Sold is the story of Lakshmi, a thirteen-year old girl in Nepal who helps her family and dreams of her future. When monsoons destroy her family’s crops, her stepfather arranges for her to go to the city to be a maid for a rich lady, but instead, she is brought to a brothel in India to become a prostitute. At first, Lakshmi, barely understands what is happening to her; when she does, she believes she will be able to buy herself out of her the brothel, but the manipulative woman named Mumtaz who runs the place will never let that happen. While she’s there, Lakshmi makes friends and begins to hope again. American rescue workers try to save Lakshmi and the other young women, but the girls have been convinced it is another trick that will end with them being shamed in the village. Will Lakshmi be brave enough to take the risk and have a chance at freedom?
Patricia McCormack’s website has lots of stuff to check out, including information about the real girls in Nepal and other parts of the world who are victims of trafficking, torture and other human rights abuses. Here are a couple of places to find out more: MAITI Nepal and Vital Voices. Sold was a National Book Award finalist in 2006 and received lots of terrific reviews. It's also on the NYC 2008 Teen Summer Reading booklist.
**NEWS**Patty will be chatting live with NYC teens on the Summer Reading website on Thursday, July 24 @ 2:00 pm. Stay tuned for more information about how to talk to Patty live!
I have to say that Sold was one of those books that I was actually nervous to read because I knew it was going to be upsetting. Since I had to read it to review for the magazine VOYA, I sat myself down at my desk at work and read it there (figuring I’d be less freaked out in the office). I read the whole thing in one sitting, with tears in my eyes almost the whole time. In the end, it became the only book I have ever reviewed for VOYA I gave a “5Q” (the highest rating for quality). When I booktalked it at a juvenile detention center, I couldn’t get through the talk without getting goose bumps and chills (when I told the students this, they wanted to read it even more!). I rave about this book ALL THE TIME so find a copy now and read it!
3 comments:
Sold is a very interesting book. I love the action that happens in the book because it make me shows emotion. The emotion i showed the most is sympathy because i can't even imagine what i would do is I was Lakshmi. I really like this book. Danielle John from the Teens Library
This book taught me alot about sex trafficking and the consequences of it.
In my oppinion i was moved by this book. The things I learned about the sextrade that happens to girls all around the world made me hurt for them. i would definitly reccomend this book to everyone i know.
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