Adaptation of Groundwood Books' The Breadwinner Nominated for an Academy Award

Deborah Ellis' The Breadwinner (Groundwood Books) has made over $1 million since it was published in 2000. All of those royalties were donated by Ellis to benefit Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan and Street Kids International.

The novel tells the story of Parvana, a courageous 11-year old girl who is forced to disguise herself as a boy in order to earn money for her family in Taliban-era Afghanistan. 

The Breadwinner was already a certified phenomenon, but it's earned even more fans after it was adapted to an animated film, directed by Nora Twomey and executive produced by Mimi Polk Gitlin and Angelina Jolie. The film has now been nominated for an Academy Award, and you can check out the moving and beautifully animated trailer here.