Monday, May 12, 2014

Hidden Girl: The true story of a modern-day child slave

Hidden Girl: The true story of a modern-day child slave by Shyima Hall, 232 pages

This is a true story told by a girl who was sold into slavery by her family when she was eight years old. Shyima was born in Egypt to a poor Muslim family. She was the seventh of eleven children and at a young age was often made responsible for her younger siblings, as her older brothers went to school and her older sisters were either married or working outside the home, as were her parents. Although slavery is illegal in Egypt, it is still a fairly common practice. Shyima was sold to a family who subsequently moved to the United States. She tells of her terrible childhood with this family and her subsequent rescue through the aftermath of trying to adjust to a normal life. It’s a compelling story, simply told. I would think that this book would have a lot of appeal to teens as well as adults.

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