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thechemicaldetective's review
5.0
I was captivated by this book.
It’s very hard to write about the grim realities of the sex trade for a young-adult audience. Too little detail and you risk glossing over the horror, too much and you could be accused of adding to prurient confusion: exploitation by inadvertent titillation.
Ruchira Gupta knows what she is talking about and steers a confident path through the minefield. She tells the story through the eyes of Heera a fourteen year old girl from a poor family who are struggling to survive in the red-light district of a town in the state of Bihar, India.
Heera narrates in a mater-of-fact voice. She and understands much of what is going on. She sees how her cousin Mira –prostituted from a shack at the back of the family home by Heera’s uncle next door - is treated by clients and she desperately wants to avoid the same fate.
There was much that was new and shocking for me. The ‘dance company’ and ‘orchestra’ that come to town for the annual Mela and buy the young girls. The absurd Bisi Bele ceremony where a priest publicly marries a girl to a tree before she is sold into prostitution, to get around the prohibition on sexual activity for unmarried women. The complicity of the police in the sex trade is depressingly familiar, but the portrayal of the family complicity was believable, tragic and appalling.
Heena’s life is turned around when she is accepted to join a Kung-Fu class run by Rini Di at a hostel for vulnerable girls. Her rising self-esteem sets her off on a different path.
What I particularly loved about the ending was the way the teenage rebellion was framed within a very close family; Heera’s triumph is not only that she avoids being trafficked, but the way she brings her whole community round so they can contemplate an alternative way to survive and prosper. And at the heart of this change is respect for girls and women.
This is a triumphant, feel good story but it never feels glib or superficial.
I heartily recommend this book as it covers an important topic while being a thoroughly good and enjoyable read. It would also make a fantastic movie.
It’s very hard to write about the grim realities of the sex trade for a young-adult audience. Too little detail and you risk glossing over the horror, too much and you could be accused of adding to prurient confusion: exploitation by inadvertent titillation.
Ruchira Gupta knows what she is talking about and steers a confident path through the minefield. She tells the story through the eyes of Heera a fourteen year old girl from a poor family who are struggling to survive in the red-light district of a town in the state of Bihar, India.
Heera narrates in a mater-of-fact voice. She and understands much of what is going on. She sees how her cousin Mira –prostituted from a shack at the back of the family home by Heera’s uncle next door - is treated by clients and she desperately wants to avoid the same fate.
There was much that was new and shocking for me. The ‘dance company’ and ‘orchestra’ that come to town for the annual Mela and buy the young girls. The absurd Bisi Bele ceremony where a priest publicly marries a girl to a tree before she is sold into prostitution, to get around the prohibition on sexual activity for unmarried women. The complicity of the police in the sex trade is depressingly familiar, but the portrayal of the family complicity was believable, tragic and appalling.
Heena’s life is turned around when she is accepted to join a Kung-Fu class run by Rini Di at a hostel for vulnerable girls. Her rising self-esteem sets her off on a different path.
What I particularly loved about the ending was the way the teenage rebellion was framed within a very close family; Heera’s triumph is not only that she avoids being trafficked, but the way she brings her whole community round so they can contemplate an alternative way to survive and prosper. And at the heart of this change is respect for girls and women.
This is a triumphant, feel good story but it never feels glib or superficial.
I heartily recommend this book as it covers an important topic while being a thoroughly good and enjoyable read. It would also make a fantastic movie.
thechemicaldetective's review against another edition
5.0
I was captivated by this book.
It’s very hard to write about the grim realities of the sex trade for a young-adult audience. Too little detail and you risk glossing over the horror, too much and you could be accused of adding to prurient confusion: exploitation by inadvertent titillation.
Ruchira Gupta knows what she is talking about and steers a confident path through the minefield. She tells the story through the eyes of Heera a fourteen year old girl from a poor family who are struggling to survive in the red-light district of a town in the state of Bihar, India.
Heera narrates in a mater-of-fact voice. She and understands much of what is going on. She sees how her cousin Mira –prostituted from a shack at the back of the family home by Heera’s uncle next door - is treated by clients and she desperately wants to avoid the same fate.
There was much that was new and shocking for me. The ‘dance company’ and ‘orchestra’ that come to town for the annual Mela and buy the young girls. The absurd Bisi Bele ceremony where a priest publicly marries a girl to a tree before she is sold into prostitution, to get around the prohibition on sexual activity for unmarried women. The complicity of the police in the sex trade is depressingly familiar, but the portrayal of the family complicity was believable, tragic and appalling.
