When Parvana tells her stories, the characters talk verbatim the exact words she says, and act out her narration to a T. But when Fattema extends the story one night, the characters have depth, say their own original dialogue, and seem more like real people. Remember that Fattema is a writer, and should be well versed with creativity and skill, while Parvana is coming up with these stories on the fly and initially doesn’t extend the stories beyond entertainment. When Parvana becomes more optimistic, she uses the stories as a coping mechanism and the characters become more life-like. When she faces the grief of her brother head-on, Sulayman starts to act more like he did in Fattema’s story, with his own narration and character, symbolizing Parvana’s growth.
Unshaved Mouse had a "Eureka!" Moment that Parvana and her father are darker skinned than her mother and sister, because the latter two aren't allowed outside and therefore don't get much sunlight.
