Breadwinner Questions

The Breadwinner Chapter Questions:

1. What was Parvana's father's former occupation? What was her family's old home like?                                                
    
2. Why did Parvana need to accompany her father to the market? Why does it have to be Parvana and not Nooria or their mother?
    
3.  What happened to Hossain? What happens to Parvana's father?

 

    4. Why doesn't Mother write in the beginning of the book? Explain what happens to make her change her mind.

5. Describe how life changes for Parvana's family after Mrs. Weera comes to live with them.

 

6. How do Nooria and Parvana get along? Does it change from the beginning of the story to the end? Find examples of how their relationship changes or stays the same.

 

7. Why do you think Parvana keeps the Window Woman a secret? Why does she plant flowers for her at the end of the book?

 

8. What does reading the Talib's letter reveal to Parvana? How does this change her view of the Talib in general? Did it change your ideas of the Talib as well?

 

9. How does running into Shauzia change life for Parvana? How would the story be different if they hadn't run into each another?

 

10.  What does the story of Malali mean to Parvana? Do you think Parvana is like Malali?  

 

11. If you had to make the same decision as Shauzia, would you have stayed in 

Afghanistan? Do you think she's a “bad person” for wanting to leave? Why?

 

12.     What do you think was the hardest thing that Parvana experienced? Why?   

         What helped her endure it?

 

13.  Would you have been as brave as Parvana? What would have happened to her 

        family if she hadn't become the breadwinner?

 

14.  Why do you think Deborah Ellis wrote this book? Do you think it's still 

        important to read about the Taliban even though they are no longer in power?

 

15.   In your opinion, do you think that Parvana and Shauzia will meet at the Eiffel   

        Tower in 20 years? Why or why not?