We make people into the “other” or dehumanize them in order to make torturing them acceptable. It made me think about how we can rationalize torture on other people. In chapter nine, Parvana thinks about torture and what would cause her to torture someone.

I also felt such sorrow and sadness for the way that Parvana, and in turn many Afghans, were treated in the prison. It made me think of how excited I am to teach a room full of students in engaging ways that make them excited about learning. Parvana was so excited to be able to teach these students first aid in a practical, although devious, way. This chapter also reminded me of my excitement of becoming a teacher. Part of me felt as though this was a sort of revenge on Nooria for all of the mean things that she had done to Parvana (although I don’t think anything could make up for stealing Parvana’s story). I thought the scene in which Parvana tied up Nooria in order to teach first aid was so funny. I felt as though by taking her story, Nooria and her mother and stolen a piece of Parvana’s life.Īside from the anger I felt in this section I also felt other emotions while reading. I would have felt betrayed, not only by Nooria, which isn’t entirely surprising, but by Parvana’s mother! I felt hurt for Parvana just reading that passage knowing that she had toiled away for her family by pretending to be a boy (in the Breadwinner) and then that not only her sister but her mother had almost stolen that from her.

I can only imagine the rage that Parvana would have felt in that moment. I was furious when I found out that Nooria had been accepted to university in the United States because she stole Parvana’s story. She has been treated so miserably both in the past as well as the present. For me this section of chapters evoked a lot of emotion, questions, and personal relations.

My name is parvana