This story, written in a series of poems, is devastating. It shares the thoughts of a 13-year-old girl who has grown up in an impoverished village in Nepal and is sold as a sex slave in India. Hardly anyone speaks her language. She is given shoes to wear for one of the first times in her life. She is a small, forgotten girl in a very big city. And she is taken to live in a brothel that is dirty and harsh and frightening, where she is expected (and forced) to spend her nights with men until whatever day in the distant future that her body gives out.

Patricia McCormick voices Lakshmi in a way that makes her identifiable to every young girl. She is innocent and childlike in the first pages, but the reader sees the childhood drain from Lakshmi’s words as all but vague memories of her past life are snatched from her completely. McCormick depicts many of the brutal realities of sex trafficking. It is heartbreaking to read about the deception of the poor villagers and how many truly believe that their daughters are going to work as maids in the city.

However difficult it was to read certain parts of this book, McCormick brings awareness and insight into the realities of sex trafficking. I recommend Sold to mature readers and I encourage everyone who reads the book to also look into donating to the International Justice Mission and other organizations that are fighting against child slavery.