Aoife McGuire

5/6/15

Class 710

Social Studies
Slavery HW 2: Reading Log

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4/22/15 8:19 to 8:40

Sold, by Patricia McCormick
Pages read: From 1 to 24
Today, my book introduced Lakshimi, who is a 13 year old girl living in Nepal with her
mother, stepfather, baby brother and pet goat. Life is very hard for her because she is poor
and her stepfather is mean to her. Also, the dry season has come in the mountains (where
she lives), which has made her even poorer.
5. I feel sorry for Lakshimi and her mother because women in their society are treated very
badly. For example, the chapter First Blood explains that Lakshimi is becoming a
women and her mother tells her that now she must serve and give herself to her husband.
It even says that Lakshimi must wash her husbands feet and take a sip of the water
afterwards! I believe that this is so unfair. Lakshimi and her mother cant stand up for
themselves or do as they wish.
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4/23/15 8:20 to 8:41

Sold, by Patricia McCormick
Pages read: From 25 to 45
Today in my book, the dry season finally ended and there was a monsoon in the
mountains. Unfortunately, the rain completely washed away Lakshimis crops, so now her
family is struggling to get by. At a festival in the village, a stranger tells Lakshimi that she
should go to the city, because her life would be great there.
5. I predict that Lakshimi will go to the city, because it is the best option for her family (she
will get money), but also because she is a very curious and smart girl and will probably
want to go to the city anyway to learn. However, I dont trust the stranger. I think she will
lead Lakshimi into a dangerous situation.

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4/24/15 8:17 to 8:40

Sold, by Patricia McCormick
Pages read: From 46 to 67
Today in my book, Lakshimis stepfather sells her to the stranger so that she can become
a maid in the city. Lakshimis mother is so sad and worried for her to go, but Lakshimi
must provide for her family somehow. She is amazed at all of the sights she sees while
travelling into the city with the stranger, or Auntie.
5. I cant believe that Lakshimi is able to stay so strong during such difficult times. If I were
in her shoes, I would be terrified to leave home. However, Lakshimi is not only able to do
this, but also reassures her mother that she will be safe, even though she is not entirely

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sure that she will be. It amazes me that she is selfless enough that she would venture out
into the unknown just to provide for her small family.
4/27/15 4:18 to 4:52
Sold, by Patricia McCormick
Pages read: 68 to 93
Today in my book, Lakshimi has to leave her Auntie so that she can cross the border. She
also has to lie and say that the man who bought her (her uncle) is her husband. Lakshimi
was given new, fancy clothes and cant understand how shell be able to do any work in
them. Then she goes to a place called Happiness House, where there are made-up, weak
looking girls that are dressed like her.
I think that Lakshimi has been manipulated. She is not in the city to become a maid. I think
that Lakshimi has been sold into sexual slavery. That would explain the frail looking girls
with made-up faces, the dresses and the fact that the place is called Happiness House. I
am so scared and anxious for Lakshimi because sexual slavery is an appalling business that
should not exist.

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4/28/15 5:25 to 5:53

Sold, by Patricia McCormick
Pages read: From 94 to 115
Today in my book, Lakshimi was still convinced that she was going to work as a maid.
Then the other girls gave her a makeover and she was thoroughly confused. Then, she went
to work and was horrified to find that it involved her and an old man having sex.
Lakshimi is punished because she fled from him, and now she is left to die of starvation and
thirst in her room.
5. I wonder how scared and disgusted Laksimi must be. It is so awful that this kind of stuff is
happening today. Im not sure if her stepfather knew that Lakshimi would be sold into
prostitution, but it is absolutely horrible that Lakshimi is only finding out now. She must be
shocked. But I bet that situation will bring out Lakshimis bravery and strong sense of
justice.
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4/29/15 4:20 to 4:43

Sold, by Patricia McCormick
Pages read: From 116 to 131
Today in my book, Mumtaz (Lakshimis boss) decides to let Lakshimi live, even though she
refuses to work. She is suffering and is in excruciating pain from where the men have
been. She is also very homesick and can remember everything about her peaceful home.
5. I feel sorry for Lakshimi. There is no way for her to fight what is happening to her at the
moment, because in this place she has no power. I cannot even imagine the physical and
emotional pain that she is facing. I am really hoping that she will find some way to escape
and return to her little family.
1. 4/30/15 3:12 to 3:34
2. Sold, by Patricia McCormick

