Annotated reading four - Young adult

Author: Patricia McCormick

Title: “Sold”

Genre: Young adult

Publication Date: 2006

Number of Pages: 263 pages

Geographical Setting: The book begins in Nepal and ends in India

Time Period: Present day

This book is not part of a series.

Synopsis: Lakshmi has lived a life of poverty in a small village in Nepal. Her Ama (mother) is her saving grace and she dreams of being able to one day help her put a tin roof on their mud hut home. Lakshmi has a little brother who is hungry far too often and a step-father who gambles away any money the family has. Lakishma is thirteen years old when her step-father sells her off as a prostitute. This is the story of a little girl forced to grow up way too fast and see a world that should never exist.

This story is written in first-person narrative and free verse. This book reads very fast and the style of writing softens a very difficult topic to read in a “non-exploitative manner”.

This book is considered young adult fiction. It definitely meets the criteria of young adult fiction as discussed in week thirteen’s lecture information. This novel is very fast paced and centers on youth who are likable and facing major life issues.

I found this book haunting. Heartbreaking. I thought about why it was written in the form it was and it just simply works. When deciding upon a book for this annotation, I tried several other teen fiction books that I just could not get into. This book was recommended to me by a co-worker and classmate. Thanks Lauren!

Titles that are similar include: “Boys without names” by Kashmira Sheth, “Shabanu, daughter of the wind” by Suzanne Fisher Staples, ‘The queen of water” by Laura Resau and the non-fiction book, “I am Nujood, age 10 and divorced by Nujood Ali.

Similar authors include: Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Adam Rapp.