Sold

by Patricia McCormick

Summary:
Girls all over the world are sold into prostitution by their families. Sometimes the families don't know where the girls are going, but they are desperate for the money and believe they are giving them a chance at a better life. Once they arrive at their new 'home' the girls are spun into a constant cycle of debt, working off the money their parents were paid for them, working off the food they eat, working off the cost of a cot to sleep on, of medicine when they get sick. Sold is a fictional story of how one girl found herself thrust into this life, and how she found the courage to escape it.

Review:
Sold does a marvelous job of tackling the issue of child prostitution in an age appropriate way. While better for slightly older teens, the book shows the cycle these unwitting girls are trapped in. While Lakshmi is lucky enough to meet an American who runs an aid organization, most girls are not. The book does a good job of explaining that while all these girls should have Lakshmi's option of escape most don't or are too afraid to take it. It's a book that will stick with the reader after they put it down, and perhaps inspire those who read it to help in whatever way they can.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade

Where I Belong

by Gillian Cross

Summary:
Sent to England to get an education and earn money to help her family back in Somalia, 13 year old Khadija finds herself living with Abdi's family.  Abdi wasn't too terribly thrilled about it.  He had just lost his father to some sort of accident in Somalia, what exactly it was no one seems to know, and now he has a new 'sister' Khadija, as if taking care of his mother and 2 younger sisters wasn't enough. 

Freya knew when her mother got on crazy kicks there was nothing stopping her until she got it all out of her system.  Except this time the crazy kick is Somalia.  And her mother happens to be one of the most famous fashion designers this century. When her mother sees Khadija she knows she has found the perfect centerpiece for her collection. But what none of them know is what will get set in motion when Khadija is discovered, what devious plots are launched and whose lives will hang in the balance by those they thought they trusted most. 


Review:
One of the most interesting things about Where I Belong is that it is narrated in turn by Khadija, Abdi and Freya.  They pass the story back and forth in a way that makes it seem like they are right there telling you in person.  The book doesn't really touch on any heavy immigration issues (a topic which is quite sensitive in England) but does interestingly talk about the disconnect many immigrants feel to the country they are from when they have never even seen their home country as well as the love many still have when living somewhere else.  The book does touch on the problems of Somalia, but also focuses on how it is still a place where people live, and that people love.  It's a really good read and great for older tweens.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade

Trafficked

by Kim Purcell

Summary:
When you come from nothing and a great opportunity presents itself, you'd be a fool not to take it.  At least that's what Hannah thinks.  She's a poor nobody from Moldova, an orphan living with her grandmother and barely making ends meet.  But then she's offered a chance to go to America.  She would be a nanny, able to go to school and live the kind of life she's only seen on TV.  She's not stupid, she knows that there are bad people out there who might take advantage of her, but these people seem different, better even.  But once she makes it to America she's going to find out that nothing is how it seems.  And in a place where no one knows who or where she is, there's no one to protect her.

Review:
Trafficked highlights an all too common issue in this day and age.  Even with all the literature and information available to warn people about the dangers of human trafficking, be it for sexual or slavery reasons, the problem still exists.  While Hannah's situation is, in the scheme of things, not the absolute worst, she still finds herself alone and without recourse as she is abused by the family she 'nanny's' for.  Hannah had known before hand that situations like hers could exist, but never thought she would be one of those girls who was trafficked.  It is a definite warning book that girls should read, a nicer version of the movie Brokedown Palace.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade