Capturing Jasmina by Kimberly Rae- OPTIONAL

Rae, Kimberly Capturing Jasmina, 128 Pages.  JourneyForth, 2014.  $10.  Mature Content: PG (mention of prostitution rings); Violence: PG (threats of violence, baby tied to a rope); Language: G. 

One day Jasmina lived a poor but adequate life with her parents and her younger brother in an Indian coastal village.  The next day she has been sold to man from the city who takes the kids to a sweatshop for back-breaking daily labor making cheap clothes for Americans.   When she finally has a chance to run, she does, but now she has nowhere and no one except for herself to depend upon.  Then one day she sees and earnest group of Indian women who seem to be praying.  Intrigued by their faith, she decides she wants to find out more.

While the book is short and the main character is young, is not really appropriate for an elementary school.  I am worried that middle school students won’t be drawn to it.  It read quickly, however, and I know that with the Taken movies, the thought of slavery is a hot topic in my school in particular.  There is a second book in the series which tells more of Samir’s (Jasmina’s brother) story and her attempts to rescue him.

MS – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS.