Novel study: Parvana's Journey
Our first novel in grade 9 is Parvana's Journey by Deborah Ellis.
In Parvana’s Journey, the Taliban still control Afghanistan, but Kabul is in ruins. Parvana’s father has just died, and her mother, sister, and brother could be anywhere in the country. Parvana knows she must find them.
Despite her youth, Parvana sets out alone, masquerading as a boy. She soon meets other children who are victims of war — an infant boy in a bombed-out village, a nine-year-old girl who thinks she has magic powers over landmines, and a boy with one leg. The children travel together, forging a kind of family out of sheer need. The strength of their bond makes it possible to survive the most desperate conditions.
In Parvana’s Journey, the Taliban still control Afghanistan, but Kabul is in ruins. Parvana’s father has just died, and her mother, sister, and brother could be anywhere in the country. Parvana knows she must find them.
Despite her youth, Parvana sets out alone, masquerading as a boy. She soon meets other children who are victims of war — an infant boy in a bombed-out village, a nine-year-old girl who thinks she has magic powers over landmines, and a boy with one leg. The children travel together, forging a kind of family out of sheer need. The strength of their bond makes it possible to survive the most desperate conditions.
Parvana's Journey LEARNING GOALs
I am learning to ...
1. move through the story with understanding
2. identify and explain literary devices
3. find important information related to character development and plot development
4. synthesize and organize information clearly
5. make connections between the story and historical events, the modern world, and other texts
For our writing tasks related to Parvana, see the Writing Tasks Tab from the drop-down menu.
1. move through the story with understanding
2. identify and explain literary devices
3. find important information related to character development and plot development
4. synthesize and organize information clearly
5. make connections between the story and historical events, the modern world, and other texts
For our writing tasks related to Parvana, see the Writing Tasks Tab from the drop-down menu.
Reading Schedule
Have the chapters read by the dates below. Check below to see if Chapter Questions are posted for that chapter.
3/4: Chpt. 8
3/5: Chpt. 9
3/6: Chpt. 10
3/7: Chpt. 11
3/8: Chpt. 12
March Break: **in lieu of chapter questions, students will post a comment on the blog section of the ENG1D website about their reading on each of these three days.
3/11: Chpt. 12
3/13: Chpt. 13
3/15: Chpt. 14
Back to School:
3/20: Chpts. 15 and 16
3/21: Chpts. 17 and 18
3/25: Chpt. 19
3/26: Chpt. 20
3/26: Chpt. 21
3/4: Chpt. 8
3/5: Chpt. 9
3/6: Chpt. 10
3/7: Chpt. 11
3/8: Chpt. 12
March Break: **in lieu of chapter questions, students will post a comment on the blog section of the ENG1D website about their reading on each of these three days.
3/11: Chpt. 12
3/13: Chpt. 13
3/15: Chpt. 14
Back to School:
3/20: Chpts. 15 and 16
3/21: Chpts. 17 and 18
3/25: Chpt. 19
3/26: Chpt. 20
3/26: Chpt. 21
Context: The Taliban
The Taliban still controls parts of Afghanistan. The Taliban rules from an extremist Islamic stance. There are very strict rules for behaviour and terrible consequences for disobeying.
In general, the Taliban bans listening to music, watching videos, using the Internet, reading objectionable literature, having a non-Islamic name, and applauding at sports events.
For women, the Taliban has many more rules, including, no working outside the home, no education at any level, no laughing or shaking hands with or talking to strangers, wearing a burqa and being covered from head to toe, no high heels, no riding a bike or motorcycle, never going outside without a male relative, having the windows painted so no one can see a woman inside her home, no playing sports, no brightly coloured clothes, no flared pants even under a burqa, no images of women or public appearances by women in the radio or news.
The punishments for disobeying include public whipping, beating, and stoning, and execution.
The Afghanistan of Parvana is in civil war and ruled by Taliban soldiers. Especially as a girl, she faces many terrifying obstacles as she tries to find her family and evade the Taliban.
Students completed a journal entry about their weekend - and traded with a partner to cross out everything disallowed by the Taliban. For most of the girls' entries, the lines were entirely blacked out.
In general, the Taliban bans listening to music, watching videos, using the Internet, reading objectionable literature, having a non-Islamic name, and applauding at sports events.
For women, the Taliban has many more rules, including, no working outside the home, no education at any level, no laughing or shaking hands with or talking to strangers, wearing a burqa and being covered from head to toe, no high heels, no riding a bike or motorcycle, never going outside without a male relative, having the windows painted so no one can see a woman inside her home, no playing sports, no brightly coloured clothes, no flared pants even under a burqa, no images of women or public appearances by women in the radio or news.
The punishments for disobeying include public whipping, beating, and stoning, and execution.
The Afghanistan of Parvana is in civil war and ruled by Taliban soldiers. Especially as a girl, she faces many terrifying obstacles as she tries to find her family and evade the Taliban.
