Sold (novel)

"Sold" is a novel by Patricia McCormick, published in 2006. It tells the story of a girl from Nepal named Lakshmi, who is sold into Sexual slavery in India. The novel is written in a series of short, vignette-style chapters, from the point of view of the main character.

Plot summary

Lakshmi lives in a small village in the mountains of Nepal, with her mother (Ama), stepfather, and a young baby. They are very poor, mostly because her stepfather gambles away all of their money. Lakshmi dreams of being able to have "luxury" items like a tin roof for their hut, enough food to not be hungry all the time, and nice clothes.

Their financial position deteriorates to the point where her stepfather decides that Lakshmi must go to the city and get a job as a maid. She is sad to leave her mother, but hopeful that she can earn money to send home and help her family. He then sells her to a glamorous stranger who has come to town. The stranger tells Lakshmi to call her "Auntie" and takes her on a journey for several days. Eventually, Auntie (who Lakshmi finds out is named "Bimla") sells her to a man. Her final visions of Bimla reveal Bimla's blackened teeth, foreshadowing a dark element hidden behind her glamorous facade. He tells her that he will be her Uncle, but she must call him Husband. Although she is afraid of him, he gives her sweets and takes her with him across the border into India. Eventually the pair reach a place called "Happiness House," and Lakshmi is sold once again: this time, to a woman named Auntie Mumtaz.

Lakshmi soon finds out that "Happiness House" is a brothel, and that she is expected to work and live there as a prostitute. Mumtaz runs the house cruelly and efficiently, and when Lakshmi refuses to comply (despite beatings and starvation) then Mumtaz drugs her and the men simply rape her. Eventually, Mumtaz tells her that she can leave once she has paid off her debt- the price Mumtaz paid for her originally. After a period of being the "virgin" sales item, she is thrown out to share the main living quarters with the other girls and move about the house with more freedom. She slowly makes friends with the other girls: Shahanna, who shows her some kindness and helps her learn about the house; Anita, whose face is disfigured from the time she tried to run away and was caught and beaten; and Pushpa, who has two children. Pushpa's son, Harish, is also kind to Lakshmi and teaches her some Hindi and English words. There is palpable sexual tension between the two until Pushpa and her children are kicked out of the brothel.

One night, one of the men (an American) gives Lakshmi a card and asks her questions. Lakshmi is too shy to reply, but accepts the card. She keeps this visit a secret, not wanting to be beaten by Mumtaz, but eventually slips the card to the boy who brings them tea every morning, hoping that he can contact the Americans for her. When another American comes, Lakshmi talks to him and he tells her that he will come back to rescue her. When there is a raid by the police and some Americans and the girls hide, Lakshmi recognizes the voice of an American and bravely goes to be saved.

External links

www.pattymccormick.com - author's website, includes more information on the book [http://www.pattymccormick.com/]