Author(s): Deborah Ellis

Junior Fiction

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 are prisoners in their own home. With no man to go out to buy food, 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 avoiding landmines, and the brutality of the Taliban.

She suffers beatings and the desperation of trying to survive. But even in despair lies hope. . . .


From the Compact Disc edition.