Trafficked by Kim Purcell is a gripping tale that shines light on something terrible and something that affects everyone in the world… Human trafficking. Written for Young Adults, Trafficked tells the story of Hannah, who has been tricked – like so many other girls – with the prospect of a new life in a foreign country. Of course, America is supposed to be the land of the free and the brave… nothing bad happens there, right? Hannah’s not going to be a sex worker, so what could really go wrong with her American dream?

I found Trafficked to be a very intelligent novel, written for a younger audience, which gives the reader the opportunity to realise that things aren’t always as it seems. It gives younger readers the opportunity to realise you can’t trust anyone, no matter how kind they seem to be. It gives girls (and boys) a look into the darker side of a world that’s supposed to be civilized, when in fact it’s still as barbaric as ever.

Kim Purcell had me turning the pages as I delved into the story of Hannah, who only wanted a new beginning away from Moldova. She had hopes and dreams, like any teenage girl, but they all came crashing down when the truth began to reveal itself to her. She was nothing but a slave.

Trafficked is powerful and it succeeds in creating awareness of the worldwide problem of human trafficking. Frankly, it’s every parent’s responsibility to give their child this book to read, because it’s not just a Third World problem…

(review originally posted on www.killeraphrodite.com) ( )

In Trafficked, Purcell leads the reader on a no holds barred look into sixteen-year-old Hannah's life. Instead of the comfortable and easy job she was promised, her reality is sixteen hour work days and back breaking housework. Lillian, the mother of the home, turns out to be uncompromising, selfish and verbally (sometimes even physically) abusive. Sergey, the father of the home, is secretive and Hannah is leery about what his intentions with her really are. Trapped in the house, without pay, not allowed to speak English or interact with any other people, Hannah is an island. Who can she turn to for help?

I'm going to admit that there are some very uncomfortable scenes in this book. As I said, Purcell really does show the harsh reality of Hannah's predicament. This is a story that will gut you and might even make you psychically ill at times. The sexual and violent nature of parts of this book, while completely necessary, definitely makes it a difficult read. Hannah's life isn't the easy one she hoped for. She is constantly struggling to just keep her mind and her body intact. The small victories she has in the story, a little sarcastic comment here, a long awaited bus trip there, are a reminder of how isolated and mistreated she really is. Hannah is broken, and this book isn't afraid to show that.

What really impressed me were the layers in Trafficked. Although Hannah is the main focus, there are other characters who are simultaneously fighting their own battles. Maggie and Michael, the two children, are suffering from neglect. Their mother is constantly studying, and it's almost as though her children are an afterthought. A nuisance. They actually end up being the one thing Hannah cares for, despite her situation. Then there is Colin, the boy next door, who is fighting his own battle with his weight, his future and his divorced parents. I thought he was so important because his struggle is put into perspective when compared with Hannah's. My hope is that this will open some teen eyes and help them see that their family lives might not be as bad as they think they are.

Trafficked deals with issues that are well worth knowing about, and it does it in a gritty and realistic way. I'll fully admit that I powered through this book, mostly because I just had to know what happened to Hannah next. Call it rubber-necking if you will. Hannah definitely suffers some atrocities. Still, the way that Purcell expertly weaves so much truth into Hannah's fictional life is amazing. By the time I finished reading I was equal parts angry and saddened. If you are a reader who is okay with a gritty and realistic read, Trafficked is one that is well worth your time. ( )

Trafficked is one of those books you just can’t put down. You need to keep reading to see what happens next. It is a very addicting read. I was pulled in from the first page and couldn’t stop reading. I needed to know how it was going to end for Hannah.

This was the first book on this topic that I’ve read and it made me want to read more. It is incredible and powerful. Even though I gave it four stars instead of five (I couldn’t tell you why that is) I still really enjoyed it and I wouldn’t change a thing about this book. Trafficked will be staying with me for a very long time. It’s a definite must read. Please pick it up. ( )

Accepting an enticing offer to work in the U.S., 17-year-old Hannah leaves her friends and family in Moldova to seek what she thinks will be a brighter future working for a family in Los Angeles. The promises of a paid nanny job, English classes, and freedom quickly fade into the daily drudgery of cleaning the house, babysitting, and facing constant abuse from the Russian family she lives with. The plot is gripping and stressful, with Hannah a relatable and sympathetic main character. At times, the narration is simplistic and overly American for a Moldovan protagonist, but Trafficked offers an important story about the realities of human trafficking.

Review: Trafficked by Kim Purcell.

Human trafficking is a real concern worldwide. Kim Purcell gives the reader an overview of such an issue. The story of Hannah is fiction but the problem is a staggering matter in all society and cultures. I enjoyed the book, it was well written and the difficult subject was not too graphic for the reader.

It’s a haunting story of a young girl looking for a better life but instead gets trapped in a nightmare of abuse. Hannah is one of many girls who goes to America to earn money to help her grandmother, learn English, and to go to school to become a doctor. Her character is a bit naïve at times but she never thinks about herself, only the ones she loves and the people she can help. She is brave, kind, funny, and strong.

Hannah was lured from the Republic of Moldova after the death of her parents with false promises of a good paying job and the opportunity to go to school in America. Only seventeen, she thought she was applying for a housekeeper and nanny position in America but finding out later how she was hand-picked by a Russian-American family who knew she was illegal (but she did not know) and paid her way to America.

Hannah becomes a prisoner and slave working all hours without pay and without the ability to leave. Hannah has no freedom; she is controlled, spied on, and told many times the threats of harming her family and friends back home in Moldova if she caused the Russian family any trouble.

This is a disturbing story but Kim Purcell created the story in a subdued fashion to get across that this issue is horrifying and still happening under the noses of every government, and culture, in our societies….
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