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India's Street Kids #1
Capturing Jasmina
Capturing Jasmina, fiction for young adult readers by Kimberly Rae, is the story of Jasmina, a young girl in India, and her brother, Samir. The children are sold by their father to a man promising them an education and good jobs.
But, as Jasmina and Samir soon discover, the man is providing an education, not in a school, but as a slave in his sweatshop garment factory. While Samir quickly submits to his new life of misery, Jasmina never stops planning an escape.
She comes to realize that escape doesn’t always mean freedom.
But, as Jasmina and Samir soon discover, the man is providing an education, not in a school, but as a slave in his sweatshop garment factory. While Samir quickly submits to his new life of misery, Jasmina never stops planning an escape.
She comes to realize that escape doesn’t always mean freedom.
116 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2014
2 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Rae
56 books92 followersAmazon bestselling author of over 35 books Kimberly Rae has lived in Bangladesh, Uganda, Kosovo and Indonesia. She rafted the Nile River, hiked the hills at the base of Mount Everest, and ate cow brains, just to say she'd done it!
Rae has been published over 300 times and has work in 5 languages. Kimberly Rae’s articles have been published in BRIO, BRIO & Beyond, Proverbs 31 Woman Magazine, Mature Years, Diabetes Health, SusieMag, Women of the Harvest, Clubhouse Jr., Keys for Kids, Insight magazine, and Woman Alive, the only Christian magazine for woman in the UK. She writes regularly for Regular Baptist Press and Union Gospel Press.
Rae has been interviewed on multiple radio shows, in several newspapers, on blogs, and once on television. Since the release of her bestselling novels on human trafficking and missions (STOLEN WOMAN, STOLEN CHILD, STOLEN FUTURE), she is a requested professional speaker on human trafficking--not just the problem, but how people can be part of the solution.
Rae also has a series of books on living joyfully with chronic illness (she has Addison's disease) and new books on trafficking:
For Teens: Capturing Jasmina
For Adults and Teens: Captive No More
Someday Dreams
Find out more or order autographed books at www.kimberlyrae.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 5, 2016
Breathe.
What an emotional ride this book takes you on. I have a special affinity for India as a country, and the women and children of India especially. I really enjoy reading fiction that is set in this amazing and diverse country. Capturing Jasmina will take your heart on a journey.
Jasmina, a young girl in India, and her brother, Samir, are sold as child slaves and must learn to survive living on the streets of India.
It's heartbreaking, this young girl has NO idea why her parents are letting her go, she knows girls are often of no value in her country but her brother is being sold to this strange man too, why?
If I ever find my parents, that is the one question that I will ask. Why? Why was a small bundle of money worth more than family? Why were we so little valued as to be considered disposable?
These are not questions a young girl should be pondering, not ever, but it's the reality that Jasmina faces, like so many other children in India. This book exposes the dark side of child slavery, we see Jasmina sent to work in a literal "sweat shop" of a factory, children, young children making clothes to send to western countries, made my hands that know the feeling of tears dripping on them, working out of fear, working with no choices.
I did not bother to cry. My body was so dry I could not have produced tears had I tried. We worked from the time the sun rose until after it sank; then we trudged back to the building, looking like a band of ghosts come back from the dead. Only we were not ghosts. We were children, covered in grey dust, walking like old people under the strain of despair.
Let that sit for a bit. Heavy going huh? This book has everything from despair to total joy, from broken to whole, it's an incredible journey, even more so that it could very much be some young girl's true story.
Jasmina has such a strong spirit, she wants more than this for her life. She is lovable and incredible. I fell in love with her many times over. I wanted to make it all better for her. So might you.
That night I gave up the last piece of my childhood. I threw away the final unbroken portion of my heart.
Yep. Sadness, lots of sadness BUT it's not all that is in the book, I do not want to spoil the wonderful journey that Jasmina can take you on if you read her story, but I do want to encourage you to have HOPE for her in this book.
There is an element of Christian grace, love and charity in this book as Jasmina crosses the path of missionaries who are working hard to help the children of India have a better way of life. She has never known kindness, it's not easy to trust or believe it can be real. It needs to break through the shell of pain and emptiness to find the shattered heart within.
Will Jasmina's heart be whole again? What does become of her? What about her brother, Samir? She has adventures this courage filled young girl, she sees things no child should see, the seedy side of human trafficking and slavery, so very real in our world today. (Look up the statistics, it's horrifying)
This book was so very readable, I cheered Jasmina on, I wanted SO much to see a happy ending but dear readers, I leave that one with you to find out for yourselves, if indeed Jasmina finds a happy place to rest.
One of my most memorable reads of the year.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What an emotional ride this book takes you on. I have a special affinity for India as a country, and the women and children of India especially. I really enjoy reading fiction that is set in this amazing and diverse country. Capturing Jasmina will take your heart on a journey.
Jasmina, a young girl in India, and her brother, Samir, are sold as child slaves and must learn to survive living on the streets of India.
It's heartbreaking, this young girl has NO idea why her parents are letting her go, she knows girls are often of no value in her country but her brother is being sold to this strange man too, why?
If I ever find my parents, that is the one question that I will ask. Why? Why was a small bundle of money worth more than family? Why were we so little valued as to be considered disposable?
These are not questions a young girl should be pondering, not ever, but it's the reality that Jasmina faces, like so many other children in India. This book exposes the dark side of child slavery, we see Jasmina sent to work in a literal "sweat shop" of a factory, children, young children making clothes to send to western countries, made my hands that know the feeling of tears dripping on them, working out of fear, working with no choices.
I did not bother to cry. My body was so dry I could not have produced tears had I tried. We worked from the time the sun rose until after it sank; then we trudged back to the building, looking like a band of ghosts come back from the dead. Only we were not ghosts. We were children, covered in grey dust, walking like old people under the strain of despair.
Let that sit for a bit. Heavy going huh? This book has everything from despair to total joy, from broken to whole, it's an incredible journey, even more so that it could very much be some young girl's true story.
Jasmina has such a strong spirit, she wants more than this for her life. She is lovable and incredible. I fell in love with her many times over. I wanted to make it all better for her. So might you.
That night I gave up the last piece of my childhood. I threw away the final unbroken portion of my heart.
Yep. Sadness, lots of sadness BUT it's not all that is in the book, I do not want to spoil the wonderful journey that Jasmina can take you on if you read her story, but I do want to encourage you to have HOPE for her in this book.
There is an element of Christian grace, love and charity in this book as Jasmina crosses the path of missionaries who are working hard to help the children of India have a better way of life. She has never known kindness, it's not easy to trust or believe it can be real. It needs to break through the shell of pain and emptiness to find the shattered heart within.
Will Jasmina's heart be whole again? What does become of her? What about her brother, Samir? She has adventures this courage filled young girl, she sees things no child should see, the seedy side of human trafficking and slavery, so very real in our world today. (Look up the statistics, it's horrifying)
This book was so very readable, I cheered Jasmina on, I wanted SO much to see a happy ending but dear readers, I leave that one with you to find out for yourselves, if indeed Jasmina finds a happy place to rest.
One of my most memorable reads of the year.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2019
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.
Wowza, what a story! I wept so much, especially in the final chapters. This book might be a hard, tough look at human trafficking—from the eyes of a child, no less!—but it’s so worth the heartache reading it causes.
