She and her family are desperate for money, but they all. The book is very interesting, one can see that the author did a lot of research on the subject. The novel sold by patricia mccormick is about a young woman named. Apne aap which means selfhelp in hindi is a communitybased initiative that began in the red light area of mumbai in 1998. The concept and spirit of lakshmi and her association with fortune and the good is significant enough that atharva veda mentions it in multiple books.
Sold by patricia mccormick english literature essays essay sauce. New york public library best books for the teenage. The lies and deceit that occur in sold are underhanded and often lies of omission. When lakshmi first gets to the happiness house, mumtaz tells her exactly. Lakshmi is sold by her stepfather to a woman who visits the village and. It is the story of laskshmi, a year nepalese girl whose stepfather sells her to help with his familys financial troubles after a monsoon. Anita prevents lakshmi from being sold to another brothel. I spent a month in india and nepal tracing lakshmis stepsgoing from a.
Here are answers to some questions frequently asked about the book. A vivid memoir of food and family, survival and triumph, love, loss, and what we ate traces the arc of padma lakshmi s unlikely path from an immigrant childhood to a complicated life in front of the cameraa tantalizing blend of ruth reichls tender at the bone and nora ephrons heartburn long before padma lakshmi ever stepped onto a television set, she learned that how we eat is an. Lakshmi is a thirteenyearold girl who lives with her family in a small hu. Although written for teenage readers, it is one of those books that can and should crossover into the adult market. I knew what the business was that was going on inside but i never understood the reality of the business until i saw the movie sold. Even though this book addresses a topic that is hard to read about, sold is one of the best books i have read in awhile. The discussion guide for this book follows the letter below a letter from kolkata inspired in part by sold, in 2007 a bookbrowse member went to visit the apneaap center in koltata. In an interview about sold, mccormick said that one of the biggest challenges to writing was not to let the sorrow overwhelm her. Fictionis in my view, one of the best ways to mobilize people. Lakshmi mittal and the multibilliondollar battle for a global empire book online at best prices in india on. Through lakshmis innocent firstperson narrative, mccormick. Still i was hoping the book read a bit more neutral.
She loves the stunning beauty of the mountains long purple shadows, the tallow pumpkin blossoms that close in the evening as the white jasmine open. However, even as she undergoes terrible experiences, she never loses her optimistic sense of hope. This novel was really interesting because it showed how different it is in other. When harish catches lakshmi looking at his school book one day and offers.
When lakshmi is first taken to the small room at the brothel, she thinks of all the things the money she will earn will buy her family on the. Though she is desperately poor, her life is full of simple. Written in free verse from the perspective of a year old nepalese girl, who was sold from. Sold is a young adult novel by patricia mccormick and details yearold lakshmis experiences after being sold. When she is sold to an itinerant auntie, she thinks shell be working as a maid in the city. This hardhitting novel told in spare free verse poems exposes the plight of a yearold nepali girl sold into sexual slavery.
Lakshmi, thinking she is going to a job as a housemaid, is innocent of what lies ahead until she arrives at happiness house, a brothel in india. Their tales are coalesced into one narrative, intimately told. Describe what their status is and give some details from the passages that support your findings. Sold is a beautifully written book with incredible use of literary elements that make it a perfect book for high school. The sold community note includes chapterbychapter summary and. Lakshmi is convinced of this monstrosity but later on she wakes up.
Her family no longer wants her to because she is a disgrace to them and they have told her daughter that she is dead. Lakshmis story sold bookworm ecsnepal the nepali way. Character development is an essential element to literature and can easily be lost if not paid attention to. The book follows the path of lakshmi, a thirteenyearold nepali girl, as she is sold and makes the journey to india, thinking she is going to be a maid for a rich woman. These will be used for an opennote test at the end of the unit. In sold patricia mccormick tells the story of how this happened to thirteenyearold lakshmi, a poor merchant girl born on a remote hilltop in nepal. Finally mumtaz allows lakshmi to enter the rest of the house, and lakshmi meets the girls and women who live there. The heartwrenching story of lakshmi, from nepal, who is sold into prostitution at the age of, and kept captive in happiness house where she not only survives, against all odds, but triumphs. According to lakshmi, the child mortality rate is high among the poor.
