My Name is Parvana

August 27, 2012
In this follow-up to the Breadwinner trilogy, set five years later, Ellis revisits her strong, 15-year-old heroine, now living in post-Taliban Afghanistan. The novel alternates between Parvana's struggles in an American prison (she is a suspect in an explosion at her mother's school) and flashbacks to her life before capture, first as a student at the school and then as a teacher. Though Parvana understands and reads English fluently, she refuses to speak ("She knew she could not trust them. All she could trust was herself"), silently enduring sleep deprivation and harsh interrogation. In the flashbacks, Ellis strongly sketches family tensions, including a betrayal by Parvana's sister Noori and Parvana's complicated relationship with her mother. A scene in which Parvana's discovery of an injured American soldier foils her near-escape underscores her compassion and morality. The resolution is perhaps too tidy, but Ellis succeeds in putting a human face on the headlines and the brutality of the Afghan war, while answering many questions about the fate of a heroine whose personality and force of will shine through. Ages 11âup.

Narrator Meera Simhan establishes a passion-filled voice for Parvana, an Afghan teenage girl who is being held prisoner by American soldiers after the bombing of her beloved school. As they try to get her to talk, all she can think about is her hope for the education and future of all the children in her country. Remembering moments from the past, such as her work in the school, helps Parvana to be brave and resilient during the frightening situation she finds herself in. Simhan creates unique voices for each character, including the harsh voice of Parvana's interrogator, which helps establish her fear. Listeners will cheer Parvana on as she holds strong during the investigation. M.D. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine