Title: Trafficked
Author: Kim Purcell
Release date: February 16, 2012
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher
Hannah is an ordinary teenager growing up in Moldova until her parents are killed in a terrorist bombing. While she’s still mourning the loss, she gets an offer that sounds too good to be true: a job as a nanny for a Russian family in Los Angeles.
At first, it seems like her luck has finally turned around, but life with the Platonovs quickly spirals into a nightmare. Lillian, the mother, forces Hannah to work sixteen-hour days cleaning, and won’t let her leave the house. Sergey, the father, is full of secrets. And they refuse to pay Hannah.
Stranded in a foreign land with false documents, no money, and nobody who can help her, Hannah has become a modern-day slave. And the more Hannah unravels this family’s terrible secrets, the more her life—and her family back home—are in grave danger. Desperate and lonely, she reaches out to the boy next door. But in the end, the only one who can save Hannah is herself.
Trafficked is a unique book not just for the YA market but for the fiction market. It’s a haunting story of a girl looking for a future who instead gets trapped in a nightmare. Hannah’s story is a very real one that I think should be read by everyone.
Hannah goes to America to earn money to help her grandmother, learn English, and go to school to become a doctor. She never thinks about herself, only the ones she loves and people she can help. Even though her trip to America started terribly she doesn’t let if affect her and she looks forward to the opportunities America presents her. She is brave, kind, funny, and strong. No matter what happens to her she continues to think of how she can help her grandmother and anyone else who might need her help, including the neighbor boy, Colin. Hannah’s relationship with Colin doesn’t really develop until close to the end of the book so it’s hard to feel like you know him. Either way, he is a nice guy who just needs a friend, like Hanah.
The family that Hannah “works” for is not what you would expect. They are a nice family of four with some dark secrets and quite a few insecurities. They don’t seem like the type of people who would force a teenage girl to slave for them and that is the scariest part. On the outside they are just another normal family but on the inside, things are so much darker.
My one complaint is that the book does drag a little. There are brief spurts of suspenseful chapters and then it goes back to Hannah’s everyday chores. It got a little dull at times and I sometimes had to force myself through some of the less interesting parts. Luckily it wasn’t often and the end of the book just killed me. Those last chapters are impossible to stop reading.
Overall, Trafficked is a heavy story but one that has a great message. This book is a raw account of one girl’s harrowing ordeal but all throughout there is a little ray of hope that keeps Hannah going. You must check this one out.
Giveaway details:
-US only
heavy. wow. nice review!
Sounds like a good story. Thanks for the review.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
This is something I wouldn’t have picked up if it weren’t for your review. I will be adding this to my wishlist! This is kind of scary because it seems like something that could actually happen. Thanks for the review!
It is probably right in front of my face, but where do you enter the giveaway? I click on where it says “a Rafflecopter giveaway” but it just takes me to their site.
Somer, it is fixed now. I don’t know why it wasn’t showing up earlier but thanks for letting me know.
This sounds like a powerful read, thank you for bringing it to my attention. It definitely looks like one I should read. Great, honest, review!
this isn’t something I would normally pick up on my own, but it sounds really good! Thanks for the review! I added it to my list on goodreads.
btw, how did you get that nifty “add to goodreads” button?
Haley at The Life and Lies (http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com)
I’ve heard of this book a few times and it looks like a really good read. Love the review! Thanks for the giveaway
Trafficked seems heavy but worth the read. I can’t wait to check it out.
I think this sounds like a fascinating read.
I think it’s typical for a powerful read to drag in parts. There is so much intensity that sometimes it gets lost in the mix. Sounds like a great and enjoyable read!
Sounds like an intense book! Sounds like a great book, but I hate when great books drag a little.
Great review Katie! This sounds like a good book about a very important topic that isn’t talked about, especially in YA fiction. I also think that it may be good that it drags a bit – it means that the author isn’t trying to cut corners in telling a powerful story (similar to what Vivien said) and isn’t trying to sensationalize the story. Does that make sense?
Your review makes me want to read this one! Thanks for the opportunity!
wow the book sounds really intense! I really look forward to reading it, even if it gets a bit draggy
great review!
