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biscuitcrux's review against another edition
4.0
This book was pretty damn good. It was the tale of a 13-year old girl in Nepal whose family is really poor, her stepdad gambles away all their money, and they really need a new roof for their hut. Her stepdad ends up selling her into prostitution for cigarette and gambling money. Lakshmi thinks she's going to work as maid for a rich family in the city. Instead, she gets raped day after day in a sleazy brothel in India. She has to find comfort where she can. Her story is heartbreaking and gutwrenching. It's written in prose poetry, which is a very good way to tell this story. I will definitely recommend this to teenagers who like books about bad stuff happening to people.
bhabika's review against another edition
4.0
About a girl sold off by her stepfather. This book does have adult rated content in it. It was alright in my opinion. If you're used to reading Harry Potter or the Twilight series, this is below your reading level! The chapters are very short. My friend who ended up reading the whole book, while I didn't, told me, it does get sad at the end.
kstaaland's review against another edition
5.0
A quick read, amazing point of view. Age appropriate without dulling the horror of reality.
kimberlyjgav's review against another edition
4.0
Wrenching. So awful to read this knowing it is happening all over the world right now.
jfranco020's review against another edition
5.0
Sold has been on my literal To Read shelf for months now; literal meaning I own a copy and can read it whenever I please. After hearing about the 300 missing students in Nigeria, I thought it might be time to start this book.
Sold tells the story of a young girl, Lakshmi, who is sold into prostitution by her stepfather. Lakshmi is thirteen and endears many hardships through the course of the book, from rape and forced prostitution to starvation and robbery. Through it all Lakshmi has hope for a life that may improve. When opportunity for change presents itself, Lakshmi has to decide whether she can risk her life for the one she left behind.
Although the topic is not a pleasant one, the author addresses the sex trade in a clear and informative way. According to the author's note, McCormick traveled to Nepal and interviewed those who have been in the sex trade. She even used her connections as fact checkers and editors of the finished manuscript. This accuracy makes the book all the more important to share with young readers.
Its intended audience was a concern when I first started the book. I wondered how someone could write a book about prostitution that wouldn't immediately be put on the Banned Books List. I was pleasantly surprised. McCormick wrote the book in a style that resembled verse, but wasn't entirely poetic. In doing so much of the graphic content could be told in a simplistic style without losing its severity. I can't commend McCormick enough for this.
As with any book I read, I check GoodReads for 5 and 4 starred reviews and 1 and 2 starred reviews. I want to know what people at both extremes think about the book. I found many people enjoyed Sold, however there were some who critiqued it for its portrayal of Americans. (Spoilers to come). In the book, Americans frequent the brothels and give out business cards. Should the girls ever want to escape, they can use the information on the business card to get out. Many felt that this implied that Americans can fix everything and are always the heroes. In some ways I can see that; the only nationality of people that offered the girls a chance to escape were Americans. However, I don't think that was the author's point. I think she was emphasizing that there are people in the world that aren't out to hurt others. I think, in these situations, foreigners are more trustworthy as the native residents are the ones paying for services and accepting bribes to keep quiet. McCormick could have made this point without focusing on one nationality, however it wasn't significant to her ultimate message.
Sold tells the story of a young girl, Lakshmi, who is sold into prostitution by her stepfather. Lakshmi is thirteen and endears many hardships through the course of the book, from rape and forced prostitution to starvation and robbery. Through it all Lakshmi has hope for a life that may improve. When opportunity for change presents itself, Lakshmi has to decide whether she can risk her life for the one she left behind.
Although the topic is not a pleasant one, the author addresses the sex trade in a clear and informative way. According to the author's note, McCormick traveled to Nepal and interviewed those who have been in the sex trade. She even used her connections as fact checkers and editors of the finished manuscript. This accuracy makes the book all the more important to share with young readers.
Its intended audience was a concern when I first started the book. I wondered how someone could write a book about prostitution that wouldn't immediately be put on the Banned Books List. I was pleasantly surprised. McCormick wrote the book in a style that resembled verse, but wasn't entirely poetic. In doing so much of the graphic content could be told in a simplistic style without losing its severity. I can't commend McCormick enough for this.
As with any book I read, I check GoodReads for 5 and 4 starred reviews and 1 and 2 starred reviews. I want to know what people at both extremes think about the book. I found many people enjoyed Sold, however there were some who critiqued it for its portrayal of Americans. (Spoilers to come). In the book, Americans frequent the brothels and give out business cards. Should the girls ever want to escape, they can use the information on the business card to get out. Many felt that this implied that Americans can fix everything and are always the heroes. In some ways I can see that; the only nationality of people that offered the girls a chance to escape were Americans. However, I don't think that was the author's point. I think she was emphasizing that there are people in the world that aren't out to hurt others. I think, in these situations, foreigners are more trustworthy as the native residents are the ones paying for services and accepting bribes to keep quiet. McCormick could have made this point without focusing on one nationality, however it wasn't significant to her ultimate message.
dbess's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
linda_h's review against another edition
4.0
A devastating book about a 13 year old Nepali girl sold as a sex slave in India. This difficult subject was brought to light in a quick, easy-to-listen-to format. It is not a story I will easily forget.
Source: I borrowed a copy of this audio book from my local library.
Source: I borrowed a copy of this audio book from my local library.
no_coconuts's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe I've read 6/7 books for the Reading Rush!
I loved this book. The content is something not often touched base on, and I think, again, this is an EXTREMELY important topic to see. This DOES happen in the world, it's horrible. It was dealt with in such an interesting, yet, powerful way. The content was so poetically told... yet, still portraying the harshness that I knew would play in this book.
I loved this book. The content is something not often touched base on, and I think, again, this is an EXTREMELY important topic to see. This DOES happen in the world, it's horrible. It was dealt with in such an interesting, yet, powerful way. The content was so poetically told... yet, still portraying the harshness that I knew would play in this book.