Books like Sold by Patricia McCormick
Lakshmi, a thirteen‑year‑old Nepali girl, lives in a humble hut with her family in the mountains. When monsoon floods destroy their crops, her stepfather forces her to leave home to earn money. He promises a job as a maid for a wealthy woman in the city.
Lakshmi’s hope turns to horror upon arrival at “Happiness House,” where she learns she has been sold into prostitution. The brothel, run by the ruthless old woman Mumtaz, keeps her trapped until the family’s debt is paid, while often stealing her earnings. Despite this nightmare, Lakshmi keeps her mother's lesson of endurance in her heart.
Through supportive friendships with other girls, Lakshmi gains the strength to survive in this brutal environment and ultimately confronts the choice to risk everything for a chance to reclaim her life.
First publish date: 2006
Genre: Coming of Age/Young Adult Coming of Age
Authors: Patricia McCormick
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