Content: human trafficking, drugs/alcohol (mentioned), prostitution (including of children; mentioned, not shown)
Wowza, what a story! I wept so much, especially in the final chapters. This book might be a hard, tough look at human trafficking—from the eyes of a child, no less!—but it’s so worth the heartache reading it causes.
Content: human trafficking, drugs/alcohol (mentioned), prostitution (including of children; mentioned, not shown)
October 3, 2015
I kind of feel bad about giving this book a two star rating because I do think the content in this book is important and more stories like this need to be written and consumed. But I just did not enjoy it.
It was a short book which I was glad for because that meant I could finish it faster. But other than the book being short and the actual subject matter, there wasn't anything else I enjoyed about it.
Capturing Jasmina follows the main character Jasmina as she chronicles her life on the streets of India after being given up by her father along with her younger brother Samir. They are later trafficked and sold from person to person as slaves.
This would have been a great story to read if it weren't written like an essay. There was really no depth or personality to Jasmina. I could have been reading about a flower and had the same emotions and feelings that I had for Jasmina while reading this story. I just didn't connect with her.
I read The Walled City by Ryan Graudin a couple months back and I think she did a WONDERFUL job with telling the story of children who are trafficked and sold as slaves and prostitutes. I'm not saying every story on this topic has to engender some kind of connection with the characters in the book but it does make for a more involved and profound reading experience. At least it does for me.
With all that being said, I will be reading the other book in this series which is about Jasmina's brother Samir. Just because I am interested in what happened to him and again, it's very short.
(This book was given to me for free by the publisher via Netgalley.)
It was a short book which I was glad for because that meant I could finish it faster. But other than the book being short and the actual subject matter, there wasn't anything else I enjoyed about it.
Capturing Jasmina follows the main character Jasmina as she chronicles her life on the streets of India after being given up by her father along with her younger brother Samir. They are later trafficked and sold from person to person as slaves.
This would have been a great story to read if it weren't written like an essay. There was really no depth or personality to Jasmina. I could have been reading about a flower and had the same emotions and feelings that I had for Jasmina while reading this story. I just didn't connect with her.
I read The Walled City by Ryan Graudin a couple months back and I think she did a WONDERFUL job with telling the story of children who are trafficked and sold as slaves and prostitutes. I'm not saying every story on this topic has to engender some kind of connection with the characters in the book but it does make for a more involved and profound reading experience. At least it does for me.
With all that being said, I will be reading the other book in this series which is about Jasmina's brother Samir. Just because I am interested in what happened to him and again, it's very short.
(This book was given to me for free by the publisher via Netgalley.)
January 1, 2016
I received this in exchange for an honest review from the publisher via NetGalley. There are also mild spoilers.
I almost don't want to write this review, but I did agree to do it. If I'm honest, I struggled to read this book, as it felt slow while still being short. There was no emotion in it at all. The only reason I've given it 2* instead of 1* is because the subject matter –child trafficking– is one that needs so much more attention.
From the blurb, I expected to read more of the hardships Jasmina endured. However, that was pretty glossed over, and most of it seemed like her hearing about the rescue work the missionaries did. I expected more about Jasmina, her struggles and what she did, but she played the bystander, narrating what others did for half the book. When it did talk about what she went through, it was very quick and detached, and I felt sympathy for what she went through, but I didn't feel empathy. You know when you're reading a really good book and actually feel the suffering of a character? Or maybe the character goes through a tough, exciting ordeal, and you feel yourself tensing up and holding your breath. I didn't feel anything reading this..
I didn't realise, from the blurb, that it would be missionary propaganda. I mean, I appreciate the work they're doing to rescue street children and sex slaves, but this was more like an extended educational brochure used to advertise their work. Nowhere in the blurb did it prepare me for so much propaganda. I'm not a religious person, but I have nothing against other people being religious. What frustrates me is preaching, and I felt like this book was preachy. I think maybe a prerequisite to reading this book is faith.
I expected a scary and exciting plot, with Jasmina dodging traffickers at every turn, meeting other street children and forming alliances. I expected her to find her brother, rescue him and then, in the end, find a place of safety. Instead, Jasmina had basically found safety halfway through the book, and the rest was her talking about the missionaries. And it wasn't even an exciting event when she found them. She stumbled across some women praying and followed them around, and then they just let her walk into their compound. Seriously?
Rae also suffered from the curse of the child narrator. Jasmina seemed to have too much insight into what was happening in her life, which wasn't believable. When she admitted ignorance, it was too superficial. Any suspicions she had of the people, situations and food she came across were passed over too quickly. At one point, she's taken to a table of food in the compound, and she's told she can have whatever she wants. She doesn't take anything, thinking about how traffickers drug food to capture girls for brothels (how does she know that?), but some guy says it's safe, and she just reaches out and piles food on her plate. She even picks up something she's never seen before (a chocolate chip cookie) and just eats it. So much for that deep suspicion and hard heart she keeps saying she has!
Towards the end, there were a couple of chapters describing Jasmina and her two friends from the compound going out to rescue a baby. I wish the rest of the book was like those two chapters, as they had a bit more action and excitement. They were also the only two chapters that I felt were written with the voice of a 13-year-old. If the whole book was like that, I would have rated it at least 3*. Shame, isn't it?
All in all, I don't recommend this book, except maybe for children ages 9-13. It would also help if you were religious, preferably Christian.
I almost don't want to write this review, but I did agree to do it. If I'm honest, I struggled to read this book, as it felt slow while still being short. There was no emotion in it at all. The only reason I've given it 2* instead of 1* is because the subject matter –child trafficking– is one that needs so much more attention.
From the blurb, I expected to read more of the hardships Jasmina endured. However, that was pretty glossed over, and most of it seemed like her hearing about the rescue work the missionaries did. I expected more about Jasmina, her struggles and what she did, but she played the bystander, narrating what others did for half the book. When it did talk about what she went through, it was very quick and detached, and I felt sympathy for what she went through, but I didn't feel empathy. You know when you're reading a really good book and actually feel the suffering of a character? Or maybe the character goes through a tough, exciting ordeal, and you feel yourself tensing up and holding your breath. I didn't feel anything reading this..
I didn't realise, from the blurb, that it would be missionary propaganda. I mean, I appreciate the work they're doing to rescue street children and sex slaves, but this was more like an extended educational brochure used to advertise their work. Nowhere in the blurb did it prepare me for so much propaganda. I'm not a religious person, but I have nothing against other people being religious. What frustrates me is preaching, and I felt like this book was preachy. I think maybe a prerequisite to reading this book is faith.
I expected a scary and exciting plot, with Jasmina dodging traffickers at every turn, meeting other street children and forming alliances. I expected her to find her brother, rescue him and then, in the end, find a place of safety. Instead, Jasmina had basically found safety halfway through the book, and the rest was her talking about the missionaries. And it wasn't even an exciting event when she found them. She stumbled across some women praying and followed them around, and then they just let her walk into their compound. Seriously?
Rae also suffered from the curse of the child narrator. Jasmina seemed to have too much insight into what was happening in her life, which wasn't believable. When she admitted ignorance, it was too superficial. Any suspicions she had of the people, situations and food she came across were passed over too quickly. At one point, she's taken to a table of food in the compound, and she's told she can have whatever she wants. She doesn't take anything, thinking about how traffickers drug food to capture girls for brothels (how does she know that?), but some guy says it's safe, and she just reaches out and piles food on her plate. She even picks up something she's never seen before (a chocolate chip cookie) and just eats it. So much for that deep suspicion and hard heart she keeps saying she has!