3. Pages read: From 132-147

4. Today in my book, Mumtaz has let Lakshimi join the other girls, because she is not a virgin
anymore and is worth less to her. Lakshimi learns tricks to get customers and she meets
Pushpa (a woman who works there and is sick with a coughing disease) and her sond who
loves to play soccer (the David Beckham boy).
5. I cant wait until Lakshimi will be able to pay off her debt (how much Mumtaz paid for her)
and go back home. However, it will be very hard because Mumtaz charges extra fees that will
help the girls from getting diseases. It will be difficult, but I believe that Lakshimis courage
and determination will be able to push her to work harder.
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5/1/15 4:00 to 4:27

Sold, by Patricia McCormick
Pages read: From 148 to 169
Today in my book, Lakshimi is learning more and more about the people around her. For
example, she observes the David Beckham boy and even steals his storybook because she is
so eager to learn. He decides to teach her how to read and write. Also, Lakshimi learns that
Monica is the girl who gets the most customers, but she also has a child at home.
5. I feel sorry for the Davis Beckham boy, because Lakshimi overheard Mumtaz saying that if
Pushpa had a fever, all of her family would be on the street. It must be hard enough living in
Happiness House, but facing this problem is just overwhelming. I am in awe that the boy
finds the kindness in his heart to help Lakshimi by teaching her.

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5/4/15 3:08 to 3:45

Sold, by Patricia McCormick
Pages read: From 170 to 202
Today in my book, Lakshimi learns more from the David beckham boy but risks Mumtaz
finding out and punishing her once again. Also, Lakshimi got sick but was given pills
and got better. Monica went home, expecting honor and praise because she had provided
for her family but they wont expect her- she is a disgrace to them. Pushpa is too sick
to work, so Mumtaz kicks her family onto the street.
5. I cant believe that Monicas family is so mean to her. She gave her family money for her
fathers surgery when nobody else could! Yet all he did in return was tell her own child
that she was dead. I can understand that being in sexual slavery is not admirable, but the
last thing that Monica needs is cruelty from her family. She needs love and support so
that she will be able to deal with the emotional and physical trauma that the Happiness
House caused.

1. 5/5/15 3:37 to 4:06

2. Sold, by Patricia McCormick
3. Pages read: From 203 to 240

4. Today in my book, Monica was thrown out of Happiness House because she had the
virus. Lakshimi gets to know the street boy who comes to the house and gives her free
tea. There was also a police raid and all of the girls had to hide so they wouldnt be taken
away. An American who was pretending to be a customer promised to take her to a safe,
clean place. But Lakshimi stayed because she has to keep paying off her debt. However,
Shilpa reveals that all of the money goes to Mumtaz and that Lakshimis family wouldnt
ever see one rupee more. Lakshimi has now decided to let the American take her away.
5. I connected to the American who wanted to take Lakshimi away from the life she is
living. This is because if I had any way to interact with the girls, I would definitely try to
get them to safety. Sexual slavery is just morally wrong and disgusting. I can see why
some places dont want to address this problem (because it is so strange to think it still
exists today), but it is important for us to know about it so that we can make an effort to
prevent it.

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5/6/15 3:03 to 3:31

Sold, by Patricia McCormick
Pages read: From 241 to 263
Today in my book, the street boy was fired and had to leave. Lakshimi was sad to see him
go, but Lakshimi gave him the card the American gave her. Mumtaz prepares a
punishment for a girl who has betrayed her and Lakshimi thinks that it is her, but it was a
girl who accepted a piece of jewelry from a customer. Lakshimi begins to lose hope when
there is no sign of the American. However, the police raid the house soon enough and
although Anita (Lakshimis friend) begs her to stay, Lakshimi leaves and will be taken to
the place the man promised.
5. I cant believe that Lakshimi is free. When I learned that Mumtaz was not giving any of
Lakshimis earnings to her family, I was convinced that she was going to have to stay
there forever. When the American showed up and gave Lakshimi the card, I was hopeful
and I thought she would get out. But when Lakshimi was waiting and waiting for him to
arrive, I was once again convinced that Lakshimi would never escape. Overall, it took a
lot of courage for Lakshimi to leave Anita, but the choice paid off.