Sold by Patricia McCormick

Slavery. It is alive and well in the world we live in and this great book by Patricia McCormick tells a heart-wrenching tale of a young Nepalese girl, sold by her stepfather to 'help' her family live a better life. She thinks she is going to work as a maid, but quickly and horrifically discovers she has been sold into prostitution in the slums of Calcutta, India. The story is told in short vignettes and captures the darkness, despair and inhumanity of the evils of slavery that still exist in the world today. The first person point of view brings you up close and personal with the narrators experiences and emotions. While the novel is fictional, the author traveled to Calcutta's red light district and witnessed and heard the true stories of the young girls who live this life every day of their existence. Will she escape and find a life of freedom or will she be caught and dragged back to her daily torture? This gripping novel is a must read for all. It puts my life and that of my family's in clear perspective and gives me a deep sense of appreciation for all the freedoms and opportunities that this country gives me.