Towards the end, there were a couple of chapters describing Jasmina and her two friends from the compound going out to rescue a baby. I wish the rest of the book was like those two chapters, as they had a bit more action and excitement. They were also the only two chapters that I felt were written with the voice of a 13-year-old. If the whole book was like that, I would have rated it at least 3*. Shame, isn't it?
All in all, I don't recommend this book, except maybe for children ages 9-13. It would also help if you were religious, preferably Christian.
July 18, 2014
Imagine you have been sold with your brother for a few hundred rupees? Your mother pleaded with your father that you could remain at home but the man promised your parents a better future. A better future, everyone wants that. The decision has to be made immediately, and the transaction transpires. The children are collected and set inside the three-wheeled car and driven 2 hours away to their new home. As Jasmina writes her story, encouraged by Asha, she hopes to share it with her brother Samir when she meets back up with him. I’m immediately impressed by how adamant and resourceful Jasmina becomes once she is outside her surroundings. There is a stereotype for women in India and for Jasmina being only ten years old, she is quite determined and strong for the situation that she has been placed in. Her brother Samir demeanor suddenly takes on an opposite affect and he becomes withdrawn. As the man takes them into his sweatshop to begin their new lives, their adventure is just beginning. The children dream about being reunited with their parents but the threats hang over their heads of the debt they owe him. They find themselves working in a rock-quarry next when problems arise in the sweatshop. The siblings get separated and Jasmine is out on the street alone, this girl is relentless. She’s intrigued by some elegant women she observes on the streets which leads her to Asha. Asha speaks to her about love, understanding and goodness. Jasmine is confused about the god Asha speaks of and talks so highly of but she is impressed by the compassion and the dedication the women represent. Jasmine’s heart is hardened by what has transpired with her parents but as she speaks with Asha, her heart softens and she’s ready to search for their whereabouts.
As I read this story, Jasmine’s journey was a world-wind of activity. There was always some undertaking occurring or transpiring, always on the lookout for something to happen. As she starts to talk to Asha she starts to belong, she starts to be a part of something, something big and important. Her maternal family seems almost secondary, as she is finally standing tall. It’s a Christian story dealing with human trafficking that goes beyond those involved.
I received a complimentary e-book from NetGalley and JourneyForth Books in exchange for my honest review.
As I read this story, Jasmine’s journey was a world-wind of activity. There was always some undertaking occurring or transpiring, always on the lookout for something to happen. As she starts to talk to Asha she starts to belong, she starts to be a part of something, something big and important. Her maternal family seems almost secondary, as she is finally standing tall. It’s a Christian story dealing with human trafficking that goes beyond those involved.
I received a complimentary e-book from NetGalley and JourneyForth Books in exchange for my honest review.
May 2, 2014
Kimberly Rae’s new book, Capturing Jasmina¸ opens young readers’ eyes to the realities of human trafficking. Set in India, readers journey with main character Jasmina through a myriad of emotions and experiences as her father sells Jasmina and her brother into slavery. Spoiler alert: Jasmina is rescued, and this story offers hope through Jesus Christ; yet, Rae opens readers’ eyes to the fact that so many cannot or do not escape slavery.
Because of my own cross-cultural experience, I didn’t find it hard at all to picture the scenery, the clothing, and the villages, streets and cities in the book. But those who have no background in the geography and cultures of southeast Asia might want to study a bit before reading to get a better feel for the setting. At the same time, the readers find themselves drawn into Jasmina’s story, hearing her thoughts and feelings, her fears and questions, her concerns and joys.
A few times I found some slightly awkward or redundant wording, like “if when,” but I chalked it up to the fact that the main character is telling the story through of consciousness. All in all, the book paints a very real picture of human trafficking and exposes readers to the realities of life in other parts of the world. At the same time, she offers hope and, on some levels, even encourages readers to get involved in the fight against slavery.
Rae shows concerned believers in action, doing their part to rescue young girls and women from human trafficking and slavery. Treated with tact and care, the themes are still mature enough that I would recommend the book for teens and young adults, not young readers with advanced reading levels.
About the Author
Amazon Bestselling author Kimberly Rae loves to help people fight human trafficking and live joyfully despite chronic illness. She has been published over 300 times and has work in 5 languages.
* Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher for my honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Because of my own cross-cultural experience, I didn’t find it hard at all to picture the scenery, the clothing, and the villages, streets and cities in the book. But those who have no background in the geography and cultures of southeast Asia might want to study a bit before reading to get a better feel for the setting. At the same time, the readers find themselves drawn into Jasmina’s story, hearing her thoughts and feelings, her fears and questions, her concerns and joys.
A few times I found some slightly awkward or redundant wording, like “if when,” but I chalked it up to the fact that the main character is telling the story through of consciousness. All in all, the book paints a very real picture of human trafficking and exposes readers to the realities of life in other parts of the world. At the same time, she offers hope and, on some levels, even encourages readers to get involved in the fight against slavery.
Rae shows concerned believers in action, doing their part to rescue young girls and women from human trafficking and slavery. Treated with tact and care, the themes are still mature enough that I would recommend the book for teens and young adults, not young readers with advanced reading levels.
About the Author
Amazon Bestselling author Kimberly Rae loves to help people fight human trafficking and live joyfully despite chronic illness. She has been published over 300 times and has work in 5 languages.
* Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher for my honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.
November 29, 2015
I've read the book two first, Buying Samir, before read this one. And to be honest, the Samir's story caught me more rather than Jasmina's. Both of the books intended to be Jasmina's journals, about how to saved herself and her brother, Samir, from slaveries. But I've found that this book has less emotions rather than the book two. I can't felt Jasmina's fear, sadness, happiness and her thrills. I don't know why, it probably the book is too short.
This book gave me a small picture of children slaveries, especially in India. Mostly people probably familiar with the scenario: someone traded the children from their poor families, took them with a promised that they would made more money and gave few as a down payment. Then the children would have sent into some factories, worked so hard with lack of food, clothes and shelter. I love the character of Jasmina with her strong will. This book actually brought an sensitive issue, the written also ok, but unfortunately it emotionally less.
The eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This book gave me a small picture of children slaveries, especially in India. Mostly people probably familiar with the scenario: someone traded the children from their poor families, took them with a promised that they would made more money and gave few as a down payment. Then the children would have sent into some factories, worked so hard with lack of food, clothes and shelter. I love the character of Jasmina with her strong will. This book actually brought an sensitive issue, the written also ok, but unfortunately it emotionally less.
The eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 5, 2014
Capturing Jasmina
Kimberly Rae
Copyright 2014
Jasmina and her younger brother Samir live in India and are sold into slavery by their Father.
Jasmina and Samir must endure a great deal of abuse by their captors. They are forced not only to endure a life of abuse at the hands of their caotors but after three years they both end up having to sleep on the streets.
When their is a fire in the factory where they escape tgey meet a man who they think is thereto help them but instead he sends them to even harder work .
Eventually Jasmina is rescued by a woman who works at a Christian Orphanage. A woman Jasmina calls Aunt Asha, unfortunately Samir is not with her when she is rescued.
Will Jasmina and Samir reunite?
Will Jasmina come to Christ?
5 out of 5 stars...
Kimberly Rae
Copyright 2014
Jasmina and her younger brother Samir live in India and are sold into slavery by their Father.
Jasmina and Samir must endure a great deal of abuse by their captors. They are forced not only to endure a life of abuse at the hands of their caotors but after three years they both end up having to sleep on the streets.
