The title of the book refers to the role of the protagonist, 11-year-old Parvana, who is forced by circumstances to be the breadwinner for her family during the Third Afghan Civil War.

Parvana and her mother go to the local jail and beg for her father to be freed, but the guards beat them for being so outspoken.

Because Parvana's father can no longer work, her family situation becomes dire, as women are not allowed to travel outside the home unless accompanied by a related male in Afghanistan.

Eventually, Parvana's mother begins to feel better and joins Mrs. Weera and a group of women to write the Afghanistan National Magazine, smuggling it to and from Pakistan so it can be published.

Her mother and Mrs. Weera decide to disguise Parvana as a boy by cutting her hair and dressing her in her deceased brother Hossain's old clothes so that she can buy groceries.

Parvana leads her home at night, and soon the girl, named Homa, tells them that Mazar-e-Sharif has been captured by the Taliban.

Parvana and Shauzia make a pact to meet with each other 20 years later in France, at the top of the Eiffel Tower.