The tenth most banned book in America this past year is a skillfully and sensitively told story, based on interviews between real survivors and the white American author, of a 13 year old Nepali girl sold by her stepfather into prostitution in India. This important, inspiring, and incredibly moving book, published in 2006 to critical acclaim, exemplifies the words Lakshmi’s beloved mother tells her, “Simply to endure…is to triumph,” and celebrates survival, love of learning, and hope.