The Breadwinner: Chapters 8–15

by Deborah Ellis
Living in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, eleven-year-old Parvana must disguise herself as a boy in order to earn money for her family.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–15
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. distinctive
    of a feature that helps to identify a person or thing
    Mrs. Weera wore the burqa, of course, but she had such a distinctive way of walking that Parvana was sure she could pick her out of a whole marketplace of women wearing burqas.
  2. pneumonia
    a serious illness of the lungs that makes it difficult to breathe
    "We are the last of the Weeras," she said. "The bombs took some, the war took others, and pneumonia took the rest."
  3. accommodate
    have room for; hold without crowding
    He had to fill the bucket on the scales three times to accommodate all their bones. He added up the weight, named an amount, and counted up the money.
  4. stint
    an individual's prescribed share of work
    Her graveyard stint over, she was back to going outside with Nooria and the little ones in the middle of the day.
  5. intimidate
    make timid or fearful
    The two girls were a little intimidated by so many people and stayed next to each other as they went up into the bleachers to sell their wares.
  6. ware
    commodities offered for sale
    The two girls were a little intimidated by so many people and stayed next to each other as they went up into the bleachers to sell their wares.
  7. nomad
    a member of a people who have no permanent home
    "Sure I can. I've got it all figured out. I'll tell a group of nomads that I'm an orphan, and I'll travel with them into Pakistan. My father told me they go back and forth with the seasons, looking for grass for their sheep. In Pakistan, I head down to the Arabian Sea, get on a boat, and go to France!" She spoke as if nothing could be more simple.
  8. snippet
    a small piece of anything
    She was no longer interested in the snippets of conversation she heard from people strolling by.
  9. glower
    look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval
    Parvana glowered for three days.
  10. kebab
    cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer
    Sometimes Parvana would treat Shauzia to lunch at one of the kebab stands in the market.
  11. curfew
    the time of a signal announcing activities are prohibited
    If she was going to be home before curfew, she'd have to leave now.
  12. grope
    feel about uncertainly or blindly
    Groping in the dark for her tray, she found two little bags of dried fruit and nuts.
  13. critical
    characterized by careful evaluation and judgment
    "You've brought someone with you! You are very welcome here, my dear." She took a critical look at the woman.
  14. poultice
    a medical dressing spread on a cloth and applied to the skin
    Father had been beaten badly, and the poultice bandages Mrs. Weera put over his wounds had to be changed and washed frequently.
  15. derision
    the act of treating with contempt
    Through the voices of derision came another voice. "Do none of you appreciate nature? This boy has undertaken to bring a bit of beauty into our gray marketplace, and do you thank him? Do you help him?"
Created on Wed Feb 12 09:21:08 EST 2020 (updated Tue Jun 17 15:21:04 EDT 2025)

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