When their is a fire in the factory where they escape tgey meet a man who they think is thereto help them but instead he sends them to even harder work .
Eventually Jasmina is rescued by a woman who works at a Christian Orphanage. A woman Jasmina calls Aunt Asha, unfortunately Samir is not with her when she is rescued.
Will Jasmina and Samir reunite?
Will Jasmina come to Christ?
5 out of 5 stars...
August 1, 2018
I read Capturing Jasmina very quickly because I could barely put it down (and it is pretty short). I was invested in the character of Jasmina and really cared about what happened to her. Because it is aimed at a younger audience, it treats sex trafficking and prostitution delicately and in a very age-appropriate way. I highly recommend this book to teens.
July 7, 2015
Capturing Jasmina by Kimberly Rae is a young adult Christian novel about an Indian girl’s struggle to escape human trafficking and rejoin her family. I requested this book in the hope that it would be eye-opening to a world I know little about. I wanted to learn more about India’s culture and better understand human trafficking. In short, wanted a book that would make me cry.
That’s not what I got.
Right off the bat the novel rubbed me the wrong way in its speaker. Jasmina consistently crossed out words in favor of other words, as one would in writing a letter with pen, but rather than make her voice more realistic, the technique had the opposite effect.
I also felt like the author didn’t address Indian culture as well as she should’ve. One of the most interesting things for me about Christian literature is hearing how other cultures respond to missionaries. This book over-simplified it by speaking very little about Indian (specifically Hindu) culture in the first place, so it felt like Jasmina was less a young Hindu girl and more a figure conjured my Christian missionaries in their search to convert.
Don’t get me wrong here; I support missionary work. I’ve been on a few mission trips myself. But I know that we Christians tend to imagine other cultures as desperate to hear about our God, and while this is sometimes true, other cultures are not without their own beliefs. We cannot allow ourselves to be deluded into seeing natives as evil and missionaries as good. There are also natives who are good and missionaries who are evil–just look in a world history textbook.
And yet Rae seems to encourage that misguided viewpoint, particularly when Jasmina meets missionary women:
“There were people in the world who wanted to do good instead of evil. There were people who cared about something more than money and power. Who would not use others for their own gain.
Impossible. My mind said not to believe a word. To harden up again and hold tight to hate. But my heart—oh, my heart wanted to think there was hope.”
I know this is Christian literature, but I expect to see more understanding of other people and more understanding of ourselves. Everyone sins, but that is difficult to see in this book, where the natives sin but the missionaries are depicted as faultless. I am sure this was not Rae’s intent, but it feels that way nonetheless.
While the treatment of other cultures was my main quarrel with this book, I’m also thought the overall quality of plot and characterization was poor. I read this with the desire to learn more, but I feel like I knew more about Indian culture and human trafficking than the author. None of the characters felt real to me, so I struggle to sympathize with their struggles.
Jasmina’s main motivation, for example, was to find her family. But her family–with the exception of her mother–didn’t treat her well at all. And she didn’t speak of longing to return to her mother’s comfort, but of wanting to return her brother to safety and learn if her father knew what he had done when he sold her.
There were a lot of loose ends in the story, as well. Like why would Jasmina’s father sell his son, as well? What happened to her family? How could she write letters to her brother if she didn’t know where he was and if he couldn’t even read?
I see that this book is part of a series, but these loose ends don’t interest me enough to prompt further reading.
Since there was little to no graphic material in spite of the dark subject matter, I think it’s appropriate for middle schoolers and up, if you really must read it.
For someone interested in learning more about Indian culture, I recommend Michelle Moran’s Rebel Queen instead. I wish I knew of a good book that tackled the subject of human trafficking, but I've yet to find one.
That’s not what I got.
Right off the bat the novel rubbed me the wrong way in its speaker. Jasmina consistently crossed out words in favor of other words, as one would in writing a letter with pen, but rather than make her voice more realistic, the technique had the opposite effect.
I also felt like the author didn’t address Indian culture as well as she should’ve. One of the most interesting things for me about Christian literature is hearing how other cultures respond to missionaries. This book over-simplified it by speaking very little about Indian (specifically Hindu) culture in the first place, so it felt like Jasmina was less a young Hindu girl and more a figure conjured my Christian missionaries in their search to convert.
Don’t get me wrong here; I support missionary work. I’ve been on a few mission trips myself. But I know that we Christians tend to imagine other cultures as desperate to hear about our God, and while this is sometimes true, other cultures are not without their own beliefs. We cannot allow ourselves to be deluded into seeing natives as evil and missionaries as good. There are also natives who are good and missionaries who are evil–just look in a world history textbook.
And yet Rae seems to encourage that misguided viewpoint, particularly when Jasmina meets missionary women:
“There were people in the world who wanted to do good instead of evil. There were people who cared about something more than money and power. Who would not use others for their own gain.
Impossible. My mind said not to believe a word. To harden up again and hold tight to hate. But my heart—oh, my heart wanted to think there was hope.”
I know this is Christian literature, but I expect to see more understanding of other people and more understanding of ourselves. Everyone sins, but that is difficult to see in this book, where the natives sin but the missionaries are depicted as faultless. I am sure this was not Rae’s intent, but it feels that way nonetheless.
While the treatment of other cultures was my main quarrel with this book, I’m also thought the overall quality of plot and characterization was poor. I read this with the desire to learn more, but I feel like I knew more about Indian culture and human trafficking than the author. None of the characters felt real to me, so I struggle to sympathize with their struggles.
Jasmina’s main motivation, for example, was to find her family. But her family–with the exception of her mother–didn’t treat her well at all. And she didn’t speak of longing to return to her mother’s comfort, but of wanting to return her brother to safety and learn if her father knew what he had done when he sold her.
There were a lot of loose ends in the story, as well. Like why would Jasmina’s father sell his son, as well? What happened to her family? How could she write letters to her brother if she didn’t know where he was and if he couldn’t even read?
I see that this book is part of a series, but these loose ends don’t interest me enough to prompt further reading.
Since there was little to no graphic material in spite of the dark subject matter, I think it’s appropriate for middle schoolers and up, if you really must read it.
For someone interested in learning more about Indian culture, I recommend Michelle Moran’s Rebel Queen instead. I wish I knew of a good book that tackled the subject of human trafficking, but I've yet to find one.
October 21, 2015
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
"I cried out my grief at having my childhood taken away, at being sold like a trinket, at being rejected by my father."
Starting this story Jasmina and her brother Samir are sold to a man to go and get an "education" by their father who never tells them why he is selling them and completely ignores their mother begging him not to do it. Jasmina knows it is a common thing for girls in her country to be sold, but not the boys. The boys always get to stay with their parents. While being confused and scared by their father's choice they are taken to a sweat shop of children where they are forced to work off there debt from being bought, driven to the sweat shop, given food, and being forced to live in the upstairs room until the man thinks he has broken there spirit from being able to runaway.
When disaster strikes at the sweat shop all of the children runaway and Jasmina and her brother get away to. Where they are then tricked by another man and sold back into slavery and forced to work at a rock quarry. While they are both terrified about what will happen to them next and how to get out of being a slave, Jasmina and several of the other girls are sold once again to another man who only wants "the pretty girls". In a very dangerous escape plan Jasmina gets away and gets taken in by a woman who gets her cleaned up and takes her to an orphanage for children like her. Jasmina is afraid of this place though and runs away because she thinks she is being sold again.
