Sold

McCormick, Patricia. Sold. Hyperion: 2006. ISBN: 9780786851713.

Plot Summary:
Lakshimi lives a life of terrible poverty in the mountains of Nepal. Her father died and her step-father does not provide for the family. The roof to their small hut desperately needs to be replaced. In the midst of this unhappy situation, Lakshimi finds love and contentment with her mother and baby brother. Her mother combs her hair each day and she has a goat as a pet. Girls are only valued if they can be of use to the family. An opportunity comes along for Lakshimi to work in the city. She is happy to help provide for the family. Lakshimi's step-father sells her to a fancy woman that takes her across the border into India and sells her to a woman named Mumtaz. Mumtaz who runs "Happiness House" which is anything but for Lakshimi.

Critical Evaluation:
Sold is told in free verse vignettes, with each vignette having a title. This tragic story of one girl sold into prostitution at a young age by her step-father is heartbreaking. All the more so because this is a thriving business and Lakshimi's tale is representative of hundreds and hundreds of girls. Patricia McCormick relays Lakshimi's pain and experiences without revealing specific details making the book more haunting as the reader's imagination fills in the omissions. The book is well research with the author traveling to India and Calcutta to interview women and girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking. Patricia McCormick brings attention to a subject that needs to be in the spotlight. This is a great novel to companion with curriculum concerning world history and contemporary issues at the high school level.

Reader's Annotation:
Not everyone places the same value on a human life. Some see dollar signs instead of humanity.

Information About the Author:
Patricia McCormick lives in New York with her family and two cats. The author has a journalistic background and has written for numerous magazines. She holds a Master's of Science in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts. With this background Patricia has taught journalism classes at Columbia University's School of Journalism and creative writing classes at New School University. Sold was a National Book Award finalist in 2007.

Genre:
Multicultural Fiction/Cultures Around the World/Alternative Formats

Curriculum Ties:
Sex Trafficking
India
Poverty


Reading Level/Interest Age:
9th +

Challenge Issue
Prostitution

To be prepared for a book challenge you must read the book! And encourage all involved in the process to read the book, not just the questionable passages.
Make sure the institution's procedure is followed, this is a protection for all.
ALA provides written guidelines it would be handy to have a hard copy available.

Why Book Included:
The book is an award winner and tells a story the world needs to hear.