The Breadwinner, by Deborah Ellis

This novel connects to a theme of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne, in that it emphasizes the impact of a 'costume', and the way that one visually presents oneself to the public. And, like Boyne's novel, it is a historical fiction representation of the courageous actions of a child during wartimes. While Boyne focuses on the life of a boy, Ellis concentrates on that of a girl, and the freedom that dressing as a boy gives her. There are myriad opportunities to explore the strengths displayed by female characters in this novel, and using both books could lend to comparing and contrasting gender relations in different settings. Of course, Ellis's novel could also be used itself as the core of a social studies unit on war in Afghanistan.

Some images (although lighter in content) show how the 'costumes we wear' change how we are perceived:

Image 1: A child prepares for a home performance.

Image 2: A friend in the Dominican Republic sees what it would feel like to dress for an NYC winter (note: It is actually 80˚F)

Image 3: Preparing for a salsa performance.