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| The Breadwinner | |
|---|---|
| Name | The Breadwinner |
| Author | Deborah Ellis |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature, Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Groundwood Books |
| Pub date | 2000 |
| Pages | 137 |
| Isbn | 9780888998129 |
The Breadwinner is a children's historical novel by Deborah Ellis set in Kabul during the Taliban regime. The work follows a young girl who adopts a male identity to support her family amid the aftermath of the Soviet–Afghan War and the civil war. The novel engages with themes tied to Afghanistan, UNICEF, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and international responses to humanitarian crises.
Deborah Ellis wrote the book after working with UNICEF and visiting Pakistan refugee camps, connecting with organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Canadian International Development Agency. The novel is aimed at readers of Children's literature and Young adult fiction and contributed to discussions alongside works like A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner. Published by Groundwood Books, the novel received recognition from institutions including the Jane Addams Children's Book Award and drew comparisons to reporting by Nicholas Kristof and Seymour Hersh on Afghanistan.
The narrative centers on an Afghan girl who assumes a boy’s identity to work in markets around Kabul, navigating checkpoints associated with the Taliban and encountering figures connected to the aftermath of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Northern Alliance. The protagonist takes odd jobs, interacts with merchants from Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif, and faces the reach of policies enforced after the Mazar-i-Sharif clashes. The story interweaves local oral traditions and references to refugee flows arising from the Durand Line partition and regional shifts involving Pakistan and Iran.
The principal character is a resilient girl who adopts a male persona to become the family's provider, reflecting lived experiences documented by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch in the late 1990s. Supporting characters include her mother and siblings, neighbors who fled fighting in Balkh Province, and market traders from cities such as Kandahar and Jalalabad. Authority figures in the novel resemble actors known from coverage of the Taliban era, with echoes of leaders like Mullah Omar and political entities such as the Islamic Emirate and the Northern Alliance (United Front). Secondary roles reflect the presence of international NGOs, clerics anchored in madrassas, and refugees influenced by policies of Pakistan and Iran.
Central themes include gender under authoritarian religious rule akin to restrictions enforced by the Taliban, child labor documented by UNICEF and Save the Children, and survival amid displacement stemming from the Soviet–Afghan War and ensuing civil conflicts. The novel prompts comparisons to journalism by Thomas Ricks and human rights reporting by Amnesty International; critics have read it alongside memoirs like The Patience Stone and novels such as A Thousand Splendid Suns. Analyses consider representations of Afghan culture, Pashtunwali influences from regions along the Durand Line, and the role of international actors including Canada and NGOs during refugee crises. Scholars have debated accuracy versus literary empathy, citing standards employed by historians like William Dalrymple and anthropologists reporting on the Pashtun people.
Deborah Ellis developed the book drawing on interviews in Pakistan refugee camps and correspondence with humanitarian agencies including UNICEF and Amnesty International. The novel inspired a 2017 animated film adaptation produced by Cartoon Saloon and Anja Kaspersen-led teams, directed by Nora Twomey and produced with input from organizations focused on women's rights and children's welfare. Stage adaptations and audiobooks have been staged by theaters connected to companies in Toronto and London, while translations appeared in languages used across South Asia and Europe. The book's publication history involves Groundwood Books editions and inclusion in curricula influenced by literacy initiatives promoted by agencies like UNESCO.
The novel received awards and nominations including recognition from the Canadian Library Association and sparked discussions in outlets where journalists like Nicholas Kristof and commentators at The New York Times and BBC News covered Afghan civilian experiences. Educators in Canada, United Kingdom, and United States have used the book to introduce young readers to international humanitarian issues, often paired with materials from UNICEF and Human Rights Watch. The story influenced popular culture responses to Afghan displacement, contributing to fundraising and advocacy by NGOs such as Oxfam and Save the Children and informing later literary works and films about life under the Taliban.
Category:2000 novels Category:Canadian children's novels Category:Novels set in Afghanistan