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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I don’t even have the words to convey how I feel after reading this. Horrified, shocked, distraught and amazed are the best I can come up with. The absolute indescribable horror Sophie went through made this such a difficult but necessary book to continue with. Sophie’s situation completely broke down all the pre conceived stereotypes I had around human trafficking and that more than anything is why I believe everyone should read this book. For the past few nights, I’ve gone to bed imagining myself in her position, trying to figure out what I would do if I ever found myself in it, and it feels so impossible even in the comfort of my own head.
There were many parts to this I felt frustrated with; At first I was angry she never tried to escape. Then I was angry nobody tried to help her. But the more I read, and the more I thought, I realised how impossible both those things were for so long. The fact she managed to escape at all is astounding. I actually went through all the different steps I would do, and almost all of them ended in an even more horrific situation.
What I learned later though, is that the name Sophie Hayes is a fake one. And while this is far from the largest sadness and injustice, it’s the one that’s really stayed with me. Finally her story gets told but her name, her very identity, is not told with it. Maybe that is her choice but I can’t help but wonder if it’s one that’s been made as a means of protection. Because even still, this monster is free and out there in the world.
Sophie is one of the strongest people I have ever heard or read about, but she is also a representation of so many of others still out there, still experiencing it, with so many monsters of their own still free to the world.
Read this book. Not because it’s what you want to hear but because you need to hear it; we all do.
There were many parts to this I felt frustrated with; At first I was angry she never tried to escape. Then I was angry nobody tried to help her. But the more I read, and the more I thought, I realised how impossible both those things were for so long. The fact she managed to escape at all is astounding. I actually went through all the different steps I would do, and almost all of them ended in an even more horrific situation.
What I learned later though, is that the name Sophie Hayes is a fake one. And while this is far from the largest sadness and injustice, it’s the one that’s really stayed with me. Finally her story gets told but her name, her very identity, is not told with it. Maybe that is her choice but I can’t help but wonder if it’s one that’s been made as a means of protection. Because even still, this monster is free and out there in the world.
Sophie is one of the strongest people I have ever heard or read about, but she is also a representation of so many of others still out there, still experiencing it, with so many monsters of their own still free to the world.
Read this book. Not because it’s what you want to hear but because you need to hear it; we all do.
What I learned from reading Trafficked was things in life may not be what you think they are. Sophie was pulled into a man’s life and mislead in the worst way. Reading from her own words the experience, thoughts and actions she took or couldn’t take is tough but knowledgeable. She has bravery to tell her story and support organizations like STOP THE TRAFFIK.
This book had me reading waaaay past my bedtime. Riveting, educational and sad. And the saddest thing of all is that the author, after all she has endured "cannot bring" herself to testify against her captor???? "I hope he's not doing this to other girls, but....." Unbelievable, and such the cowardly way to live- to do nothing. Boooooo!
I think this is as much a story about an abusive relationship as it is about trafficking. Not all traffickers try to convince their victims that they are doing what they do for love, but abusers usually do, and that is what happened to Sophie. The dynamic between abuser and victim - the control and brainwashing - is fascinating to me. So many times that a rational person would find help, a brainwashed victim of abuse just can't.
This is an important book because it expands our perception of what human trafficking is, where it happens, and to whom. Especially for those in developed countries, it's easy to see trafficking as something that happens to naive third-worlders, not something that happens to relatively affluent, educated white people.
I read this book in 2 days. It was an easy read - kind of like reading a blog, which I suppose is appropriate for an autobiography/memoir. I found the story interesting, and I needed to know how she got out.
This is an important book because it expands our perception of what human trafficking is, where it happens, and to whom. Especially for those in developed countries, it's easy to see trafficking as something that happens to naive third-worlders, not something that happens to relatively affluent, educated white people.
I read this book in 2 days. It was an easy read - kind of like reading a blog, which I suppose is appropriate for an autobiography/memoir. I found the story interesting, and I needed to know how she got out.
Read this for my masters at uni but it’s the area of study I’m going into!
Honestly an awful story to read because of the trauma and exploitation and I’m saying this as a academic who researches modern slavery but it was hard to read and the first few chapters was not needed to explain the trauma or exploitation that occurred. Because the issues with her father when she was young did not play into how she was trafficked - it was separate trauma. Which is still awful and I honestly am so glad she was able to recover from this and start a foundation to help other women, but those chapters were put in there for a sales point of view, because the public would way rather read a book with degrading facts than about someone who is a victim of labour exploitation.