Students completed a journal entry about their weekend - and traded with a partner to cross out everything disallowed by the Taliban. For most of the girls' entries, the lines were entirely blacked out.
Afghanistan Revealed - National Geographic Film
With never-before-seen footage, Afghanistan Revealed explores this war-torn country and the lives of its people as they struggle against the Taliban. Students viewed the film and created a list of new facts that they learned about Afghanistan, and things they found interesting or shocking.
Media Study: Osama Movie
Osama is a foreign film that follows the life of a young girl who must pretend to be a boy in order to work and support her family. Her father is dead and her mother is no longer allowed to work due to the Taliban rules in Kabul. Osama is found out and arrested. She is pardoned when a much older man offers to marry her. She must become one of the man's wives.
The film has English subtitles and has been edited for content. Students considered the differences between this film and a typical Hollywood box office film, as well as the use of several symbolic images and objects in the film.
Finally, we completed a Venn diagram comparing Parvana and Osama.
The film has English subtitles and has been edited for content. Students considered the differences between this film and a typical Hollywood box office film, as well as the use of several symbolic images and objects in the film.
Finally, we completed a Venn diagram comparing Parvana and Osama.
Chapter questions
RECALL:
1. Use part of the question in your answer.
2. Answer the questions.
3. Provide details and evidence.
4. Explain your thinking.
Chpt. 1
1. What are three things we learn about Parvana's father?
2. Where is the rest of Parvana's family?
3. Why does Parvana decide to leave the village?
Chpt. 2
1. Parvana's father says, "Your brains needs exercise just like your body." He also says, "All my girls are smart." Why is his attitude towards his daughters unusual in an Afghanistan ruled by the Taliban?
2. Why does Parvana walk away from the woman on the hill?
3. What does Parvana's father mean when he says, "Some people are dead before they die" (8)? Give an example from outside the book.
Chpt. 3
1. Parvana looks at the baby and finds "no war in his face." What does that mean?
2. What did Parvana bury? Why?
3. Would you bring the baby with you? First complete a T-chart. One side is Yes and one side is No. List 3 reasons for each side. Then pick your side and explain why you made that choice.
Chpt. 4
1. Who does Parvana meet in the cave?
2. Do you think Parvana will leave Asif and Hassan behind when she leaves? Why or why not?
3. Why do you think Asif is so angry and mean towards Parvana?
4. What does Parvana do that lets you know she cares about Asif?
Chpt. 5
1. What does Asif do with the baby?
2. What does Asif have Parvana do for him?
3. What do these actions suggest about how Asif feels towards Parvana and Hassan?
Chpt. 6
1. What is Parvana's dream for the treasure?
2. What is Asif's dream for the treasure?
3. How does it differ from your dream for $1 million? What reasons can explain the differences?
Chpt. 7
1. How does Parvana feel about Asif joining the journey?
2. Why does Parvana want to find grown-ups?
Chpt. 8
1. How does Asif help Parvana?
2. What is Parvana hired to do? Why isn't Asif?
3. Why does Parvana no longer believe in fairy tales?
4. How do the children feel at the end of the chapter? Why?
Chpt. 9
1. List and explain the challenges that the children face in this chapter.
2. Who is "Parvana the Protector?"
Chpt. 10
1. Why did Parvana tear the page about the new world out of her book?
2. What does Green Valley symbolically represent? Comment on 3 aspects of Parvana's dream.
3. Why do the children believe Hassan is sick?
4. What are 3 special qualities of Green Valley?
5. Describe the children's reactions to the events at the end of Chpt. 10.
Chpt. 11
1. What shows that Leila is used to or accustomed to landmines going off?
2. What does Leila's physical description tell us about her?
3. How does Parvana show she is resourceful in making Leila feel better?
4. Explain what the quote "landmines won't hurt me" shows about Leila.
5. Describe grandmother. Use 2 quotes.
6. Why is she curled up in a ball?
7. Who do you think the first woman Parvana met on her journey could have been? Explain.
8. How does Leila see the minefield?
9. What do Parvana and Leila have in common?
Chpts. 12, 13, 14 are on the Community Blog page
Chpts. 17 & 18
1. What sort of hardships to Parvana, Leila, Asif, and Hassan face after Green Valley is destroyed?
2. Why can't the people they meet on the road help the children?
3. Why does Parvana feel like she is in the middle of a nightmare?
Chpt. 19
1. How do the children demonstrate their loyalty and love for the baby and for each other in this chapter?
2. Why is Parvana so happy that there are “proper” adults around them?
3. Do you think that these grown-ups will do a better job of taking care of the children than Parvana did? Is Parvana’s role of caretaker over now that they are in the camp?
