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A review by emmalemonnz
Sold by Patricia McCormick
5.0
Beautifully and skilfully written, this heartbreaking story is told simply and without being overly sentimental. The horrific brutality and incredible kindness speak for themselves. A must-read.
India has been on my bucket list since before I knew what a bucket list was.
Written for children, but still an engrossing read for adults, "Sold" by Patricia McCormick is haunting. It is a fictional account of a young Nepalese girl (12-14 years old throughout the story) who is sold to an Indian brothel called Happiness House. Despite "Sold" being fictional, there are literally millions of real life girls who live like Lakshmi.
It's a children's story, so Lakshmi gets a happy ending. While it's nice to know that that can happen, it's also important to remember that it's not the most common outcome for girls like Lakshmi.
Despite the horrific circumstances, the book is also full of kindness and friendships. It has beautiful poetic sections, and the super short chapters make it appealing to younger readers.
I will be recommending this to many of my y9-10 students, but also encourage adults to read it. It portrays the brutal reality of human trafficking and sex slavery without being graphic.
I still want to visit India. But I will go with my eyes wide open. It's easy to romanticise far-off countries. It's also easy to vilify a whole group of people based on the actions or beliefs of just a few. One day I will go, and see for myself this diverse country with its rich culture and complex history. In the meantime, will continue to raise awareness of human trafficking, sex slavery, and the power of mighty girls around the world.
India has been on my bucket list since before I knew what a bucket list was.
Written for children, but still an engrossing read for adults, "Sold" by Patricia McCormick is haunting. It is a fictional account of a young Nepalese girl (12-14 years old throughout the story) who is sold to an Indian brothel called Happiness House. Despite "Sold" being fictional, there are literally millions of real life girls who live like Lakshmi.
It's a children's story, so Lakshmi gets a happy ending. While it's nice to know that that can happen, it's also important to remember that it's not the most common outcome for girls like Lakshmi.
Despite the horrific circumstances, the book is also full of kindness and friendships. It has beautiful poetic sections, and the super short chapters make it appealing to younger readers.
I will be recommending this to many of my y9-10 students, but also encourage adults to read it. It portrays the brutal reality of human trafficking and sex slavery without being graphic.
I still want to visit India. But I will go with my eyes wide open. It's easy to romanticise far-off countries. It's also easy to vilify a whole group of people based on the actions or beliefs of just a few. One day I will go, and see for myself this diverse country with its rich culture and complex history. In the meantime, will continue to raise awareness of human trafficking, sex slavery, and the power of mighty girls around the world.