Reviews

Alleen tegen de wereld: als meisje werd ze als seksslavin verkocht, maar nu redt ze anderen by Somaly Mam

mlautchi's review against another edition

4.0

Why aren't we doing more to combat human trafficking?!?!?! Horrific..

trasiwatson's review against another edition

5.0

(UPDATE: After researching, there's been some controversy surrounding her and her stories).

A 'must read.'

aubreystapp's review against another edition

5.0

I thought this book was amazing and heartfelt, and made me cry repeatedly. I would say even if Somaly Mam's personal story is made up, (I feel like there's no way to really know for sure), this doesn't change the suffering and exploitation that many girls are enduring through the sex trade, so regardless, it's still an incredible book to read, and very eye-opening.

cricca's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

leavingsealevel's review against another edition

3.0

An inspiring story (which the goodreads review/synopsis covers much better than I can here).
At the same time, the writing grated on me - both the writing style and the language Mam and her co-author used to talk about human trafficking. Similar to what you'd find in a Glamour/Vanity Fair/etc. article about the issue, although that is a bit of an exaggeration and Mam does point out the deplorable way the mainstream media tries to make the issue "sexy" to sell their publications. There was just too much talk about "victims" for my taste. At the same time, though, I have absolutely no business judging Mam's choice* to tell her story in a way that will reach many more readers--and potential donors to her foundation--than some scholarly third-wave feminist article would. Reaching people and getting word out about the issues--and I would recommend this book to anyone who needed somewhere to start to learn--will make a lot more difference on the ground than nitpicking about whether describing trafficked women and children as "victims" deprives them of their voices and their agency. And now I will get off my stupid soapbox.

*or for all I know the choice of the translator - it was originally published in French.

rachelb36's review against another edition

5.0

This book is incredible, and incredibly disturbing, as it should be. Somaly is very straightforward in her writing, and her story of being sold into prostitution, as well as the stories of all the children and women in the same situation, is absolutely gut-wrenching. There were several times I simply had to stop reading for a few moments to gather myself and keep from sobbing, yet I couldn't put the book down for long. The writing itself is very well-done - cohesive, organized.

I was tremendously angered while reading this book, and tremendously ashamed that I haven't done more to fight for my sisters around the world, even though I know about sexual slavery. I was also encouraged, though, and know that even if I didn't do what I should have last year, or yesterday, God has given me today, and He may give me tomorrow.

Somaly is not a Christian, but I am, and it never ceases to amaze me that some people who don't know Jesus Christ seem to love better than some of us who claim to know Love Himself... I was very convicted, and challenged to better live out my faith. I would recommend this book to anyone.

sarah_thebooknerd's review against another edition

I first read this book while getting my masters degree in social work and was so moved by Somaly Mam and what she has done to help other young girls get out of sex slavery in Cambodia. 

While listening to the audiobook for my reading around the world I started to do some follow up research on her and the foundation to share and found that it’s come out that her story was fabricated, she has made other girls lie about being sex slaves and the work environment was extremely hostile at the foundation with how Mam would treat the workers- violence, threatens of harm and just being rude. So I’m not going to finish the book and find another one to read. I’m really sad by this. 

arieltf's review against another edition

1.0

This was hard to read. The writing wasn't difficult, but reading about the pain in Somaly Mam's life and about the lives of the survivors she has worked to rescue made me feel very sad and helpless. I would still recommend this book to people who want to learn more about human trafficking, but I will add a giant trigger warning for rape and violence. Somaly Mam does not exaggerate, everything is explained simply and clearly, but even so, she writes about the shocking brutalities she has undergone, as well as the brutalities the women and children at her shelters have faced.

I edited this review upon the discovery that much of Somaly Mam's well-known life story is a giant fabrication. It is important for people to understand why these fabrications are toxic and irresponsible.

Somaly Mam’s resignation from the Somaly Mam Foundation and why it matters

Somaly Mam recently resigned from the Somaly Mam Foundation, a non-profit that rehabilitates girls and women in Cambodia who have escaped from human trafficking, following affirmations that her personal experiences being trafficked, her memoir, and the stories of many young women who claim to have been rescued from human trafficking by her foundation were fabricated.

Many responses I have seen have been in support of Mam and her work. “I don’t care what she’s done in the past and I don’t care that she lied, she’s doing good work now and that’s all that matters.”

Most people fail to realize when fabrications about experiences like this are discovered, they cast doubt on all other survivors who are trying to tell their stories. These lies lead people to believe even more that survivors sharing their trauma are doing it for attention, publicity, or profit. The inflated number of false accusations in sex crimes is a pervasive myth that is thrown at all survivors who come forward, and stories like this only further that misconception.

I have not seen any statements from Somaly Mam apologizing to the young women she pressured into lying for the sake of pulling in donations for her foundation. She should apologize to them and to survivors who are currently attempting to recover and overcome stigma in order to share their truths despite being surrounded by a culture of doubt that will attempt to silence and shame them.

What she did was absolutely not okay. Her significant accomplishments in rescuing and rehabilitating survivors of sex trafficking should not be used to excuse her actions. Her foundation, Half the Sky, and other projects she has had a part in will be tainted by this lie. We were fooled, but her actions should not be disregarded or defended.

Review originally published Aug. 22, 2012
Edited July 1, 2014

kirbs_'s review against another edition

5.0

After reading this book I had to send an email to all my friends sharing the work of the Somaly Mam Foundation! It united my social justice passion and is a must read!

lisaz1967's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0