Buy a cheap copy of sold book by patricia mccormick. After lakshmi is dressed up by two girls in the house, she is taken to a room and a man tries to have sex with her. Parents need to know that sold, based on the book by patricia mccormick, is the fictional tale of one very young nepalese girls tragic journey from childhood to life as a sex slave in india. Sold was a national book award finalist by the coauthor of the i am malala young readers edition. Written by bestselling author patricia mccormick, this account of a young girl in india sold into the sex trade is extraordinary.
After reading this book, i was stunned by what is occurring to thousands of unsuspecting year old girls in this part of the world. When lakshmi was drugged and a man had sex with her. K, and india suspended military aid to nepal leaving nepel in the ruins as well as a new king, who took over absolute executive power of nepal. Brown and his team have made a film that isnt exploitative. Book sense pick told in a series of haunting vignettes, sold is a harrowing account of a sexual. A young adult novel about sex trafficking in india and nepal. Characters are especially important in the novel sold by patricia mccormick.
Once inside the border of india, uncle husband and lakshmi make their way to happiness house. Even though we know lakshmis intimate thoughtsher confusion, her fears, her hopesbecause the novel is told in first person, her character always remains kind of a mystery in sold. Sold by patricia mccormick english literature essays. In some chapters of atharva veda, lakshmi connotes the good, an auspicious sign, good luck, good fortune, prosperity, success and happiness. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of sold by patricia mccormick. Lakshmis stepfather sells the girl to brothel in india.
One day, a man who is clean and wellgroomed comes in and simply holds lakshmi. It tells the story of a girl from nepal named lakshmi, who is sold into sexual slavery in india. Lakshmi is sold into sexual bondage and taken across the border into calcutta where she doesnt know the language and has no way to escape the unspeakable things inflicted upon her. Except the escape part doesnt always happen in real life. This study guide consists of approximately 32 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of sold.
The book does drag a bit in the middle, with some repetitions as if it was required to add to the story to make a book. Does this strength match her view on the importance of men. Told in a series of short vignettes from the perspective of the main character, it is the story of a nepali girl named lakshmi who is sold into sexual slavery in india. Uncle husband buys and sells girls in the sexual black market trade. Told in a series of haunting vignettes, sold is a harrowing account of a sexual slavery. Ama, lakshmi s mother, is married to a terrible gambler after her first husband, lakshmi s father, died. The narrator of the novel, lakshmi is fourteen when she is unknowingly sold into sexual slavery by her stepfather. This is the stark fact even today and this is what propelled patricia mccormick to write sold, the story of yearold lakshmi, who was sold by her gamblerstepfather into prostitution in india. Though she is desperately poor, her life is full of simple pleasures, like playing hopscotch with her best friend from school, and having her mother brush her hair by the light of an oil lamp.
At happiness house, deception becomes more complicated. I read it for a book club recently and was completely floored at the power of patricia mccormicks writing. Jul 10, 2010 sold ebook written by patricia mccormick. E ach year 12,000 nepali girls are sold into brothels in india. Over a million stunning new images at your fingertips. I spent a month in india and nepal tracing lakshmis steps going from a. Sold is a devastating little book written in free verse. Patricia is a twotime national book award finalist, and the author of five critically acclaimed novels, among them never fall down, the story of a boy who survived the killing fields of cambodia by playing music. The ancient story of goddess lakshmibestower of power. Besides the author has a pleasant style, chapters are short and the book is so interesting, the reader is eager to know how it ends. Who is the main character in this book age, gender, name. Mumtaz buys lakshmi from uncle husband and puts her in a small room. Shes a young girl growing up in this very small village in rural nepal.
Sold is a sad, painful book but it represents humanity and liberty forcefully being taken away from the purest and innocent young women. In this national book award finalist, yearold lakshmi lives in a hut, perched on a mountainside in the himalayas. She is told she will have to go to the city and like her friend gita, she will have to earn money by working as a maid in a rich womans home. American library association, top ten list, best books of the year, 2006. Hope, and its duality, is an extremely significant motif of the story. The prose was beautifully told in verse, making it a quick read. As harrowing as lakshmi s story is, director jeffrey d. Teachers notes by dr robyn sheahanbright patricia mccormick.
