Sold

by Patricia McCormick

A powerful novel written in vignettes about a a Nepalese girl who risks everything for a chance to reclaim her life.

Thirteen-year-old Lakshmi lives with her family in a small hut on a mountain in Nepal. Though they are desperately poor, Lakshmi’s life is full of simple pleasures: playing hopscotch with her best friend, looking after her black-and-white speckled goat, having her mother brush her hair by the light of an oil lamp. But when Lakshmi’s family lose all that remains of their crops in a monsoon, her stepfather says she must leave home and take a job in the city. Lakshmi undertakes the long journey to India full of hope for her new life, proud to be able to earn, daring to hope that she will make enough money to make her mother proud too. Then she learns the unthinkable truth: for 10,000 rupees she has been sold into prostitution.

• ISBN10: 1406357340
• ISBN13: 9781406357349
• Publish Date: 21 November 2013 (first published 1 September 2006)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Walker Books Ltd
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Language: English

Reviews

[duchessofdiscord]

Was recommended this book by a patient at work. Wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but it turns out, it was a fantastic read. I couldn't put it down. The vignette style of writing makes for a quick and easy read. Very well written, and a happy addition to my library.

[Angie]

I don't think I can say that I liked Sold. But who would really enjoy a book about a thirteen year old girl being sold into prostitution? I do think it's an important book and a good one though. It's also a very quick and easy read, given the sparse writing. I'm a bit torn on how Lakshmi's story was written though. On one hand, I'm glad it was fast and lacked details, because what she goes through is awful enough without getting into every aspect of it. But then, I also felt a bit detached from her, so I wasn't as engaged as I could have been.

I did actually really like Sold in the beginning. It still wasn't sunshine and rainbows, but I like seeing Lakshmi's life at home. Her family is extremely poor, but they are a family. Lakshmi does notice that women aren't exactly treated well, but she does what she has to in order to survive, since pouting about injustices won't put food on the table. She also has a pet goat, who was super cute and follows her to school. I also liked how Lakshmi wanted to leave her small village, but not necessarily to escape and experience the world. She wanted to work as a maid in the city to send money to her mother. In fact, that's what she thinks is happening when her stepfather takes her to town and leaves her with "Auntie."

From there, Sold gets really dark. It takes a minute, but Lakshmi soon realizes what her real job is going to be. Of course, she hates it, but soon she's again doing what it takes to survive, even if that means taking more customers when all she wants to do is be left alone. It's a tough story to read, but this is really happening to young girls around the world. It's not something I ever really think about. I know it's happening, but I'm so far removed from it that I just had no idea of the reality. It's scary. Sold does end with hope though, and it's nice knowing that these girls do have a way out. If only they wouldn't be afraid to take it thanks to the lies their captors tell them.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[stefu1]

This book was too sad for words