But, the story does help to raise awareness for this awful crime that does happen a lot in the UK and it needs to be a wider recognised crime then it is currently! It’s not just an overseas crime, UK nationals were the highest referred victims in 2021!!
Honestly an awful story to read because of the trauma and exploitation and I’m saying this as a academic who researches modern slavery but it was hard to read and the first few chapters was not needed to explain the trauma or exploitation that occurred. Because the issues with her father when she was young did not play into how she was trafficked - it was separate trauma. Which is still awful and I honestly am so glad she was able to recover from this and start a foundation to help other women, but those chapters were put in there for a sales point of view, because the public would way rather read a book with degrading facts than about someone who is a victim of labour exploitation.
But, the story does help to raise awareness for this awful crime that does happen a lot in the UK and it needs to be a wider recognised crime then it is currently! It’s not just an overseas crime, UK nationals were the highest referred victims in 2021!!
It would feel wrong to say that this book was a good read. It was an awful read. I hated every minute of it. But that was not a result of the writing. To read about situations such as this one happening to anyone is shocking and terrifying but to read about it happening to a girl not much older than myself who has a similar background to myself is just . . . As a white straight female living in Australia I do not personally experience very many of this world's terrors. Whilst I am very passionate about helping in any way that I can I also am accutely aware that what I am helping to prevent is so distant from me. Things like this happen to other people and that's awful and it should be stopped, but they do not happen to me. I am safe.
Except that this book proves that I am not safe. No one is safe. Terror has no boundaries. I am so spechless because of this book. The abuse that she suffered and the helplessness of everything.
This book has really opened my eyes, like Sophie if I were to see a woman working the street I would never guess that she was there against her will. I understand that a horrible situation has probably occurred, but nothing like this. And yes, because it has been ingrained into my mind since childhood to stereotype people, I probably would have expected her to be an awful person.
I was aware that human trafficking is happening and is a problem, but this book helped to turn a statistic into a person. I will be using my next paycheque to donate to this worthy cause. I encourage you to do so as well.
Except that this book proves that I am not safe. No one is safe. Terror has no boundaries. I am so spechless because of this book. The abuse that she suffered and the helplessness of everything.
This book has really opened my eyes, like Sophie if I were to see a woman working the street I would never guess that she was there against her will. I understand that a horrible situation has probably occurred, but nothing like this. And yes, because it has been ingrained into my mind since childhood to stereotype people, I probably would have expected her to be an awful person.
I was aware that human trafficking is happening and is a problem, but this book helped to turn a statistic into a person. I will be using my next paycheque to donate to this worthy cause. I encourage you to do so as well.
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
A very hard hitting story about the true events that happened to a British girl.
It was so good to read at the end that Sophie now helps others that have been through this ideal and volunteers for a anti-abuse association.
It was so good to read at the end that Sophie now helps others that have been through this ideal and volunteers for a anti-abuse association.
The true story of a British girl forced into the sex trade.
Sophie grew up in a troubled house. Her father had no love for his children, but her mother more than made up for her husband’s lack of interest. Her father’s disinterest and her parent’s eventual separation took a toll on her and it took her a while to come to trust men.
She started working, and was leading a regular life in Leeds, when Kas came into her life. He came as a friend, and stayed her friend for a while, even when he was away in another country. He would call and talk to her and she came to rely on him for a shoulder to cry on, for helpful advise, everything we would turn to our friends for.
At a stage when things weren’t working out for her, Kas suggested that she come over to Italy for a short holiday. Arriving in Italy, everything seemed perfect. Kas was gentle, caring, as he always was.
At the end of her break, when she was about to return to England, everything changed. Kas changed from the caring, gentle man, to a controlling person. He told her that he was in debt and she would have to help him – because he loved her, and that was the least she could do. She was supposed to sell her body to earn the money for Kas. She was told that if she tried to run away, her siblings back in England would pay the price, and he knew where they lived. He asked her to call home and tell her mum that she had decided to stay on in Italy. On hearing this, her mother told her that if she ever needed help, all she needed to say was ‘How’s Aunt Linda?’. That was to be her code words.
Terrified of Kas, Sophie worked the streets, braving dangers, believing that she could do nothing to escape. She got punched, hit , abused by Kas when she tried to protest. All the while, trying to remain cheerful whenever she called her family, so that they did not get suspicious. She lived in her own personal hell, not knowing who to reach out for help until she lands up in hospital and gets to contact her mother and asked after Aunt Linda.
