Review by Booklist Review
Adapted from the animated film of the same name (itself adapted from Deborah Ellis' 2000 novel), this slim graphic novel packs quite a punch. It's May 2001, in Afghanistan, and Parvana spends her days accompanying her father to the market, even though restrictive laws forbid women from being outside. All that changes when her father is arrested, leaving Parvana stuck at home with her mother, older sister, and baby brother. In a desperate gambit to take care of her family, Parvana dresses as a boy, and with newfound, albeit limited, freedom, she takes on odd jobs and tries to find a way to free her father from prison. The artwork, composed of stills from the animated film, makes beautiful work of the rocky desert setting, and scenes of Parvana's family are weighty with expressive emotion. Parvana's story is a heartbreaking one, but the resilience of the characters is moving, and a note about the slowly improving current state of affairs in Afghanistan, particularly concerning the education of girls, ends the story with a glimmer of hope.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A graphic-novel adaptation of Ellis' heartwarming story of Parvana, a young girl in Afghanistan who cuts her hair and dresses as a boy to earn money for her family when her father is imprisoned by the Taliban.Adding a layer of remove from the original, this graphic novel is an adaptation of the upcoming film version, and it varies significantly from the original book. Notable deviations include the absence of helpful Mrs. Weera, who provides so much support to Parvana and her family in the original book, and two new details: a grudging former student who tattles on Parvana's father and Parvana's solo visit to rescue her imprisoned father. Much story is lost as a result of the numerous deviations, which also sadly promote Western views of Afghanistan, such as rampant corruption and violent men. Even as a stand-alone title for readers not familiar with the book, the storyline is bumpy, moving in fits and starts. At one point, Parvana's mother decides to abandon Parvana and leave for the neighboring village but then changes her mind midway. Another disappointment is the book cover, which shows Parvana selling chai, something she does not do in either story (although her friend does). The only redeeming factor is the beautiful artwork, stills from the film, with its vivid use of colors to display context, such as use of red for war and black for the Taliban rule.A rather unsatisfying graphic novel, sure to disappoint fans of Ellis' book. (Graphic historical fiction. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
