If you don't have hope, you don't have anything

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    There are multiple important factors that contribute to the formation of a story, essay, novel, or any other piece of literature, and they are all essentially the same – characters, setting, conflicts, language, plot, theme, etc. The variations come with how different authors choose to construct these elements in order to convey their different messages. All of these elements are present in Patricia McCormick’s Sold. Her book details the journey of Lakshmi, a thirteen-year-old girl from Nepal, who has been smuggled into India and sold into a sex trafficking ring. To carefully detail Lakshmi’s story, while also considering the possible thoughts, feelings, reactions, and triggers of the audience, McCormick writes in verse – each chapter being a very short poem. Through the writing style, she effectively utilizes supporting characters, structure, and symbolism to emphasize the theme of hope, while also relieving readers of the burdensome content within the book.

    I also think Lakshmi's persistence in remaining hopeful helps readers get through this book. I would not teach this book in a middle school classroom, but that's only because I would question and doubt the maturity of students; however, I do think it is a necessary subject that should be addressed within schools. I wish this book were set in U.S.A because the subject matter of our books have been taboo, and the others have been set in this country. With Sold, I find it very necessary to make everyone aware that human trafficking is not confined to European and Asian countries; it is a very real and prominent issue in our backyard, but we choose to ignore it. 



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