Ages 12+
Somaly Mam was born in the forests of Cambodia in the early 1970's and sold into sexual slavery by her "grandfather" before she was even twelve years old. Maria Suarez came to America from Mexico when she was fifteen with her family. She went on a job interview to be a maid. When she got inside, her "interviewer" locked the door and told her he owned her body from that moment on. Minh Dang was born in San Jose, California. Her house was always neat and there were bright rose bushes in her front yard. Nobody knew that behind closed doors her parents were raping and abusing her from the time she was three years old. Soon they started selling her body to neighbours as well.
These three women could easily have been voiceless victims, lost to the horrors of their own histories. Instead, they not only fought their way out of sexual slavery, they have each become leading advocates and activists in the anti-trafficking movement.
Breaking Free, by award-winning author Abby Sher, recounts these women's incredible journeys from sex slave to survivor to saviour―but it doesn't stop there. The book delves even deeper into the horrors of human trafficking, which is receiving so much attention from the media these days. Remarkable, timely, and incredibly inspiring, Breaking Free, will strike a chord with YA readers as it recounts the stories of these courageous young women who, instead of running from their pasts, endeavour to help those still caught in the system. It sends the powerful message that, even in the most tragic circumstances, the unwavering hope and compassion of the human spirit will still shine through.
Teacher's Guide available, see http://barronsbooks.com/breakingfree/
""An eye-opening look at an all-too-pervasive phenomenon; this title should be in all public library collections and in academic libraries that support social-justice curricula."--Library Journal
"These searing, harrowing stories tell us the dark truth of the lives of enslaved girls and women, our own sisters and daughters. In Abby Sher's generous, thoughtful prose, they also become tales of unbelievable courage, hope, and triumph." --Jennifer Finney Boylan, author of She's Not There.
"If we want real, systemic change, we must listen to survivors. Abby Sher shares these survivors' truths with care and compassion, highlighting the courage and resilience of each woman. This is an excellent read for anyone who believes that ending exploitation is possible." --Lauren Hersh, Equality Now
"The harrowing real-life stories of three girls who turned their experiences as sex-trafficked children into a fight to destroy the practice.
This set of brief biographies opens with 9-year-old Somaly Mam in Cambodia around 1979. Sold to a brothel by her ostensible caretaker, Somaly experiences rape, beatings, starvation and punishment--she is covered in snakes and sewage. Her torments may seem alien to some readers, at least partly due to inadequate contextualization of Cambodia's historical moment (the immediate aftermath of genocide). It's therefore useful that the next story is Minh Dang's in 1990s California; her parents force her into prostitution when she's only 10. Her story seems otherwise so commonplace American (she plays soccer, gets A's in school, and is expected to attend and graduate from college) that the overlap between her experiences and Somaly's seems that much more horrific. The final biography is of Maria Suarez, a Mexican immigrant who's kidnapped, forced into a sexual relationship with an older man, arrested after his death, imprisoned for two decades and nearly deported on her eventual release.
The girls' stories could be too devastating to read save for each tale's conclusion, detailing the efforts these women have made to rescue girls and eliminate childhood slavery. Minh Dang is upset when people speak of her as an inhumanly brave heroine; the focus here on activism after suffering may be enough to show the women as people, not victims.
Harrowing, yes--and inspiring." --Kirkus Reviews
"Breaking Free: True Stories of Girls Who Escaped Modern Slavery focuses on how survivors of prostitution and human trafficking have become leaders of change. It is invaluable for young people to learn about not just the horrors of sex trafficking but also how victims can become survivors and finally leaders."--Prof. Ruchira Gupta, New York University, Founder and President of Apne Aap Women Worldwide
