CHAPTER 1
Why did Parvana sit quietly in the market?
She was afraid of speaking because the Taliban didn’t allow women to be heard.
What was ironic about the Taliban calling themselves "religious scholars"?
They stopped people from studying freely.
Why was Father taken away by the Taliban?
He was accused of spreading foreign ideas
What did Nooria do when Parvana tried to wake up Mother to tell her that there was no more food?
She pulled Parvana away and said Mother was depressed
Why did Parvana’s father sell his false leg?
Someone offered him a high price for it.
Why was Parvana allowed to go outside?
She helped her father walk to the
market and back home.
Why couldn't Mother and Nooria fetch water?
It was dangerous for women to go outside without a man or without a burqa
What did Father mean when he told Parvana, “Take care of the others, my Malali”?
He wanted her to be strong and protect the family
What recurring nightmare did Parvana have after their return?
Soldiers screaming at her and hitting her and her mother
What did the Taliban forbid girls from doing?
Leaving their homes and going to school.
Why did Parvana's family have to move several times?
Their house kept getting destroyed by bombs.
What does Parvana admire and also envy about Nooria?
Her Hair
Why does Parvana have trouble sleeping?
She misses her father’s snoring and fears the Taliban
Why didn’t Mother want to leave the house, even before Father was arrested?
She believed the situation in Afghanistan would improve soon
What was Parvana’s favorite subject in school?
History
How did Parvana's father lose his leg?
He was hurt in a bombing at his high school.
Why did Father advise Parvana to keep her distance from neighbors?
The Taliban encouraged neighbors to spy on each other
Why does Parvana’s mother refuse to take a written note with her?
She believes she should be treated as a grown, educated woman and not a kindergartener
Why were Mother’s feet even worse than Parvana’s?
She had not walked outside in over a year
What did Parvana’s father mean when he said, “Afghans cover the earth like stars cover the sky”?
Afghans had spread all over the world due to war.
What did Parvana’s father do for a living?
He read and wrote letters for people in the market
Why was Parvana upset about selling her red shalwar kameez?
It was the only nice clothing she had left
Why does Mother hold out a photograph of Father to strangers?
She wants to see if they know where he is
Why does Parvana decide to go out?
She sees the condition of her siblings and she is the only one who can go out
Why did Parvana try to make herself look smaller when the Taliban were around?
She was scared of being noticed