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Lakshmi's family is desperately poor, but village life in the mountains of Nepal has its share of pleasures. When the monsoons wreck their crops yet again, Lakshmi's stepfather says she must leave home and take a job to support her family. She arrives at 'Happiness House' full of hope, but soon learns the unthinkable truth - she has been sold into prostitution.

This new world becomes a nightmare from which there is no escape. But, very gradually, Lakshmi makes friends with others in the house, and gathers her courage, until the day she has to face the hardest decision of all: will she risk everything to reclaim her life?

Deceptively simple, eloquent, and shocking - this is a story you will never forget.

'A phenomenal book, a punch in the gut. It drew me in from the first page, even though I wanted to turn away. McCormick has taken a difficult, distasteful subject and written something readable and compassionate without shying away from the truths of the matter. I only wish it was a historical document, not a portrait of a world we have all helped to create.' Deborah Ellis, author of the Parvana series

Winner of Young People's Literature 2007 (United States) Winner of California Young Reader Medal 2007 (United States) Winner of ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults 2007 (United States) Winner of Quill Book Awards 2008 (Germany) Winner of Young Adult/Teen 2009 (United States) Short-listed for National Book Awards 2006 (United States)

STARRED REVIEW, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, 28-8-06, USThe author beautifully balances the harshness of brothel life with the poignant relationships among its residents. Readers will admire Lakshmi's grit and intelligence, and be grateful for a ray of hope for this memorable heroine at book's end. KIRKUS, 1-9-06, USMcCormick provides readers who live in safety and under protection of the law with a vivid window into a harsh and cruel world - one most would prefer to pretend doesn't exist.Mike Shuttleworth, ACYL, Oct-06The reader will be gripped and anguished by this haunting book.

Patricia McCormick is a critically acclaimed author for young adults. Her debut novel, Cut, captivated teenagers and adults alike, becoming a bestseller in America and winning numerous awards. This was followed by the equally applauded My Brother's Keeper. Patricia holds a master's degree in creative writing, and has contributed regularly to The New York Times. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children, and says the coolest thing she's done lately (perhaps the coolest thing she's ever done) was to go rappelling off a cliff in the Blue Mountains of Australia.

Visit the author's website at

Awards: American Library Association Best Book of the Year and Top Ten Quick Pick, New York Public Library Best Book for the Teenager, Children's Literature Council's Choice, Teen People Book-of-the-Month selection.

The heart-wrenching story of Lakshmi, from Nepal, who is sold into prostitution at the age of 13, and kept captive in 'Happiness House' - where she not only survives, against all odds, but triumphs. Now a film staring Gillian Anderson. Lakshmi's family is desperately poor, but village life in the mountains of Nepal has its share of pleasures. When the monsoons wreck their crops yet again, Lakshmi's stepfather says she must leave home and take a job to support her family. She arrives at 'Happiness House' full of hope, but soon learns the unthinkable truth - she has been sold into prostitution. This new world becomes a nightmare from which there is no escape. But, very gradually, Lakshmi makes friends with others in the house, and gathers her courage, until the day she has to face the hardest decision of all: will she risk everything to reclaim her life? Deceptively simple, eloquent, and shocking - this is a story you will never forget. 'A phenomenal book, a punch in the gut. It drew me in from the first page, even though I wanted to turn away. McCormick has taken a difficult, distasteful subject and written something readable and compassionate without shying away from the truths of the matter. I only wish it was a historical document, not a portrait of a world we have all helped to create.' Deborah Ellis, author of the Parvana series

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