go out. Unluckily, the girl named Paravana's dad have a broken leg, all of Paravana's sibling are too young. She made herself as a boy and make her family members live. Her father was arrested for letting her daughter out alone. She faced alot of challenges while finding her dad.
You should read this book!!!

[Suzanne Dix · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous in this heartbreaking graphic novel. I’ve never read the original story by Deborah Ellis but now definitely need to. And I completely understand why all the kids are asking for me to have a book two in the library because this definitely leaves you wondering what happens to Parvana’s family. Such a powerful story.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story and art (stills from the animation) are quite beautiful, but the kerning and text editing from the ebook version are very, very off - hence losing a star.

I'm kind of surprised that the term bacha posh never showed up in text or in the explanatory afterword.

I would probably still watch the Netflix version to get the full effect.

[Scott Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first with this story. I will have to read the book now that I am having trouble getting this story out of my mind.

[Mary Tuttle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated story of a girl who must disguise herself as a boy in order to help her family survive in Taliban-occupied Afghanistan.