Heena’s life is turned around when she is accepted to join a Kung-Fu class run by Rini Di at a hostel for vulnerable girls. Her rising self-esteem sets her off on a different path.
What I particularly loved about the ending was the way the teenage rebellion was framed within a very close family; Heera’s triumph is not only that she avoids being trafficked, but the way she brings her whole community round so they can contemplate an alternative way to survive and prosper. And at the heart of this change is respect for girls and women.
This is a triumphant, feel good story but it never feels glib or superficial.
I heartily recommend this book as it covers an important topic while being a thoroughly good and enjoyable read. It would also make a fantastic movie.
It’s very hard to write about the grim realities of the sex trade for a young-adult audience. Too little detail and you risk glossing over the horror, too much and you could be accused of adding to prurient confusion: exploitation by inadvertent titillation.
Ruchira Gupta knows what she is talking about and steers a confident path through the minefield. She tells the story through the eyes of Heera a fourteen year old girl from a poor family who are struggling to survive in the red-light district of a town in the state of Bihar, India.
Heera narrates in a mater-of-fact voice. She and understands much of what is going on. She sees how her cousin Mira –prostituted from a shack at the back of the family home by Heera’s uncle next door - is treated by clients and she desperately wants to avoid the same fate.
There was much that was new and shocking for me. The ‘dance company’ and ‘orchestra’ that come to town for the annual Mela and buy the young girls. The absurd Bisi Bele ceremony where a priest publicly marries a girl to a tree before she is sold into prostitution, to get around the prohibition on sexual activity for unmarried women. The complicity of the police in the sex trade is depressingly familiar, but the portrayal of the family complicity was believable, tragic and appalling.
Heena’s life is turned around when she is accepted to join a Kung-Fu class run by Rini Di at a hostel for vulnerable girls. Her rising self-esteem sets her off on a different path.
What I particularly loved about the ending was the way the teenage rebellion was framed within a very close family; Heera’s triumph is not only that she avoids being trafficked, but the way she brings her whole community round so they can contemplate an alternative way to survive and prosper. And at the heart of this change is respect for girls and women.
This is a triumphant, feel good story but it never feels glib or superficial.
I heartily recommend this book as it covers an important topic while being a thoroughly good and enjoyable read. It would also make a fantastic movie.
dastardly_red_witch's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
desarroi's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
singh_reads_kanwar2's review
4.0
This is story based on real events even though i think events are bit exaggerated towards ending.
Story is based in Bihar small village which is an actual Red light area and the family living there are having miserable life and as soon as the girl is born in that area her fate is sealed, that they will what business when the reach appropriate age .
But once a family our best supporting characters Mai , mother of Heera became a rebel and try to save her daughter from the miserable and dark future . She let her learn and excel in life, but circumstances keep arising but Heera find her ground with Rini a social worker and Women safety NGO Organiser, decide to take Heera under her wings and let her dream.
From Forbesganj to New-york the struggle and safety of Heera was at risk and she being the risk taker save herself or got lucky with her adventures and safeguard a friend and won a scholarship for herself for a year.
The story is inspiring and full of morals , plus motivational that in today's world one must leart self defence to safeguard themselves from dangers and should be the damsel in distress that someone came and save you.
Story is based in Bihar small village which is an actual Red light area and the family living there are having miserable life and as soon as the girl is born in that area her fate is sealed, that they will what business when the reach appropriate age .
But once a family our best supporting characters Mai , mother of Heera became a rebel and try to save her daughter from the miserable and dark future . She let her learn and excel in life, but circumstances keep arising but Heera find her ground with Rini a social worker and Women safety NGO Organiser, decide to take Heera under her wings and let her dream.
From Forbesganj to New-york the struggle and safety of Heera was at risk and she being the risk taker save herself or got lucky with her adventures and safeguard a friend and won a scholarship for herself for a year.
The story is inspiring and full of morals , plus motivational that in today's world one must leart self defence to safeguard themselves from dangers and should be the damsel in distress that someone came and save you.
samanthaash_'s review
dark
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
cherylzzzz's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
cedardleland's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book handles it's subject matter really well, I think kids/teens can understand what's happening and digest the information as it's presented without the horrors being blunted.
librerika's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Things start off very heavy and a little slow and I had some trouble getting into it but once things picked up about a third of the way through, it became unputdownable. An important and inspiring story sure to be a hit with young martial artists.