"I would rely on myself only. Never trust anyone again. Never give in to the weakness of hope."
As a street kid Jasmina became very angry at the world and what had happened to her. She was fueled by her anger to make it through day to day life on the streets where she had to always be one step ahead of everyone else and to always be on the lookout so she wouldn't be sold into slavery again.
One day while on the streets Jasmina sees a strange group of women in the bad part of town going to one of the brothels and praying out in front of it before going in. When the women come out Jasmina follows them curious as to why they are there and what they want with these women. When she herself ends up being taken in by these women she learns that they just want to help and that a lot of them are women that had also been slaves, but had escaped and now want to help others get out as well.
"It is puzzling how you can live in danger for so long, but as soon as safety wraps around you like a comforting blanket, the idea of facing danger again seems so much more ... dangerous."
What I loved throughout the whole story is that you felt like you were right there with Jasmina and that all of the things she was facing were things that most likely are actually happening somewhere in this world. I never stopped cheering Jasmina on and wanting her to be free and to find someplace safe to live where she didn't have to live in constant fear. To get answer. Even though I knew it most likely would never happen I also wanted her to get answers from her father on why he did what he did.
This book is going to stick with me for a very long time and I can't wait to see what happened to Samir.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more reviews like this on my blog
"I cried out my grief at having my childhood taken away, at being sold like a trinket, at being rejected by my father."
Starting this story Jasmina and her brother Samir are sold to a man to go and get an "education" by their father who never tells them why he is selling them and completely ignores their mother begging him not to do it. Jasmina knows it is a common thing for girls in her country to be sold, but not the boys. The boys always get to stay with their parents. While being confused and scared by their father's choice they are taken to a sweat shop of children where they are forced to work off there debt from being bought, driven to the sweat shop, given food, and being forced to live in the upstairs room until the man thinks he has broken there spirit from being able to runaway.
When disaster strikes at the sweat shop all of the children runaway and Jasmina and her brother get away to. Where they are then tricked by another man and sold back into slavery and forced to work at a rock quarry. While they are both terrified about what will happen to them next and how to get out of being a slave, Jasmina and several of the other girls are sold once again to another man who only wants "the pretty girls". In a very dangerous escape plan Jasmina gets away and gets taken in by a woman who gets her cleaned up and takes her to an orphanage for children like her. Jasmina is afraid of this place though and runs away because she thinks she is being sold again.
"I would rely on myself only. Never trust anyone again. Never give in to the weakness of hope."
As a street kid Jasmina became very angry at the world and what had happened to her. She was fueled by her anger to make it through day to day life on the streets where she had to always be one step ahead of everyone else and to always be on the lookout so she wouldn't be sold into slavery again.
One day while on the streets Jasmina sees a strange group of women in the bad part of town going to one of the brothels and praying out in front of it before going in. When the women come out Jasmina follows them curious as to why they are there and what they want with these women. When she herself ends up being taken in by these women she learns that they just want to help and that a lot of them are women that had also been slaves, but had escaped and now want to help others get out as well.
"It is puzzling how you can live in danger for so long, but as soon as safety wraps around you like a comforting blanket, the idea of facing danger again seems so much more ... dangerous."
What I loved throughout the whole story is that you felt like you were right there with Jasmina and that all of the things she was facing were things that most likely are actually happening somewhere in this world. I never stopped cheering Jasmina on and wanting her to be free and to find someplace safe to live where she didn't have to live in constant fear. To get answer. Even though I knew it most likely would never happen I also wanted her to get answers from her father on why he did what he did.
This book is going to stick with me for a very long time and I can't wait to see what happened to Samir.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more reviews like this on my blog
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2014
This eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Kimberly Rae draws attention to the ongoing trafficking of children in India in her young adult novel Capturing Jasmina. Jasmina was only ten when her father sold both her and her brother Samir to a man promising safety and good education. In reality the siblings end up in a sweatshop slaving over clothes to be sold in America. After three years they manage to escape only to be trafficked a second time. Eventually Jasmina and Samir are separated and Jasmina becomes a street kid.
Whilst living on the streets Jasmina encounters a Christian missionary, Asha, rescuing women from brothels by either offering them a safe place to live or at the very least spiritually, by teaching them about God and Jesus. Intrigued Jasmina follows Asha who then offers to help her too. After having her childhood robbed from her, it seems like Jasmina, with the help of those who trust in God, will get back on her feet again.
Despite being a short novel, Rae paints a contrasting image to what the western world is used to. Jasmina finds the concept of a simple toilet baffling. It is not until you hear or see what is happening to innocent people in other parts of the world that you realize there are so many things in life you take for granted.
Capturing Jasmina emphasizes how difficult it is to escape once trafficked. In these situations people belong to everyone but themselves. They have no freedom and running away can cause more problems than it solves. The novel also shows what Christians can do to help. Although no one can completely solve the problems, the tiniest piece of aid they can provide is a step in the right direction.
It was slightly disappointing that we do not find out what happened to Samir once he was separated from his sister. Jasmina’s first person narrative makes it clear that what she wants most is to be reunited with her family. In a way, although there is a positive ending, not yet finding her brother makes it clear that there cannot always be happy endings. It is not possible to save everyone.
Written from a young teenagers point of view makes this book suitable for ages twelve and older. Christians will appreciate the biblical references however there is not too much religion for non-believers or those of other religions to get offended by.
Kimberly Rae draws attention to the ongoing trafficking of children in India in her young adult novel Capturing Jasmina. Jasmina was only ten when her father sold both her and her brother Samir to a man promising safety and good education. In reality the siblings end up in a sweatshop slaving over clothes to be sold in America. After three years they manage to escape only to be trafficked a second time. Eventually Jasmina and Samir are separated and Jasmina becomes a street kid.
Whilst living on the streets Jasmina encounters a Christian missionary, Asha, rescuing women from brothels by either offering them a safe place to live or at the very least spiritually, by teaching them about God and Jesus. Intrigued Jasmina follows Asha who then offers to help her too. After having her childhood robbed from her, it seems like Jasmina, with the help of those who trust in God, will get back on her feet again.
Despite being a short novel, Rae paints a contrasting image to what the western world is used to. Jasmina finds the concept of a simple toilet baffling. It is not until you hear or see what is happening to innocent people in other parts of the world that you realize there are so many things in life you take for granted.
Capturing Jasmina emphasizes how difficult it is to escape once trafficked. In these situations people belong to everyone but themselves. They have no freedom and running away can cause more problems than it solves. The novel also shows what Christians can do to help. Although no one can completely solve the problems, the tiniest piece of aid they can provide is a step in the right direction.
It was slightly disappointing that we do not find out what happened to Samir once he was separated from his sister. Jasmina’s first person narrative makes it clear that what she wants most is to be reunited with her family. In a way, although there is a positive ending, not yet finding her brother makes it clear that there cannot always be happy endings. It is not possible to save everyone.
Written from a young teenagers point of view makes this book suitable for ages twelve and older. Christians will appreciate the biblical references however there is not too much religion for non-believers or those of other religions to get offended by.
November 30, 2014
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I really wanted to like this book, especially because the themes it touches on - slavery, child labour and trafficking - are so very important. However, I was left feeling very unsatisfied.
