A Price For The Unthinkable

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Kids Behind Bars in Venezuela | Human Rights Watch

Whilst reading the novel SOLD by Patricia McCormick, one of the main messages that I gained from the story was that innocence. Being able to read from the viewpoint of Lakshmi, a 13-year-old girl who had wanted nothing but to bring anything to help her family. My mind and heart were aching for the little girl. So many questions had formed in my mind like one being why? I understand that it is culturally normal but why? Just like why also how? Even though the young girl had experienced horrible events, she was still able to not lose herself. With being the caretaker of her mother and little brother and the good student, it was saddening to see how such a sweet girl was forced to grow up. Sex trafficking is a event that we know takes place but I feel the book had brought light to the situation from a area that is culturally different from us. Not only was a taking mental notes of the location but as well as the victims thought process and reasoning 

Further, into the novel, Lakshmi had grown a trusting bond with the David Beckman boy, who went by the name of Harish. The young girl had envied him because of the freedom (well somewhat) he was able to be a child, and she was forced to grow up. She had realized that she may lost her appearance but not herself. "Then I catch sight of a girl in the mirror. She looks blackened tiger eyes and bleary chili peppers lips. She looks back at me full of sadness and scorn and says, you have become one of them" (Thomas 122). The only way that Lakshmi was able to feel at home and herself when Harish was able to give these her the closest thing to home which was being able to learn because I had noted in the beginning of the novel, she had stated that she loved school and was the best student. When Harish had left, she said a part of her had left as well but with the teaching of Harish, she was able to escape the Happiness House in the end. 

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