It's a Books World

Summary:

Lakshmi is a thirteen-year-old girl who lives with her family in a small hut on a mountain in Nepal. Though she is desperately poor, her life is full of simple pleasures, like playing hopscotch with her best friend from school, and having her mother brush her hair by the light of an oil lamp. But when the harsh Himalayan monsoons wash away all that remains of the family's crops, Lakshmi's stepfather says she must leave home and take a job to support her family.

He introduces her to a glamorous stranger who tells her she will find her a job as a maid in the city. Glad to be able to help, Lakshmi journeys to India and arrives at "Happiness House" full of hope. But she soon learns the unthinkable truth: she has been sold into prostitution.

An old woman named Mumtaz rules the brothel with cruelty and cunning. She tells Lakshmi that she is trapped there until she can pay off her family's debt-then cheats Lakshmi of her meager earnings so that she can never leave.

Lakshmi's life becomes a nightmare from which she cannot escape. Still, she lives by her mother's words-Simply to endure is to triumph-and gradually, she forms friendships with the other girls that enable her to survive in this terrifying new world. Then the day comes when she must make a decision-will she risk everything for a chance to reclaim her life?

Written in spare and evocative vignettes, this powerful novel renders a world that is as unimaginable as it is real, and a girl who not only survives but triumphs.

My opinion: 

I rarely finish a book in one sitting, but I almost did. I started it yesterday evening when I was already tired, so I stopped after when I was at page 53. I knew that if I kept reading I was going to be to tired but couldn't sleep because I HAD to know what was going to happen.. and I was right! I started reading it at 10 am and I was done by 12. It was that good! 

The storyline was so captivating and I was so angry that this is still happening in the world. It's a memoir, but not a happy one. This is all about prostitution, but at an age of 13. She thinks she's going to work as a maid, to help her family out.. but then all things change. The ending was a good ending.. but I'm still thinking and angry about it (and it's already a few hours later). Prositution is never a good thing and especially not if you're forced to do it, no matter what age. 

Don't read it if you don't want to read sad, real stories. Read it if you're looking for something like that. It's really good though, but not for everybody. I never cry whenever I'm reading a book or watching a movie, but I almost cried which says something! So of course I had to give this book 5 stars. 

Have you read Sold?