Good things first. I found the premise to be very good: a book written in diary form, giving some insight into the experience of modern-day slavery and human trafficking as seen through the eyes of a child victim of this horrific trade. And on a very basic level, this book delivered this. Jasmina does indeed tell her story, and describes her experiences and the people she meets, sometimes vividly. Her description of the working conditions inside the factory, for instance, makes it very easy to imagine the terrible situations the children find themselves into, and to feel the same desperation they do.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the rest of the book. Most of the time, I just felt like so much more could have been said about the various topics that are flashed throughout the book (like the horrors of child prostitution or street life) but it never was. The varied and vibrant Indian culture found little space inside this book, save for a few contrasts with American culture. Character development was also seriously lacking: almost all characters were one-dimensional, and didn't feel like real people at all, with the exception of the protagonist. I really liked Jasmina, who is a bright young woman struggling to survive on the streets, and her resourcefulness and bravery were some of the best parts of the book. But for me that just wasn't enough, and the lack of depth to both story and characters prevented me from enjoying this book as much as I would have liked to.
Overall, this very short book might be good for fairly young readers, or someone looking for a summary account of some of the issues connected with child labour and trafficking in India without going into a more detailed analysis. Regrettably, that wasn't me.
Originally published on Book for Thought.
I really wanted to like this book, especially because the themes it touches on - slavery, child labour and trafficking - are so very important. However, I was left feeling very unsatisfied.
Good things first. I found the premise to be very good: a book written in diary form, giving some insight into the experience of modern-day slavery and human trafficking as seen through the eyes of a child victim of this horrific trade. And on a very basic level, this book delivered this. Jasmina does indeed tell her story, and describes her experiences and the people she meets, sometimes vividly. Her description of the working conditions inside the factory, for instance, makes it very easy to imagine the terrible situations the children find themselves into, and to feel the same desperation they do.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the rest of the book. Most of the time, I just felt like so much more could have been said about the various topics that are flashed throughout the book (like the horrors of child prostitution or street life) but it never was. The varied and vibrant Indian culture found little space inside this book, save for a few contrasts with American culture. Character development was also seriously lacking: almost all characters were one-dimensional, and didn't feel like real people at all, with the exception of the protagonist. I really liked Jasmina, who is a bright young woman struggling to survive on the streets, and her resourcefulness and bravery were some of the best parts of the book. But for me that just wasn't enough, and the lack of depth to both story and characters prevented me from enjoying this book as much as I would have liked to.
Overall, this very short book might be good for fairly young readers, or someone looking for a summary account of some of the issues connected with child labour and trafficking in India without going into a more detailed analysis. Regrettably, that wasn't me.
Originally published on Book for Thought.
May 9, 2014
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. The novel is about a young Indian girl named Jasmina who is sold into slavery along with her brother for a few rupees. Jasmina and her brother are first sold to a sweatshop owner, manage to escape, and are then captured by a granite miner. Eventually, Jasmina is freed from slavery by a group of missionary women she spies on the streets of India. She is fascinated by this group of women, who walk around the worst areas, those inhabited by prostitutes and other slaves, and pray for the captured. She is seen by one of the women, who offers to help her and begins to tell her about Jesus and about the group's attempts to free boys, girls, and women who are held as slaves in one form or another. While the novel does a good job of showing young people what it is like to live in a country like India, where human trafficking is a harsh reality; and while Jasmina is an appealing and intelligent character, I couldn't help but feel that the author should have included more background about India. As the novel stands, it is a good story, with humor, sadness, and conflict, but it could have been so much more if the richness of India's culture and landscapes would have been fleshed out. Students in grades five to seven will enjoy this brief novel, but older students will most likely long for more depth. Be aware that prostitution and sex trafficking is made reference to, so younger children will certainly have questions about this aspect of the slave trade. This is a Christian novel, making frequent references to Jesus, God, the Bible, and salvation. Jasmina is unfamiliar with Christianity, so as she explores what Christianity is and why you should pray to a god when you worked for something, like your meals, or how god helps you out of slavery and other terrible situations, it leaves plenty of room for discussion about religion and faith.
January 9, 2015
Capturing Jasmina by Kimberly Rae is a short novel for YA. The subject matter is very different than many of the popular YA books coming out at the moment, human trafficking. Except, we are getting a look at the victims in this series of books, the children of India.
In this beginning of the book Jasmina is a little girl sold by her parents into slavery, and resold and resold again before her escape. Her story is not the typical story as she does escape, while many in these conditions don’t. I applaud the author for her delicate use and the thought put into how to present the story. These are not pretty topics and authors can either delve too much into the depravity of man (and thus make the book unsuitable for YA), or brush too lightly and cover up the tragedy that exists worldwide. The author handles it well, touching on the actual experience of slavery but leaving most of the discussion about the damage the slavery causes. Not just the humanistic side but the spiritual side. The inability to relate to how God can love one when those human representations haven’t. To learning to trust people and God after being a slave; the inclination to self-preservation above all else. The damage done to relationships but she counters it all with the restoring work that Jesus can do and is doing for those caught in slavery.
The word prostitution is used once, but never sex or anything like that. So, depending on age, read with and deal with that issue as it comes up.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has a heart and passion for world missions. Read with your kids. This book may be an eye opener for them and you.
I received this book free from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
In this beginning of the book Jasmina is a little girl sold by her parents into slavery, and resold and resold again before her escape. Her story is not the typical story as she does escape, while many in these conditions don’t. I applaud the author for her delicate use and the thought put into how to present the story. These are not pretty topics and authors can either delve too much into the depravity of man (and thus make the book unsuitable for YA), or brush too lightly and cover up the tragedy that exists worldwide. The author handles it well, touching on the actual experience of slavery but leaving most of the discussion about the damage the slavery causes. Not just the humanistic side but the spiritual side. The inability to relate to how God can love one when those human representations haven’t. To learning to trust people and God after being a slave; the inclination to self-preservation above all else. The damage done to relationships but she counters it all with the restoring work that Jesus can do and is doing for those caught in slavery.
The word prostitution is used once, but never sex or anything like that. So, depending on age, read with and deal with that issue as it comes up.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has a heart and passion for world missions. Read with your kids. This book may be an eye opener for them and you.
I received this book free from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
June 29, 2015
"Capturing Jasmina" is Christian, young adult fiction. This short book is the first in a series. Through Jasmina's story, we learn what life is like for a trafficked child and a street child and about Christian outreaches to these people. Based on my knowledge from non-fiction sources, I believe this story accurately portrays human trafficking and what life is like in India.
Perhaps due to its young adult target audience, not a lot of time or graphic description was spent on the horrors of child slavery--just enough detail to let you know what it's like and how it effects a person without personally pulling you into the horror of it.
However, people sometimes explained more than I think they would in real life. I doubt the factory owner would have explained to his new slaves that his "work until you pay back your debt" system was designed to keep them in perpetual debt. That system works through maintaining their hope that they can, someday, pay off the debt. But it would be difficult to explain some of what's going on in a natural way because most readers will be so unfamiliar with it.
I think this is a great way to introduce teens to other cultures and important issues. As an adult, I found the story interesting enough to want to know what happened to her brother, which is the topic of the second book in the series. Overall, I'd recommend this novella.
I received this book as an ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
Perhaps due to its young adult target audience, not a lot of time or graphic description was spent on the horrors of child slavery--just enough detail to let you know what it's like and how it effects a person without personally pulling you into the horror of it.
However, people sometimes explained more than I think they would in real life. I doubt the factory owner would have explained to his new slaves that his "work until you pay back your debt" system was designed to keep them in perpetual debt. That system works through maintaining their hope that they can, someday, pay off the debt. But it would be difficult to explain some of what's going on in a natural way because most readers will be so unfamiliar with it.
