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Patricia McCormick is a journalist and writer. She graduated from Rosemont
College in 1978, followed by an M.S. from Columbia University Graduate School of
Journalism in 1986 and an M.F.A. from New School University in 1999. Her
first novel for teens was Cut, about a young woman's troubles with self-injury. This was followed by My Brother's Keeper in 2005,
about a boy struggling with his brother's addiction, Sold in 2006, and Purple Heart in 2009.
Her awards include the
American Library Association Best Book of the Year,
New York Public Library Best Book for the Teenaged and the
Children's Literature Council's Choice.
She has written for The New York Times, Parents Magazine, The New York Times
Book Review, Ladies Home Journal, Town & Country, More, Reader's Digest, Mademoiselle and other publications
and has been an adjunct professor of journalism at Columbia University Graduate
School of Journalism and an instructor of creative writing at the New School
University. She lives in New York with two children, a husband and
two cats.
Patricia McCormick's website
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What inspired you to tell this story?
In the past year or so, the trafficking of children has gotten a good deal of media attention. But nearly five years ago, when I had a chance meeting with a photographer who was working undercover to document the presence of young girls in brothels overseas, I knew immediately that I wanted to do what no one else had done so far: tell this heartbreaking story from the point of view of one individual girl.
I believe that young adults want to know what’s happening to their peers on the other side of the world, but that media accounts, by their very nature, cannot usually go beyond the surface. To me, there is nothing more powerful- or permanent- than the impact of a book.
What did your travel to India and Nepal bring to your story?
I spent a month in India and Nepal tracing Lakshmi’s steps- going from a poor, isolated village in the foothills of the Himalayas all the way to the teeming red-light district of Calcutta. Trained as an investigative reporter, I took notes and photos observing the sights, smells, foods, sounds, and the customs- details to give the book authenticity. I also interviewed women in the red-light district, girls who had been rescued, and a man ...
Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author who writes for kids of all ages. Known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has earned numerous international, national, and state ... (more)
If you enjoyed:
Sold
Try:
Wintergirls
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Jennifer Bradbury is the author of A Moment Comes, Wrapped, and her debut novel, Shift. Shift—which Kirkus Reviews gave a starred review, calling it "fresh, absorbing, compelling"—was picked as an ALA and a School ... (more)
If you enjoyed:
Sold
Try:
A Moment Comes
by Jennifer Bradbury
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