How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Parvana looked at Mother, still lying on the toshak. She looked at Ali, worn out from being hungry and needing his parents. She looked at Maryam, whose cheeks were already beginning to look hollow, and who hadn't been in the sunshine in such a long time. Finally, she looked at her big sister, Nooria.
Nooria looked terrified. If Parvana didn't obey her, she would have to go for food herself.
Now, I've got her, Parvana thought. I can make her as miserable as she makes me. But she was surprised to find that this thought gave her no pleasure. (4.64-4.66)
Since Father left, the family has really been suffering. The babies are hungry and dirty, and Mother has shut down completely, so Nooria tells Parvana that she has no choice—she has to go out for food. But Parvana doesn't want to—she's only eleven, after all, she isn't supposed to go out alone. Going out is seriously dangerous, but after assessing her family's situation, Parvana realizes she has no choice. Her family needs her, and so she goes.
Quote #2
She kept hauling water. Her arms were sore, and the blisters on her feet started to bleed again, but she didn't think about that. She fetched water because her family needed it, because her father would have expected her to. Now that Mrs. Weera was there and her mother was up, things were going to get easier, and she would do her part. (5.51)
For Parvana, being part of a family means chipping in and making sure everyone is taken care of, and with Mrs. Weera's arrival, Parvana feels her family can make it through these hard times if they all do their part. While fetching the water is probably the worst of the household chores, Parvana knows it is also the most important—plus Father's expectations linger even though his presence in the house is gone, and she wants to make him proud.
Quote #3
"Dear Niece," Parvana read. "I am sorry I am not able to be with you at the time of your wedding, but I hope this letter will get to you in time. It is good to be in Germany, away from all the fighting. In my mind, though, I never really leave Afghanistan. My thoughts are always turned to our country, to our family and friends I will probably never see again." (7.27)
When a woman gets married, she agrees to leave her family and start a new one, very often with a husband she's never met, which can be upsetting for those she leaves behind.
Quote #4
Mrs. Weera had been living with her grandchild in a room even smaller than Parvana's. It was in the basement of a ruined building.
"We are the last of the Weeras," she said. "The bombs took some, the war took others, and pneumonia took the rest."
Parvana didn't know what to say. Mrs. Weera did not sound as though she was looking for sympathy. (8.12-8.14)
Mrs. Weera has accepted the fact that she's alone, but for some reason she doesn't seem lonely. Perhaps this is because she has dedicated her life to fighting for women's rights—so though the Taliban has taken away her family, she's still got a whole lot of purpose.
Quote #5
"There's only my mother and me and my two little sisters left," Shauzia said. "My mother doesn't go out. She's sick all the time. We're living with my father's parents and one of his sisters. Everybody fights all the time. I'm lucky to be able to get away from them and go to work." (9.30)
Dressing up as a boy is dangerous, but Shauzia does it willingly because it gets her away from her family—home isn't a happy place for this kid. Sure Shauzia is dying to get away from Afghanistan for all the obvious reasons, but she also really wants to get away from her family.
Quote #6
"Do you want to come with me?" Shauzia asked. "We could look after each other."
"I don't know." She could leave Afghanistan, but could she leave her family? She didn't think so. (12.39-12.40)
Here lies the major difference between Shauzia and Parvana: Shauzia has no trouble leaving her family, but Parvana just can't. It's not because Shauzia isn't a loving daughter—it's because the people she lives with are family in name only, and she gets no love or support from them. Shauzia feels she is better off on her own.
Quote #7
"We can't leave Kabul! Parvana exclaimed. "What about Father? What will happen if he gets out of prison and we're not here? He won't know where to look for us!" (13.10)
While Mother and the kids head to Pakistan with Nooria, Parvana refuses to go. She still has hope that Father will return, and is determined that someone will be there waiting for him. And who better for the job than his Malali?
Quote #8
Parvana found the next few weeks to be a strange time. With only herself, Mrs. Weera and Mrs. Weera's grandchild, the apartment seemed almost empty. Fewer people meant fewer chores, less noise and more free time. Parvana even missed Ali's fussing. As the weeks went by, she looked forward more and more to everyone coming back. (13.39)
Sure our families can be annoying, but when they are not there, we miss them. Parvana is still home, but her home doesn't seem the same without her family. Does that make sense? Parvana actually misses Ali's screaming and even Nooria's attitude. Go figure.
Quote #9
"She wants to leave. She hates it here. Couldn't she go with you? She could be your escort!"
"Shauzia has family here. Do you mean to say she would just leave her family? Desert the team just because the game is rough?"
Parvana said no more. In a way, Mrs. Weera was right. That was what Shauzia was doing. But Shauzia was also right. Didn't she have a right to seek out a better life? Parvana couldn't decide who was more right. (15.44-15.46)
Shauzia wants out of Afghanistan, and her desire for a better life outweighs family loyalty—plus she doesn't really like her family too much anyway. So while Mrs. Weera feels her first obligation should be to her family, Parvana realizes that it isn't always so cut and dry.