Binti, her sister, and brother are separated and sent to the home of relatives who can barely tolerate their presence. She, Binti Phirim, once a child star of a popular radio program is now she is scraping to survive. Binti always believed she was special, now she is nothing but a common AIDS orphan. If she and her brother and sister are to reunited, Binti Phiri will have to look outside herself and find a new way to be special. 

Awards and Nominations

• Ontario Library Association’s Golden Oak Award winner 2006 
• Winner of the 2005 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award in the category of Honor Books for Older Children
• Shortlisted for the 2006 Alberta Children’s Choice Book Award
• A Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Awards Honour Book for 2006
• Foreword Magazine 2004 Book of the Year Award finalist
• A Children’s Africana Book Awards (CABA) 2005 Honor Book for Older Readers
• A Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice 2005
• Red Maple Book Award nominee 2005

Assumptions

Award winning screenwriter Deborah Ellis donates most of her royalty income to worthy causes — Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, Street Kids International, the Children in Crisis Fund of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) and UNICEF. She has donated more than one million dollars in royalties. Her title “Breadwinner” is currently an animated feature produced by Angelina Jolie. There is also a teacher’s guide for the story available.