Why does ama continue to stay with lakshmis stepfather despite his lack of responsibility for his family. As a result of their poverty her stepfather tells lakshmi that she will go work in the. The subject matter of male superiority was presented immensely throughout this novel. All her experiences are filtered through her perspective. Sep 01, 2006 the book follows the path of lakshmi, a thirteenyearold nepali girl, as she is sold and makes the journey to india, thinking she is going to be a maid for a rich woman. So when lakshmi does regain her strength of will, its in part due to the people around her who care for her.
Lakshmi s mother, whom she dearly looks up to for her strength and resilience. The 2014 movie sold by oscarwinning director jeffrey d. There story is written from the first point of view. Sold is a young adult novel by patricia mccormick and details yearold lakshmi s experiences after being sold. The script was written by joseph kwong and jeffrey d. Lakshmi, still holding on to her innocence, believes that she will serve auntie mumtaz, her new. The atrocity of sex trafficking is highlighting in this heartbreaking book simply titled sold. Lakshmi spends an indeterminate amount of time in the small room. Jul 05, 2019 overall, the book sold was like an alternate reality. Brown based on patricia mccormicks novel sold the film is executive produced by emma thompson and produced by jane charles. Sold was a national book award finalist by the coauthor of the i am malala young. Over the time lakshmi spent in the house, it has become inconspicuous that her physical and mental health was not taken into consideration by the men she had to please.
The goddess of wealth and fortunean introduction devdutt pattanaik on. The author did very well making an intro book about lakshmi and he has a very interesting point of view of the. Vatos locos full movie, hd, crime, thriller, english, gangster mafia film full free movies duration. Brown and executive produced by emma thompson, is based on the true stories of young victims unwittingly sold into prostitution. With that idea in mind, she left her house with her stepfather.
This book gave me a whole new perspective of the world as we know it. Her debut novel, cut, captivated teenagers and adults alike, becoming a. The mother of lashima, workworn hands as rough as a sheep1she presses her moist pink nose into the pocket of my short5all day she trudges up and down the mts, a heavy basket braced on her back and held fast by a rope around her brow, she is bent under the weight of her burden. Mccormicks research for this novel involved interviewing women in nepal. Patricia mccormick has said that she likes to write from the point of view of an outsider. The story is told through the main character lakshmi s voice and she grows quite a bit as a young woman throughout. Harish tells lakshmi that americans, despite what has been told to lakshmi, are nearly all good and kind people, and that they do not shame the children of the brothels. The red light district was known as the cages, you could walk one of the major streets which bordered the cages. Shes determined to excel, even though she cant imagine the place. Lakshmi is sold into human trafficking by her debtridden stepfather. The story is told through the main character lakshmis voice and she grows quite a bit as a young woman throughout. Sold is a 2006 young adult novel by american author patricia mccormick.
The ancient story of goddess lakshmi bestower of power, wealth and sovereignty. The novel is written in a series of short, vignettestyle chapters, from the point of view of the main character. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read sold. And when she realizes she will always be in debt, always cheated out of her earnings, hers is a sharecroppers experience, her. When the monsoons wreck their crops yet again, lakshmis stepfather says she. Sold is a 2014 narrative feature film directed by jeffrey d. He bought lakshmi from auntie bimla and took her across the border into india, where he sold her to mumtaz at the happiness house. And while mccormick manages to balance to some degree lakshmis despair with the lighter, more hopeful moments of the novel, the sadness of lakshmis situation can still be overwhelming for readers at time. For anyone who reads this, know that there was a follow up book, a promise to nadia. Sold by patricia mccormick study guide questions please answer these questions for each section in your notebook. Sold 1 sold the book sold tells the story of a thirteen year old girl named lakshmi who lived in an extremely poor community in the mountains of nepal. Her mother is eccentric about this, and it is hinted that in a nepali mans view, a woman.
Look at this one from the new york times that focuses specifically on nepal. When lakshmi is told, if they find out you can read and write, they will think you are planning to escape, the story of frederick douglass learning to read might come to mind. Explain your opinion using the calendar on page 10. An old woman named mumtaz rules the brothel with cruelty and cunning.
