The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
edonovan00's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
reagandrury's review against another edition
4.0
Heartbreaking look at what the sex trade looks like from a child's perspective.
nancykz's review against another edition
4.0
I loved that this was written in vignette and that it really addressed a situation most would find taboo. My only issue was that the ending (in my opinion) was predictable. But I really did enjoy it. I read it in one day... laying on my couch after breaking my toe and only taking a break to grab something to eat.
mmulvaney's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
fieldofhats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Read for Young Adult Literature.
This was not an enjoyable book by any standard. Was it good? Maybe, I guess. It brings awareness to a serious issue, although the medium in which it does so feels very odd to me. A “Young Adult” book this graphic is not appropriate for most people in the target age range. Surely there are some, maybe even many, teens who would be able to handle this book, but not enough to justify the book’s label. It’s good to bring awareness and talk about these issues to young adults — but that’s it. There’s no need to throw them into the thick of it. It puts unnecessary stress and anxiety onto them. Furthermore, as a teacher of English and literature, my job is to help young people fall in love with reading, and this book may just do the opposite.
This book is fine for adults and above, but not for an audience younger than that. I cannot recommend this book to its target audience in good conscience.
This was not an enjoyable book by any standard. Was it good? Maybe, I guess. It brings awareness to a serious issue, although the medium in which it does so feels very odd to me. A “Young Adult” book this graphic is not appropriate for most people in the target age range. Surely there are some, maybe even many, teens who would be able to handle this book, but not enough to justify the book’s label. It’s good to bring awareness and talk about these issues to young adults — but that’s it. There’s no need to throw them into the thick of it. It puts unnecessary stress and anxiety onto them. Furthermore, as a teacher of English and literature, my job is to help young people fall in love with reading, and this book may just do the opposite.
This book is fine for adults and above, but not for an audience younger than that. I cannot recommend this book to its target audience in good conscience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Slavery, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, and Rape
Moderate: Torture, Blood, Body shaming, and Violence
morganbrabender's review against another edition
5.0
Eye-opening and informative read about sex slavery and the red light districts in India. It seems we always are aware that this kind of thing happens, but reading a story based on many interviews and testimonials from actual survivors of sex slavery really opens your eyes to the realities of it. Truly an emotional read. This book was on our summer reading list for my students this year, and I hope many of them chose this book and start to have a more realistic perspective of the evil that exists in the world and that they’re inspired to do something about it. I know that’s how I feel.
mhysaofdragons's review against another edition
4.0
This book is short but IMPACTFUL. I absolutely loved the ending. The final words. It is crazy to imagine things like this are currently happening in the world. When Lakshmi was drugged and had her virginity forcibly taken I was in distress. And it got worse when I read that she was sold as a virgin multiple times. As long as her captor could get a premium price for her. The thing that truly haunts me and has for years since the first time I read it was when I read that men with HIV would sleep with virgin girls hoping to be cured. To think that anyone would pass on their HIV knowingly, especially to a little girl, that’s just fucking crazy to me.
jam_unjellied's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
hiltzmoore's review against another edition
3.0
A very quick and thought compelling read. I've been interested in the stories of children sold into sex slavery since I was a teenager and watched a 20/20 episode about it. This was an intense book, but I would have liked to read more about the aftermath of escaping. I also felt that the author comes across a little bit white-priveledged in her portrayal of the main character as being incredibly naive, even though she comes from a remote village. Still, a very important topic being covered in a young adult format.
tayloranne's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was all kinds of heartbreaking, and though it's fictional the story is very real and happening even now, 20yrs after it was published.