Her mother and step-dad came to Italy and rescued her, but it took her a long while to feel safe. She was still terrified that Kas would follow her. She was right – he did come after her. Eventually he did get captured by the police. Even after his capture, Sophie’s horror was far from over. It took her a while to overcome what she went through.
It was a shocking, stomach churning read. Drives home the fact that it is indeed very easy for a person to get trapped into a situation like this. And in an abusive situation, the victim loses the will to fight back, and starts believing everything that the abuser says. Sophie was a regular middle class, educated girl, working in a good job, and yet, her emotional baggage made her vulnerable to Kas, who took full advantage of her situation. The assumption that trafficking mainly happens to poorer people in poorer countries is broken by Sophie’s story.
I have to say, I have immense respect for Sophie to have the courage and determination to overcome all that she faced and publicly talk about it. It took her five years before she felt safe enough to talk about her story. Reading her story was sickening enough, so I can’t even imagine how painful it must have been for her to relive it all for the book, but hopefully her story will make people aware of how vulnerable our own loved ones could be, and maybe watch out.
A heart-breaking story, one that makes you cry, but one, that I feel needs to be read. Sophie has set up a foundation – The Sophie Hayes Foundation raise awareness of human trafficking and modern day slavery. As they have mentioned, on the website,
Sophie’s story is a stark reminder that trafficking is not something that happens far away to someone else. It happens everywhere. Sophie is someone’s sister, she was one of the girls from your school, she is someone from your work. Sophie could be you.
That is why, I feel, it is a book that needs to be read.
Sophie grew up in a troubled house. Her father had no love for his children, but her mother more than made up for her husband’s lack of interest. Her father’s disinterest and her parent’s eventual separation took a toll on her and it took her a while to come to trust men.
She started working, and was leading a regular life in Leeds, when Kas came into her life. He came as a friend, and stayed her friend for a while, even when he was away in another country. He would call and talk to her and she came to rely on him for a shoulder to cry on, for helpful advise, everything we would turn to our friends for.
At a stage when things weren’t working out for her, Kas suggested that she come over to Italy for a short holiday. Arriving in Italy, everything seemed perfect. Kas was gentle, caring, as he always was.
At the end of her break, when she was about to return to England, everything changed. Kas changed from the caring, gentle man, to a controlling person. He told her that he was in debt and she would have to help him – because he loved her, and that was the least she could do. She was supposed to sell her body to earn the money for Kas. She was told that if she tried to run away, her siblings back in England would pay the price, and he knew where they lived. He asked her to call home and tell her mum that she had decided to stay on in Italy. On hearing this, her mother told her that if she ever needed help, all she needed to say was ‘How’s Aunt Linda?’. That was to be her code words.
Terrified of Kas, Sophie worked the streets, braving dangers, believing that she could do nothing to escape. She got punched, hit , abused by Kas when she tried to protest. All the while, trying to remain cheerful whenever she called her family, so that they did not get suspicious. She lived in her own personal hell, not knowing who to reach out for help until she lands up in hospital and gets to contact her mother and asked after Aunt Linda.
Her mother and step-dad came to Italy and rescued her, but it took her a long while to feel safe. She was still terrified that Kas would follow her. She was right – he did come after her. Eventually he did get captured by the police. Even after his capture, Sophie’s horror was far from over. It took her a while to overcome what she went through.
It was a shocking, stomach churning read. Drives home the fact that it is indeed very easy for a person to get trapped into a situation like this. And in an abusive situation, the victim loses the will to fight back, and starts believing everything that the abuser says. Sophie was a regular middle class, educated girl, working in a good job, and yet, her emotional baggage made her vulnerable to Kas, who took full advantage of her situation. The assumption that trafficking mainly happens to poorer people in poorer countries is broken by Sophie’s story.
I have to say, I have immense respect for Sophie to have the courage and determination to overcome all that she faced and publicly talk about it. It took her five years before she felt safe enough to talk about her story. Reading her story was sickening enough, so I can’t even imagine how painful it must have been for her to relive it all for the book, but hopefully her story will make people aware of how vulnerable our own loved ones could be, and maybe watch out.
A heart-breaking story, one that makes you cry, but one, that I feel needs to be read. Sophie has set up a foundation – The Sophie Hayes Foundation raise awareness of human trafficking and modern day slavery. As they have mentioned, on the website,
Sophie’s story is a stark reminder that trafficking is not something that happens far away to someone else. It happens everywhere. Sophie is someone’s sister, she was one of the girls from your school, she is someone from your work. Sophie could be you.
That is why, I feel, it is a book that needs to be read.