"Deborah Ellis’ trilogy has been a phenomenal success, both critically and commercially. Now young readers can experience this entire epic story in one volume. The Breadwinner is set in Afghanistan, where 11-year-old Parvana lives with her family in a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul. When her father is arrested for the crime of having a foreign education, the family is left with no money or resources. Forbidden to earn money as a girl, Parvana must transform herself into a boy and become the breadwinner. In Parvana's Journey, her father has died and the family has scattered. Parvana, now 13 years old, is determined to find them. Again masquerading as a boy, she joins a group of wandering children, all refugees from war, who exist mainly on courage. In Mud City, the focus shifts to 14-year-old Shauzia, who lives in the Widows' Compound in Pakistan and dreams of escaping to a new life in France. Deborah Ellis uses simple, compelling language, memorable characters, and a wealth of imaginative detail in this wrenching look at the human cost of war that is also a surprisingly hopeful story of survival." www.amazon.com

Features a collection of three story books - "The Breadwinner", "Parvana's Journey" and "Mud City". They tell the stories of children whose lives are unimaginable to most of us. With the sounds, smells and suffering of Afghanistan and the refugee camps of Pakistan, they are the stories of ordinary children with extraordinary courage.

This book would be the perfect introduction to the reality of war torn Afghanistan for any middle school aged child. It may sound a little weird to say because of the horrors that we may find happening in that part of the world, but I tend to love books that are set in Afghanistan. I am a huge fan of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, and those books would definitely be a good follow up for kids who read and enjoy The Breadwinner Trilogy.

These books appeal to me because the realities of war and the horrible hardships faced by the people at the hands of the Taliban are heartbreaking and important to be aware of. I also have an interest in Middle Eastern culture (not the Taliban of course, but the actual culture of the Afghan people and country.) Ignorance about other countries, cultures, and struggles upsets me more than most things, and I think reading this book at a young age could definitely develop a cultural sensitivity and interest in young readers for world issues. After all, isn't that what reading is all about? Being able to walk in someone else's shoes and appreciate different lives and perspectives. I'm glad to say that my youngest sister was the person who recommended this book to me, and the middle school where I did one of my teaching internships also taught this book. If I ever end up teaching in a middle school, this is definitely a book I will have on the docket to pull out for a novel study.

The edition of the book that I read contained all three novels in The Breadwinner Trilogy - The Breadwinner, Parvana's Journey, and Mud City. In the first book, young Parvana has to pretend to be a boy in order to work and support her family in Kabul after her father has been arrested. A beautiful mix of childlike innocence and harsh tragedy, this book was very special and wonderful to read. Personally, I love reading from a child's perspective because you get that innocent element. Seriously though, can we get any better than To Kill a Mockingbird or A Little Princess? They are some of my favourites!

It was the second book in the trilogy that lost the teacup from me. It was all right, but compared to the first and the last book it seemed lacking and a bit unrealistic. Following three children and a baby through the wilds of Afghanistan was definitely a treacherous journey, but I didn't buy it. Their survival seemed a bit far fetched. But as an 11, 12, or 13 year old reading it, I certainly think this wouldn't be an issue. The final book, Mud City, follows Parvana's former friend, Shauzia, as she tries to make her way in Pakistan in order to save enough money to get herself on a boat to France. This installment was just as good as the first for me and it's hard for me to choose between the two for a favourite!

I would recommend this trilogy to any young reader, in fact I think it is an important piece that all preteens should have on their shelves. I'm sure this simple and quick read will stay with you long after you close the final page, especially if you are young. I can definitely see this trilogy as one that would impact a young reader and become one of their most influential reads! ( )

This is a middle school book that tells the story of an Afghan girls who is coming of age during the early days of the Taliban in Kabul. Her family, educated and previously employed in now Taliban forbidden occupations are managing their greatly curtailed lives, when the story begins. We follow the young girl as she helps to improve the family's existence, and grows up a little, posing as a boy. ( )

This is a middle school book that tells the story of an Afghan girls who is coming of age during the early days of the Taliban in Kabul. Her family, educated and previously employed in now Taliban forbidden occupations are managing their greatly curtailed lives, when the story begins. We follow the young girl as she helps to improve the family's existence, and grows up a little, posing as a boy. ( )

Narrated by Rita Wolf. When Parvana's father is taken away by the Taliban soldiers, Parvana is the one girl in the family who can get away with disguising herself as a boy and earning money in the market for the family.

This is deeply moving story about life in Afghanistan. Told from the point of view of children, it show that "war is not good for children and other living things." Orphans try to survive in war-torn Afghanistan, on their on and in refugee camps. ( )