– juhina
I think every one should read this book and realize that slavery is still going strong today! It really sounds like a powerful book, I look forward to reading it.
I love reading about trafficking. I know it’s not a topic to love, but it really interests me. I found this interest when I’ve first saw the Lifetime movie, Human Trafficking. It wowed me and had no idea this is happening in the world.
I know I would love this book! Thanks for the review! I agree that trafficking is a heavy topic with a great message. I think many people should be informed about trafficking!
This seems really intense. I had no idea this was still happening until a couple years ago when a group came to my youth meeting one night. It’s horrifying to think about. I’m definitely looking forward to reading this one, especially considering all the research Kim did.
Wow! This book sounds extremely interesting… A modern day slave. It’s amazing, and extremely sad, that things like this still happen 🙁
I’ll be honest when I say that I haven’t actually read a book of this type before, but it seems really interesting, and I’d love to give it a go!
Your book review is great. I lack at writing good reviews as I am my own worse critic but I enjoy your reviews and would love to win this book and read it.
Thanks for your honest review and what parts of the book were not your favorite.
Great review. I can’t wait to read Trafficked. I already have on my wish list and looking forward to reading. This story deals with the slavery of young women and the hopelessness they feel to get away from the horror. Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
This book sounds like a great yet sad book. I hope the book had somewhat of a good ending and thanks for the great review and giveaway.
Great review. Trafficked has been added to my to read list!
Trafficked seems to be complicated or heavy (I think is the right word).. thanks for the review and giveaway..:)
Thanks for your review! i had not heard of this book before. I would like to read it and will be adding it to my tbr list.
What an incredible story line. I can’t wait to give this one a try myself. Thank you for the great review.
-FABR Steph@FiveAlarmBookReviews
Thanks for the fabulous review Katie 🙂 !! Trafficked sounds really moving and I’m dying to read it .. Really glad you enjoyed this one !!
Thank you so much for the giveaway .. I don’t know if it’s international but I’ve entered anyway in case it is 🙂 !!
This sounds like a very heavy subject matter, but I would be very interested in reading it. Like you said, it’s that little ray of hope that keeps you reading 🙂
I am intrigued with the subject matter even if it does sound touchy. It’s these characters that overcome so much that brings a smile to my face!
Over all this book sounds really emotional and intense. It sucks that it drags some, but I think I can work past that.
Great review of a book with some intense subject matter. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Wow, this story sounds like it will be a very awarding read. Even in the States people don’t realize that human trafficking is still going on.
This book seems like it would be a real eye opener, you did a great review!
I’m OK with heavy books. What I don’t like that it gets too heavy and it became depressing. But by your review on this, I could tell Trafficked would be one of my favourite book=D. Thx for the giveaway!:)
Great review!! I hate it as well when books start to drag and when they get too heavy! But the story still sounds really interesting!!
Thanks for sharing!
Farah @MajiBookshelf
This for sure is a heavy read but the fact that has a new subject, very different from the other ya books that are “out there” makes it a book that I NEED to read.
Thanks for the chance to win and I hope is international.
best wishes.
just.andreeam@yahoo.com
Great review, this book sounds great!!
– Jessica @ The Midnight Bookworm
Nice review – it’s been added to my list.
This isn’t a book that I would normally pick up at all. However, you’ve made me want to read it now. It sounds like a story that could just as easily be completely real and that’s heartbreaking. Adding this to my list!
I have heard alot about this book thanks for your review would like to read it soon! Thanks for the great giveaway!
This book sounds interesting. Great review as always.
Just by the title and the description you can tell this isn’t going to be a sweet and fluffy read. It sounds dark, sad and honest. I can’t wait to read it.
Shana @ Sizzling Reads
I’ve never read a book with a similar premise. It sounds different and really good!
Great review. Thanks for the giveaway!
Nice review…I can’t wait to read this book…Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Really want to read this book! Good giveaway!
looks like an interesting read! Thanks for the giveaway!
This would be a hard read but sometimes that is exactly what you want. I’m in! Thanks for the giveaway.
It’s awesome that a YA book filled a niche in the general fiction market that needed to be filled.
I love how the family exploiting her didn’t seem like the typical mean villains. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Haven’t read it but your review got me hooked now 🙂
Lovely review 🙂