I think this is a great way to introduce teens to other cultures and important issues. As an adult, I found the story interesting enough to want to know what happened to her brother, which is the topic of the second book in the series. Overall, I'd recommend this novella.
I received this book as an ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
November 7, 2014
This book review first appeared on http://www.bookshelves-infinity.tumnl...
I recieved a copy of this eBook from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
When a book can ensnare you in a small amount of pages, its greatness is inevitable. Capturing Jasmina is only slightly over one hundred pages long, but it fully drew me in, almost as if I stood beside Jasmina and endured the difficulties of her life as a slave and street kid. She is the most fleshed out character, one I could sympathize with.
As a child, her poverty-stricken parents sell her brother and her, thinking they’ll be getting an education. In reality, the man who takes them away is a factory owner who treats the children who work for him like trash. The extent of her misfortune doesn’t stop there. Because of this, her story is an eye opener.
I know that child labor and sex trafficking are still a problem in the world, but I never dwell on these facts because I live a comfortable life. Capturing Jasmina doesn’t shy away from creating awareness. Moments when child labor or sex trafficking are referred to I felt depressed. Yet, the book also has a sense of hope that pulls you through the story and the difficulties that Jasmina endures. I’m so invested in the main character that I’m looking forward to reading the second book.
I recieved a copy of this eBook from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
When a book can ensnare you in a small amount of pages, its greatness is inevitable. Capturing Jasmina is only slightly over one hundred pages long, but it fully drew me in, almost as if I stood beside Jasmina and endured the difficulties of her life as a slave and street kid. She is the most fleshed out character, one I could sympathize with.
As a child, her poverty-stricken parents sell her brother and her, thinking they’ll be getting an education. In reality, the man who takes them away is a factory owner who treats the children who work for him like trash. The extent of her misfortune doesn’t stop there. Because of this, her story is an eye opener.
I know that child labor and sex trafficking are still a problem in the world, but I never dwell on these facts because I live a comfortable life. Capturing Jasmina doesn’t shy away from creating awareness. Moments when child labor or sex trafficking are referred to I felt depressed. Yet, the book also has a sense of hope that pulls you through the story and the difficulties that Jasmina endures. I’m so invested in the main character that I’m looking forward to reading the second book.
January 17, 2018
This a perfect novella for tweens and teens to become more aware of the human trafficking happening today. While shows human trafficking in different forms, laboring in sweatshops, quarries, and prostitution, the topics are handled sensitively. We understand the horror of it, without everything explicitly described. The book also shows what humanitarians are doing to improve the situation for human trafficking victims. Jasmina is welcomed by a Christian organization, and learns some of the methods they use to rescue people from trafficking.
This really makes you think about the privileges we so often take for granted. I was struck by the fact that Jasmina was happy the tags in the clothes she made said “Made in India.” She wanted people to know she was there, laboring over the clothes. I don’t usually think about the people making the products I buy, other than in an abstract sense.
This novella is written in diary style, which brings the reader into the thoughts of Jasmina. We also see that she times where she writes something and scratches it out because she found a better word or phrase. I found this a little distracting at first, but it did not bother me once I got into the flow of the story.
I received a copy of this book through netgalley in exchange for my honest review
This really makes you think about the privileges we so often take for granted. I was struck by the fact that Jasmina was happy the tags in the clothes she made said “Made in India.” She wanted people to know she was there, laboring over the clothes. I don’t usually think about the people making the products I buy, other than in an abstract sense.
This novella is written in diary style, which brings the reader into the thoughts of Jasmina. We also see that she times where she writes something and scratches it out because she found a better word or phrase. I found this a little distracting at first, but it did not bother me once I got into the flow of the story.
I received a copy of this book through netgalley in exchange for my honest review
December 10, 2014
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. Original review found here: https://heatherreviews.wordpress.com/...
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Capturing Jasmina is a beautiful tale of hope. Telling the tale of a young Indian girl and her brother who are sold into slavery, we follow Jasmina as she goes from one horrid place to another after being sold by her father at the age of ten.
There is a Christian undercurrent to this story, with Jasmina being rescued by a group of missionaries who work within the brothel district where Jasmina was living, trying to bring the word of Christianity to the women and girls who live in the brothels.
It’s a beautifully sad tale, one that sticks with you as it is a story of so many young girls in the world. It’s a reminder of the tragedies that take place in countries other than our own, and opens our eyes to things that we sometimes don’t want to know about.
Capturing Jasmina is a story that sticks with you and makes you pause to think. Although on the short side, Capturing Jasmina packs in years of slavery and hard living that aren’t easy to ignore.
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Capturing Jasmina is a beautiful tale of hope. Telling the tale of a young Indian girl and her brother who are sold into slavery, we follow Jasmina as she goes from one horrid place to another after being sold by her father at the age of ten.
There is a Christian undercurrent to this story, with Jasmina being rescued by a group of missionaries who work within the brothel district where Jasmina was living, trying to bring the word of Christianity to the women and girls who live in the brothels.
It’s a beautifully sad tale, one that sticks with you as it is a story of so many young girls in the world. It’s a reminder of the tragedies that take place in countries other than our own, and opens our eyes to things that we sometimes don’t want to know about.
Capturing Jasmina is a story that sticks with you and makes you pause to think. Although on the short side, Capturing Jasmina packs in years of slavery and hard living that aren’t easy to ignore.
November 9, 2015
This is an original story which will stir your emotions, and hopefully remind you of the struggle so many men, women and children who are caught in the international atrocity of human trafficking face everyday. This book sensitively tells the story of one young girl, Jasmine who finds herself caught up in this, tragically sold by her parents, along with her brother.
It is hard not to get caught up in her story, as she finds her self working in a sweatshop, living on the streets fending for herself and finding herself in situation well out of her control.
The author tells this story sensitively, in a way suitable for secondary school children and young teenagers, but without making light of the situation.
Although this is a sad story, ultimately, it is a story of hope,a story of how we can find our freedom in Christ. I really hope this story will open people's eyes to the reality of human trafficking and make them want to be involved in fighting against it. A truly great message for a Christian book. and a gripping story as well, one that you will be thinking about for a long time after you have finished the book.
The only disappointing thing about this bool was that it was too short, but I guess that means its suitable for reluctant readers as well.
It is hard not to get caught up in her story, as she finds her self working in a sweatshop, living on the streets fending for herself and finding herself in situation well out of her control.
The author tells this story sensitively, in a way suitable for secondary school children and young teenagers, but without making light of the situation.
Although this is a sad story, ultimately, it is a story of hope,a story of how we can find our freedom in Christ. I really hope this story will open people's eyes to the reality of human trafficking and make them want to be involved in fighting against it. A truly great message for a Christian book. and a gripping story as well, one that you will be thinking about for a long time after you have finished the book.
The only disappointing thing about this bool was that it was too short, but I guess that means its suitable for reluctant readers as well.
February 8, 2015
This book is written for young adults, and is in a format appealing for them. However, it is a story of a young girl sold with her brother into slavery. The subject matter in itself is mature and something to be approached with children and young adults with wisdom. It is important to teach our children about this so they can be on the lookout.
I found the writing style a little confusing at times, there was one whole chapter that seemed to be placed out of order in the book. I am not sure if that was because I had an eBook, but it was confusing there.
