Slavery In Patricia Mccormick's Sold

In Patricia McCormick’s non-fiction novel, Sold, thirteen year old Lakshmi is sold into sexual slavery by her stepfather. She believes she is going to work in the city, as the breadwinner, but her step-father is in it for the money and revenge of the eldest son he doesn’t have. Lakshmi’s biggest priorities are her mother and brother, and her stepfather could care less about her or the family, he has an addiction to gambling. Instead of working hard and paying for a tin roof, he gambles his money away, and sells his step daughter into slavery. If Lakshmi’s stepfather had not met the city woman at the festival, Lakshmi wouldn’t have been sold, she wouldn’t have met “uncle husband or Auntie” and she wouldn’t have left her mother, and baby brother behind. Lakshmi’s friend Gita worked in the city and sent her family money, she was much respected. Lakshmi looked up to Gita and hoped to one day leave the hill side, and become the breadwinner of her family to replace the job of her stepfather. Lakshmi’s stepfathers greed and gambling problem is what led to her being sold, even though she is
The next day Lakshmi is told to say she is 12 years old and has make up put on. Mumtaz pulls Lakshmi into a room with a strange man; she flings her on the bed as the man tries to rape her. Mumtaz says “I bought you for 10,000 rupees; you are to pay me off. You will take men to your room and do whatever they as of you.” Lakshmi refuses and is whipped for several days, resulting in her strike Mumtaz takes away all food and water. The young girl is used to not eating, so she can fight the hunger for several days. She has the strength of her mother. Lakshmi is eventually drugged and is rapped by several men. As days past Lakshmi loses track of time, she forgets the smell of the hill side. Mumtaz ruined Lakshmi’s purity and sense of