Sold

SOLD: Patricia McCormick: Hyperion: 2006: Young Adult: 272 pages

Not for the faint of heart, Patricia McCormic's "Sold" takes us into the heart of India's Sex Trade through the eyes of 13 year old Lakshmi. The book is told in first person, journal entry type, free verse poems. Lakshmi's story begins in her small country village of Nepal and ends up in a dirty Indian brothel when her father sells her to pay for his extravagant gambling habits. The story is fairly graphic in a couple parts and there is no denying the heaviness of the topic and tone. However, there are points of light as we see Lakshmi seek out friendships that make her world bearable. It is on the one hand a testament to the resiliency of children and on the other a dire warning of the ubiquitous sex trade in India and its surrounding countries. No question this book was mostly a downer and could easily be too intense for many teens. I found it thought provoking and powerful, but to be recommended with caution.

BES