Chpt. 20
1. Why do the men yell at Parvana? What does she do?
2. What does airplane throw down to the people in the camp?
3. Why does Leila run to get them? What happens?
4. Parvana rushes into the minefield to get Leila. Why does she do this dangerous thing?
5. What amazing thing happens at the end of this chapter?
Chpt. 21
1. How are thing different now for Parvana?
2. What sad news does she hear from her mother?
3. Do you think that Parvana is happy that her bossy sister, Nooria, is back with her? Why?
4. Do you think Parvana's journey is over? How do you know?
5.
a) Draw a plot graph. Label it with the parts of plot: introduction, inciting incident, rising action, climax, resolution.
b) Write out a sentence from the book for each part of plot. Include 3 different events for the rising action. Be sure to put quotation marks around your quote, and include the page number in brackets.
1. Use part of the question in your answer.
2. Answer the questions.
3. Provide details and evidence.
4. Explain your thinking.
Chpt. 1
1. What are three things we learn about Parvana's father?
2. Where is the rest of Parvana's family?
3. Why does Parvana decide to leave the village?
Chpt. 2
1. Parvana's father says, "Your brains needs exercise just like your body." He also says, "All my girls are smart." Why is his attitude towards his daughters unusual in an Afghanistan ruled by the Taliban?
2. Why does Parvana walk away from the woman on the hill?
3. What does Parvana's father mean when he says, "Some people are dead before they die" (8)? Give an example from outside the book.
Chpt. 3
1. Parvana looks at the baby and finds "no war in his face." What does that mean?
2. What did Parvana bury? Why?
3. Would you bring the baby with you? First complete a T-chart. One side is Yes and one side is No. List 3 reasons for each side. Then pick your side and explain why you made that choice.
Chpt. 4
1. Who does Parvana meet in the cave?
2. Do you think Parvana will leave Asif and Hassan behind when she leaves? Why or why not?
3. Why do you think Asif is so angry and mean towards Parvana?
4. What does Parvana do that lets you know she cares about Asif?
Chpt. 5
1. What does Asif do with the baby?
2. What does Asif have Parvana do for him?
3. What do these actions suggest about how Asif feels towards Parvana and Hassan?
Chpt. 6
1. What is Parvana's dream for the treasure?
2. What is Asif's dream for the treasure?
3. How does it differ from your dream for $1 million? What reasons can explain the differences?
Chpt. 7
1. How does Parvana feel about Asif joining the journey?
2. Why does Parvana want to find grown-ups?
Chpt. 8
1. How does Asif help Parvana?
2. What is Parvana hired to do? Why isn't Asif?
3. Why does Parvana no longer believe in fairy tales?
4. How do the children feel at the end of the chapter? Why?
Chpt. 9
1. List and explain the challenges that the children face in this chapter.
2. Who is "Parvana the Protector?"
Chpt. 10
1. Why did Parvana tear the page about the new world out of her book?
2. What does Green Valley symbolically represent? Comment on 3 aspects of Parvana's dream.
3. Why do the children believe Hassan is sick?
4. What are 3 special qualities of Green Valley?
5. Describe the children's reactions to the events at the end of Chpt. 10.
Chpt. 11
1. What shows that Leila is used to or accustomed to landmines going off?
2. What does Leila's physical description tell us about her?
3. How does Parvana show she is resourceful in making Leila feel better?
4. Explain what the quote "landmines won't hurt me" shows about Leila.
5. Describe grandmother. Use 2 quotes.
6. Why is she curled up in a ball?
7. Who do you think the first woman Parvana met on her journey could have been? Explain.
8. How does Leila see the minefield?
9. What do Parvana and Leila have in common?
Chpts. 12, 13, 14 are on the Community Blog page
Chpts. 17 & 18
1. What sort of hardships to Parvana, Leila, Asif, and Hassan face after Green Valley is destroyed?
2. Why can't the people they meet on the road help the children?
3. Why does Parvana feel like she is in the middle of a nightmare?
Chpt. 19
1. How do the children demonstrate their loyalty and love for the baby and for each other in this chapter?
2. Why is Parvana so happy that there are “proper” adults around them?
3. Do you think that these grown-ups will do a better job of taking care of the children than Parvana did? Is Parvana’s role of caretaker over now that they are in the camp?
Chpt. 20
1. Why do the men yell at Parvana? What does she do?
2. What does airplane throw down to the people in the camp?
3. Why does Leila run to get them? What happens?
4. Parvana rushes into the minefield to get Leila. Why does she do this dangerous thing?
5. What amazing thing happens at the end of this chapter?
Chpt. 21
1. How are thing different now for Parvana?
2. What sad news does she hear from her mother?
3. Do you think that Parvana is happy that her bossy sister, Nooria, is back with her? Why?
4. Do you think Parvana's journey is over? How do you know?
5.
a) Draw a plot graph. Label it with the parts of plot: introduction, inciting incident, rising action, climax, resolution.
b) Write out a sentence from the book for each part of plot. Include 3 different events for the rising action. Be sure to put quotation marks around your quote, and include the page number in brackets.