This story though, shows the important work that needs to be done and is being done by loving people throughout the world, but especially in India. Children are being sold into slavery in the USA as well as in other nations. It is very sad to read of the plight of these children, but so needed.
The story is written without a graphic storytelling, but it is enough that I would recommend this for high school age teens.
This book was given to me for review by NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.
I found the writing style a little confusing at times, there was one whole chapter that seemed to be placed out of order in the book. I am not sure if that was because I had an eBook, but it was confusing there.
This story though, shows the important work that needs to be done and is being done by loving people throughout the world, but especially in India. Children are being sold into slavery in the USA as well as in other nations. It is very sad to read of the plight of these children, but so needed.
The story is written without a graphic storytelling, but it is enough that I would recommend this for high school age teens.
This book was given to me for review by NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.
July 6, 2015
4.5 stars. I will never think of tags reading "Made in India" the same way. I knew so little on the topic of child trafficking, and this book really enlightened me. It is written in a captivating way, and with compassion and delicacy. There was only a thing or two I questioned, so I didn't quite want to give it 5 stars. Some of the formatting in the kindle version was a bit off, too, but not horribly so. Inspiring, too, to see how some women reach out to help save these girls and boys off the streets. What are WE doing about it? At least we should be praying!
Quotes from the story:
"Would I end up looking like that before too long? Would I eventually not care about anyone and put others through horrible suffering so I could live comfortably?"
"The words she used--so high compared to the words I was accustomed to on the streets. So beautiful, like butterfly wings. I feared touching them and finding them fragile."
Thank you, netgalley.com for my complimentary ebook to review!
Quotes from the story:
"Would I end up looking like that before too long? Would I eventually not care about anyone and put others through horrible suffering so I could live comfortably?"
"The words she used--so high compared to the words I was accustomed to on the streets. So beautiful, like butterfly wings. I feared touching them and finding them fragile."
Thank you, netgalley.com for my complimentary ebook to review!
September 3, 2014
I received a copy of Capturing Jasmina through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review. This book tackles the tough subjects of child labor and human trafficking. The main character, Jasmina tells her story beginning with being sold into slavery for a few rupees and ending with being saved by Asha who is part of a Christian organization that works to end human trafficking. I enjoyed the book and thought the subject matter was interesting but thought the characters could have been better developed. We don't learn much about the characters other than what is on the surface which makes them seem less believable and completely one dimensional. I also would have liked more detail about the Indian culture other than the bad elements that were depicted. The book does a good job of letting the reader know about God's word and his salvation. It shows that even if the worst of situations with God's help and a little faith obstacles can be overcome.
January 3, 2015
Caqpturing Jasmina is a tale of slavery and bondage of body and soul. Sold by a father who saw her as less desirable due to her gender, Jasmina enters a world of slavery. At first determined to escape, she eventually succumbs to anger and resignation...until a chance encounter gives her hope.
Although a short story, this book gives insight into human trafficking from the perspective of the victim, and does so elequently. Although the book does move fast, and many of the situations are only dealt with supperficially, it is still difficult to not become attached to this little girl. My heart broke for her, I found myself unable to put the book down until I knew she was safe. Then, upon finishing the book, I wanted to jump into action, to assist in ending the horror of human trafficking. I wish some organizations or resources or something had been included towards this end.
Although a short story, this book gives insight into human trafficking from the perspective of the victim, and does so elequently. Although the book does move fast, and many of the situations are only dealt with supperficially, it is still difficult to not become attached to this little girl. My heart broke for her, I found myself unable to put the book down until I knew she was safe. Then, upon finishing the book, I wanted to jump into action, to assist in ending the horror of human trafficking. I wish some organizations or resources or something had been included towards this end.
June 4, 2016
3.5/5 stars
What a short, fun read.
I use the word "fun" lightly because this by no means, a happy book, but it is one that shows a reality for people in the slave market and those in India.
The main character is Jasmina, who is trafficked along with Samir under the pretense of an "education". However, when they are sold, their freedom is given away as they are made to work in a garment factory. The book covers the aspects about life in India you hardly hear about - the slums, trafficking, prostitution.
One problem I had is the way it was written. It's written concisely, clearly, but we are explained things rather then given a chance to feel them. It's hard to feel for the characters when you're given such a detached explanation. The empathy a reader feels with the characters is very important. Otherwise, it was a nice read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, thanks to the publisher via NetGalley.
What a short, fun read.
I use the word "fun" lightly because this by no means, a happy book, but it is one that shows a reality for people in the slave market and those in India.
The main character is Jasmina, who is trafficked along with Samir under the pretense of an "education". However, when they are sold, their freedom is given away as they are made to work in a garment factory. The book covers the aspects about life in India you hardly hear about - the slums, trafficking, prostitution.
One problem I had is the way it was written. It's written concisely, clearly, but we are explained things rather then given a chance to feel them. It's hard to feel for the characters when you're given such a detached explanation. The empathy a reader feels with the characters is very important. Otherwise, it was a nice read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, thanks to the publisher via NetGalley.
January 21, 2016
Capturing Jasmina gives great insight into the horrific conditions that children face when born into India's lower caste. Jasmina and her brother are sold by their father to a child trafficker. The reader follows along as she is exploited by cruel adults. When a kind woman comes along, Jasmina is not sure how to trust her, but she is desperate for hope. The author, Kimberly Rae, does a good job of letting us experience the horrors of child trafficking without delving too deeply into the evil details. My eleven year old daughter are both reading through this series, and we are discussing it together. Its a great opportunity to discuss how God can bring healing and a beautiful work out of what Satan meant for evil.
October 3, 2015
I received this book from NetGalley, earlier this week, in exchange for an honest review.
It took me awhile to get into this book, mostly because of the writing. I don't know if maybe my ebook copy wasn't as edited as a print copy or if that was just the copy NetGalley had. However, the lack of editing made the story hard to read and took away from the importance of it. The story is about a girl who is sold into child labor in India. This is the story of her life and rescue and how she found Love. This is an incredibly important story and should have been edited more before hand. Other than that, it's a beautiful story and easy read and I recommend it.
It took me awhile to get into this book, mostly because of the writing. I don't know if maybe my ebook copy wasn't as edited as a print copy or if that was just the copy NetGalley had. However, the lack of editing made the story hard to read and took away from the importance of it. The story is about a girl who is sold into child labor in India. This is the story of her life and rescue and how she found Love. This is an incredibly important story and should have been edited more before hand. Other than that, it's a beautiful story and easy read and I recommend it.
January 1, 2016
I really liked this book. It wasn't overly long, yet, so much was packed into this short book. You can tell the deplorable conditions in which these kids were sold into, yet, it's easy to get the picture of how bad it is without all the gory details. The book held my interest til the end and gave a great message of hope. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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December 30, 2015Jasmina's life is not at all easy even after she has escaped the factory where she was a slave. What's hardest for her is trusting people, even when they truly want to help her. As she sees the love and concern of the women around her for the young baby tied to a pole, she begins to a develop a plan with the help of her friends to rescue the child.
I read an ARC via NetGalley courtesy of the publisher.
I read an ARC via NetGalley courtesy of the publisher.
December 4, 2016
Human trafficking is a nasty subject. I have read some news articles about it, but only one book. Several months ago, I read I Needed a Neighbor, by Patricia St. John, but apparently never reviewed it—what an oversight. Capturing Jasmina is a vivid picture of human trafficking in India today. It brought the problem very close home for me.
Read my full review here.
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