For our purposes in sold though, were going to focus on where we can see locks although if youre interested in locks, you might spend some time thinking about where they arent in the book, too. The heartwrenching story of lakshmi, from nepal, who is sold into prostitution. For instance, lakshmi s never really told what work she will do until she is in not in a position to say no. Parents need to know that patricia mccormicks awardwinning novel in verse, sold, is the story of lakshmi, a yearold girl from a poor village in rural nepal, who is sold into prostitution by her stepfather. Anita has warned lakshmi about the threat from any american as she believes or has been told about who wants to help. Lakshmi returns his embrace, grateful for the gentleness and tenderness for once. Sold by patricia mccormick is the story of yearold lakshmi in the country of nepal. The story is written in the form of journal entries, and its told from her perspective. The story line of sold is far too common in the world. Nov 11, 2015 the ancient story of goddess lakshmibestower of power, wealth and sovereignty. Sold by patricia mccormick by lauren ingrodi on prezi. The first one, sold, details how the sister, zana, eventually got out of yemen. Lakshmi and her mother daydream about the money they will receive from the harvest but in a cruel twist of fate a disastrous rainfall washes away their crop and forever alters lakshmis life. Sold 2006 is patricia mccormicks third novel for young adult readers and the.
One bright turn comes into her life when a delivery boy begins to teach lakshmi to read. The words of the text reflect her thoughts, feelings, and impressions. Another book, though, that i cannot rate with a number of stars because its somebodys life were talking about. For the family to survive, her stepfather tells lakshmi that she is going to the city to work as a. Time passes, and lakshmi finds out more about each girls backstory from her friend shahanna. Even though we know lakshmi s intimate thoughtsher confusion, her fears, her hopesbecause the novel is told in first person, her character always remains kind of a mystery in sold. Unfortunatelly, the book ends with lakshmi s liberation, but there is more i would have liked to have known. A story about human trafficking is one i have never heard before, but one that needs to be told.
In order to help her family economically she wanted to go to the city to work as a maid in a wealthy household. After this, ama tells lakshmi all the rules to being a woman and respecting. The story of lakshmi is told from the viewpoint of. But sometimes, as in the book, they are sold just because the male wants a new winter coat. She tells lakshmi that she is trapped there until she can pay off her familys debt then cheats lakshmi of her meager earnings so that she can never leave. Sold is a novel by patricia mccormick, published in 2006. Its written for each year, nearly 12,000 nepali girls are sold by their families, intentionally or unwittingly, into a life of sexual slavery in the brothels of india.
In her village in nepal, lakshmi s life is more than difficult and requires her to endure hunger, harsh weather and poverty. We get a clear picture of the financial status of lakshmi and her family in the first few pages of the novel. To research sold, i traveled to india and nepal, where i interviewed the women of calcuttas redlight district and girls who have been rescued from the sex trade. Main theme while reading this novel, the reader is able to realize how well the author explained everything that was happening throughout the novel, without giving away too much information. And when she realizes she will always be in debt, always cheated out of her earnings, hers is a sharecroppers experience, her own body the bartered crop. As lakshmi cleans her face, the darkskinned girl enters the roomlakshmi says that shes going home, that the whole thing was a mistake. Lakshmi is a thirteenyearold girl who lives with her family in a small hut on a mountain in nepal. The story of lakshmi is told from the viewpoint of first a innocent, twelvethirteen year old girl who lives in the mountains of nepal with her mother, step father, and infant sibling. In fact, the lies are often found in what is unsaid. Bombay was full of interesting things to visit and see. Sold, cowritten and directed by oscar winner jeffrey d. At the festival, a city woman approaches lakshmi and tells her that life is easy. Throughout the story, what distincts lakshmi from the other characters is her relentless hope and drive that keeps her going. Sociologists view the mythology of lakshmis fickleness as indicative of her cults resistance to being.
Wait, you say, we know that she wants to free herself. Mumtaz arrives at lakshmis room, and lakshmi says shes going to go home. However, later she found out that she was sold to work as a prostitute. Yes, it is a fact that arcelor bungled throughout the whole deal and their constricted vision is very evident. To research sold, patricia mccormick traveled to india and nepal, where she interviewed the women of calcuttas redlight district and girls who have been rescued from the sex trade. Sociologists view the mythology of lakshmi s fickleness as indicative of her cults resistance to being. Mumtaz laughs and asks lakshmi how she will get there, if she has money, if she speaks the language.