Common Sense Media Review
By Lucinda Dyer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Unforgettable story of Nepali girl sold into sex work.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 18 kid reviews
Kids say that this book explores serious and grim topics such as human trafficking, sexual assault, and survival, making it a powerful tool for discussions about real-world issues. While many readers found it impactful and educational, there are concerns about the graphic content and age appropriateness, suggesting it is better suited for mature teens rather than younger children.
- real-world topics
- graphic content
- age appropriateness
- educational value
- impactful story
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
SOLD is the story of 13-year-old Lakshmi, who lives in a tiny village in Nepal with her mother, baby brother, and stepfather. Lakshmi's family is poor, owing in part to her stepfather's gambling habit. But she goes to school, has a beloved pet goat, and imagines what her life will be like when she marries a local boy named Krishna. It's an innocent life, so innocent she can't imagine what awaits her as she travels with her new "Auntie" and then "Uncle Husband" to a job in Calcutta. Instead of working as a maid and sending money home to her family, she finds herself trapped in a brothel with seemingly no way of escape.
Is It Any Good?
Chilling and heartbreaking, this award-winning novel's spare first-person account of a teen Nepali girl sold into sex work is unforgettable. As it's written in free-verse vignettes (some only a few paragraphs) rather than chapters, readers are able to take an emotional breath between scenes they find disturbing. The book's many awards are well earned and an accurate reflection of this remarkable work.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Sold. Does the fact that the book is written in free verse and features short scenes make it easier to absorb the disturbing content?
If you haven't seen the film adaptation of Sold, do you think Lakshmi's story would be as powerful on film as it was when you read the novel and used your imagination to fill in things not described? If you have seen the film, how does it compare to the novel? Which do you like better?
The U.S. State Department's estimate (included in the author's note) is that 500,000 children are trafficked to the sex trade each year. Why do you think countries allow this to happen? What should be done to stop it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : January 1, 2006
- Number of pages : 272
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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