My name is Parvana Book Review: A Powerful Story of Hope and Survival

What is My Name is Parvana by Deborah Ellis about?

My Name is Parvana follows Parvana’s journey as she fights for education, hope, and freedom in Afghanistan. This inspiring story explores courage, friendship, resilience, and the challenges faced by girls living under Taliban.

Discover our Review and Summary of My Name is Parvana by Deborah Ellis

I am a 15-year-old girl living in Afghanistan. I am a fighter for education. I am leading a school where girls are valued and free. I am a saviour for many young, lost souls whose lives have been damaged by mean old men. I am not afraid of the Taliban. I am Parvana…

Parvana has been taken by the foreign military and is being questioned on suspicion of terrorism. She is trapped in a cell with chocolate brownies and Jane Eyre books, refusing to say anything. But how exactly did we get here?

REWIND…

Parvana, Asif, Maryam, Nooria and Parvana’s mother have just opened a school called Laila’s Academy Of Hope, named after the little girl who meant so much and died in a landmine accident. Her name was Laila. From the moment the school is opened, many new students arrive and there is hope amongst the women and girls in their community. As the days pass, the school gains academic success, although Parvana’s relationship with her mother begins to deteriorate.

Not long after the school opens, it begins to receive warnings against the organisation. Following this, they discover a little girl abandoned on the school grounds. She arrives with cigarette burns on her skin and is painfully thin. Along with her comes a note revealing that she is called Ava.

Under the care of the family, Ava begins to flourish and starts to feel a sense of belonging. However, things slowly begin to go downhill, and more girls are found and taken in. During these difficult times, Nooria is accepted into a university in USA, bringing moments of happiness in the depressing times.

Things soon become difficult for the school. Parvana’s mother is called for a meeting after suggesting the idea of opening a university for girls. After a few days when her mother did not return, things begin to spiral, and Parvana ends up in the hands of foreign enemies.

But will she find a way to escape and get back to her family before anything happens to her?

My favourite character is Parvana because of how brave she is. She continues running the school through difficult times and keeps going even when everything around her is falling apart.

My favourite part is when Nooria is accepted into university in the USA because of the experiences she had been through. It shows that good things can still happen, even through difficult times.

Is My Name is Parvana Worth Reading?

This book is about hope and keeping belief when things go wrong. Reading this book made me feel extremely grateful for the life I have been born into, where I do not have to worry about being bombed or living in fear every day. I felt very emotional while reading this book as I feel that no child should have to live in suffering, no matter their background, colour, religion or gender.

It is the fourth book in a series of five The Breadwinner, Parvana’s Journey, Mud City, My Name is Parvana and One More Mountain. Overall I rate this book a 5/5 and recommend reading the earlier books in the series first, as it make the story easier to understand.

If you liked My Name is Parvana, try these other thought-provoking reads:

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, a story of a woman’s life in Afghanistan, filled with unimaginable abuse and hardship.

I Am Malala: An inspiring true story about education, cultural pressure, and the strength of a young girl standing up for what is right.

The Diary of a Young Girl -Anne Frank: A powerful childhood perspective showing emotional resilience, hardship, and historical reality.

Once Series by Morris Gleitzman: Once | Then | Now | After | Soon | Maybe | Always. Each book follows Felix at different stages of his life.

The Line They Drew Through Us by Hiba Noor Khan, a powerful and emotional story set during the Partition of India.

Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson, a powerful World War 2 historical fiction set during the London Blitz.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, an emotional story from a child’s perspective in a controlled/harsh society.

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, which follows a young soldier reflecting on love, family & harsh realities of World War I.