How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Most people in Afghanistan could not read or write. Parvana was one of the lucky ones. Both of her parents had been to university, and they believed in education for everyone, even girls. (1.12)
Can you imagine a country that is mostly illiterate? Think about what our society would be like if most of our citizens couldn't read or write. Parvana is one of the lucky ones because she has educated parents, but this isn't the case for most kids.
Quote #2
The two soldiers grabbed her father. The other two began searching the apartment, kicking the remains of dinner all over the mat.
"Leave him alone!" Mother screamed. "He has done nothing wrong!"
"Why did you go to England for your education? the soldier yelled at Father. "Afghanistan doesn't need your foreign ideas!" They yanked him toward the door.
"Afghanistan needs more illiterate thugs like you, "Father said." One of the soldiers hit him in the face. Blood from his nose dripped onto his white shalwar kameez. (2.72-2.75)
Father is being kidnapped because he is an educated man, and the fact that he received his education in England makes matters even worse—the Taliban is threatened by anyone who might challenge their ideas or authority, and nothing suggests someone might do just that like an education abroad.
Quote #3
Inside the room, the other two soldiers were ripping open the toshaks with knives and tossing things out of the cupboard.
Father's books! At the bottom of the cupboard was a secret compartment her father had built to hide the few books that had not been destroyed in one of the bombings. Some were English books about history and literature. They were kept hidden because the Taliban burned books they didn't like. (2.81-2.82)
As the Talibs tear through Parvana's apartment, she worries that they will find and burn Father's books and writings, his most valuable possessions that symbolize the importance of education in their lives. Censorship is a form of control, and books provide a source of freedom, which leaves us curious… Would you risk your life for a book?
Quote #4
Mother wasn't supposed to be out of her home without a man, or without a note from her husband.
"Nooria, write Mother a note."
"Don't bother, Nooria. I will not walk around my own city with a note pinned to my burqa as if I were a kindergarten child. I have a university degree!" (3.25-3.27)
Mother just wants to get out of the house to shop for a few hours. Is that too much to ask? Under the Taliban rule, the answer is yes. Women are under men's control in Kabul, and this is humiliating to Mother who is a well-educated woman. Education for Mother gives her stature in the community; it earns her respect. Nooria winds up forging a note from Father for Mother to carry with her just in case, though—a trick an illiterate family wouldn't be able to pull off.
Quote #5
It would help if she could read, but the only books they had were Father's secret books. She didn't dare take them out of their hiding place. What if the Taliban burst in on them again? They'd take the books, and maybe punish the whole family for having them. (4.45)
The Taliban really hates books, so much so that Parvana is scared to death to even take a peek at her Father's books while inside her apartment. They are his prized possessions and he would be heartbroken without them, so she doesn't dare risk losing them, even though they offer some comfort to her.
Quote #6
"Are you keeping up with your studies?" Mrs. Weera asked.
"My father's parents don't believe in girls being educated, and since we're living in their house, my mother says we have to do what they say."
"Do they mind you dressing like a boy and going out to work?" (6.32-6.34)
You got to love Mrs. Weera's dry humor. Shauzia's family is relying on her for food, and this involves her risking her life on a daily basis as she pretends she is a boy… But crack a book? Heck no. No girl in their family's going to do a think like that. While we think Parvana is the most unfortunate little girl alive, her family life looks like sunshine and roses compared to Shauzia's—at least Parvana's family encourages her to think for herself and expand her mind.
Quote #7
Nooria had ideas for the school. She had been planning to go to teacher's college when she finished high school, before the Taliban changed her plans. Father had given her and Parvana lessons for awhile when the schools first closed, but his health was not good, and the practice fell away.
"I could teach arithmetic and history," Nooria said. "Mrs. Weera could teach health and science, and Mother could teach reading and writing."
Parvana didn't like the idea of learning from Nooria. As a teacher, she'd be even bossier than she was as a big sister! Still, she couldn't remember the last time she'd seen Nooria excited about something, so she kept quiet. (9.48-9.50)
Education gives Nooria's life a purpose—she feels that teaching is her calling, and just the thought of starting a small school excites her. You've got to hand it to these women. They refuse to let a few Taliban soldiers get in the way of the girls' education, and school means so much to them that they are willing to die in order to keep young minds growing.
Quote #8
"Do you really want to do this?"
Nooria nodded. "Look at my life here, Parvana. I hate living under the Taliban. I'm tired of looking after the little ones. My school classes happen so seldom, they're of almost no value. There's no future for me here. At least in Mazar I can go to school, walk the streets without having to wear a burqa, and get a job when I've completed school. Maybe in Mazar I can have some kind of life. Yes, I want to do this." (13.6-13.7)
Nooria has agreed to the arranged marriage, which means she will move to Mazar. Parvana questions if this is what she really wants, but it clearly it is—Mazar offers women the freedom to go to school and get a job, and for Nooria, this is a chance to become fulfilled and lead a meaningful life.
Quote #9
"If we had left Afghanistan when we had the chance, I could be doing my work!"
"We are Afghans. This is our home. If all the educated people leave, who will rebuild the country?" (4.9)
When the Taliban first arrived in Kabul, Mother wanted to leave but Father felt it was important to stay, since they are part of the few educated elite, and he believes it is their duty to help build a new government once the Taliban is defeated. Father's decision causes conflict in his marriage, and really puts the women in the house in a pickle. Aren't they the ones who suffer the most? For being so smart, some might say this was a really stupid decision.
Quote #10
"Mrs. Weera was going to Pakistan. "Homa will come with me. We'll put her to work there." They were going to link up with the members of the women's group who were organizing Afghan women in exile.
"Where will you stay?"
"I have a cousin in one of the camps," Mrs. Weera replied. "She has been wanting me to come and live with her."
"Is there a school there?"
"If there isn't, we'll start one." (15.37-15.41)
Mrs. Weera has devoted her life to educating Afghan women, but if she can't teach in Afghanistan anymore, then she'll move to Pakistan—no matter what though, the teaching must continue. She flippantly mentions starting a new school from scratch like it's a piece of cake, but we don't doubt her.