Parvana’s Journey by Deborah Ellis

Title: Parvana’s Journey

Author: Deborah Ellis

Publish Date: August 2003

Publisher: Groundwood Books

Pages: 199pp

IBSN: 0888995199

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction

Annotation: Parvana is a thirteen-year-old girl disguising herself as a boy in the Tabliban-era in Afghanistan.  She sets off from Kabul in search of her missing mother, brother and sister and collects new “family” members, who have all suffered from the war.

Plot Summary: The sequel of The Breadwinner opens with the burial of Parvana’s father and her search for her mother, brother and sister.  Parvana, who continues to dress up like a boy, sets out on a journey to locate her missing family members.  On this journey, she meets other victims of war whom are around her age.  Together, they travel and become each others family, through hunger and sickness.  They end up in a camp of refugees and though do not get a happy ending, there remains hope.  Mud City is the final installment to this trilogy. 

Personal Response: I was so impressed with The Breadwinner, I had to read the sequel and will probably continue the journey with Mud City. Parvana’s Journey continues the theme or glimpse of women’s rights in Afghanistan under the Taliban rule. The story in engaging and at times extremely sad. A great series to open discussions about the affects war has on children and the rights Deborah Ellis is donating a portion of the book price to Women for Women, an organization that supports Afghan women.

http://www.womenforwomen.org/

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Children who have to be braver then they are suppose to be.

Age Range: 10 and up

Subjects: War, Bravery, Afghanistan, Taliban, Survival, Historical Fiction, Independence, Poverty, Family, Government, Culture,  Women’s Rights, Children,

Series: Afghan Trilogy

The Breadwinner (2001)

Parvana’s Journey (2003)

Mud City (2004)

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Awake and Dreaming by Kit Pearson

Title: Awake and Dreaming

Author: Kit Pearson

Publish Date: September 2008

Publisher: Penguin Group

Pages: 240pp

ISBN: 0143056379

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Nine-year-old Theo in Vancouver, Canada and desperately wants a new family, in fact she dreams and wishes for one, and one day her dreams and wishes come true.

Plot Summary: Theo is nine years old and lives with her mother in Vancouver, Canada. They are extremely poor and Theo is often neglected by her immature mother, so she decides to go live with her aunt in Victoria. While aboard the ferry, Theo falls into a deep sleep. When she awakes, she finds herself in a big comfortable bed—in a big comfortable house with a wonderful and nurturing family with four perfect siblings who are always happy. At first, Theo is confused, but eventually she becomes accustomed to this new life with her new family—all her dreams came true and she has everything she ever wanted. Until she is awaken by a strong gust of wind, and her dreamworld is gone. Theo feels she cannot live without her new family and decides to go searching for them and is amazed at what she finds.

Personal Response: A beautiful story about finding happiness wherever you are. Kit Pearson does a fantastic job at weaving fantasy into reality. Theo is a charming character with applicable emotions. I found the prevalent theme of finding happiness wherever your at to be a wonderful message for youth and young readers may learn from Theo’s experiences.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Be thankful for what you have. No matter how bad your situation is, there is always someone in a worse situation.

Age Range: 9-12

Subjects: Adventure, Identity, Family Relationships, Dreams, Imagination, Poverty, Contentment

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The Dragon’s Pearl by Julie Lawson

Title: The Dragon’s Pearl Julie Lawson

Author: Julie Lawson

Illustrated: by Paul Morin

Publish Date: January 1995

Publisher: Stoddart Kids

Pages: 32pp

ISBN: 0773728821

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Folklore

Annotation: A traditional Chinese folk tale about a terrible drought in China and a boy, Xiao Sheng, finds a magic pearl that transforms him into a dragon. This dragon forever changes the lives of his mother and neighbors.

Plot Summary: Xiao Sheng was a boy who worked extremely hard in order to earn enough to feed his mother and himself. He gathered grass from sun up to sun down, everyday. He found solace in singing and always saw the good of things. One day Xiao finds a magic pearl, in which transforms him into a powerful Chinese dragon—a provider of the long-awaited rains.

Personal Response: A traditional Chinese folk-tale told with beautiful illustrations by Paul Morin, who brings the story to life with textured paintings—increasing the authenticity and matching the rich language of Julie Lawson. Additionally, the book includes an informative page about Chinese dragons, effectively celebrating the benevolent Chinese dragon.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Benevolence

Age Range: 4 to 12

Subjects: Pearls, Dragons, Folk Tales, Myths, Legends, China, Son and Mother, Rain, Tradition, Picture Book, Poverty, Magic, Transformation, Singing, Drought, Benevolence

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