Deborah Ellis Knihy

Fifteen-year-old Parvana has rebuilt her life after being reunited with her mother and sisters. But suspicion and fear towards the education of women have put them all in danger. When Parvana is held at an American army base in Afghanistan, suspected of being a terrorist, she must protect her family at all costs.

Set against the backdrop of war-torn Kabul, the story follows eleven-year-old Parvana, who faces the harsh realities of life after her father's arrest. With her family in dire need, she disguises herself as a boy to navigate the dangers of a society that restricts her as a girl. The narrative explores themes of loyalty, survival, and the strength of family bonds as Parvana takes on the role of breadwinner, highlighting the resilience required to endure extraordinary challenges.

In 1988 Tehran, teenaged girls Farrin and Sadira are sentenced to death for homosexuality. Farrin prays that her wealthy family will be able to save them before it is too late. Based on a true story.

Focusing on the experiences of women affected by the Afghan War, this oral history captures their personal stories as innocent victims amidst the conflict. These firsthand accounts offer a poignant backdrop to contemporary news about the Taliban, shedding light on its rise and the harsh realities faced by women in a restrictive society. Through their voices, readers gain insight into the daily struggles and resilience of those living under such oppressive conditions.

It's September 1901, and ten-year-old Keeley and her father are making a fresh start, after the death of Keeley's mother, in a brand new town called Frank that sits in a valley at the bottom of Turtle Mountain in southern Alberta.From the moment they arrive Keeley knows she’ll love Frank. Not only can she and her dad live together, but in Frank there's room for children to breathe, as her dad would say. There's also room for mischief, and Keeley quickly gets into some, with the encouragement of a schoolmate named Peter. Peter dares Keeley to spend a night in the coal mine, where she discovers another part of Frank that's a little bit scary. Will things turn out as she hopes?

Shauzia is Parvana's friend from The Breadwinner. Now Shauzia has fled from Afghanistan, to a refugee camp in Pakistan. She dreams of getting away from the refugee camp and travelling to France. Escape is not so easy. But Shauzia is determined to find a new future for herself. This is a story on the human situation in Afghanistan.

Parvana's father is arrested and taken away by the Taliban soldiers. Under Taliban law, women and girls are not allowed to leave the house on their own. Parvana, her mother, and sisters must stay inside. Four days later, the food runs out. They face starvation. So Parvana must pretend to be a boy to save her family. It is a dangerous plan, but their only chance. In fear she goes out - and witnesses the horror of landmines, and the bruality of the Taliban. She suffers beatings and the desperation of trying to survive. But even in despair lies hope

After learning that her family adopted her, Valli runs away from home to live on the streets of Kolkata, India, where she begs, steals, and resists help from a doctor who reveals that she has leprosy.

The second book in The Breadwinner series by award-winning author, Deborah Ellis, tells the story of Parvana, travelling alone across a war-ridden Afghanistan in an attempt to find her family.