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'MUMMY, COME HOME: A BRUTAL KIDNAPPING. A TERRIFIED PRISONER. A MOTHER DESPERATE TO REACH HER CHILDREN.: THE TRUE STORY OF A MOTHER KIDNAPPED AND TORN

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The harrowing true story of a mother kidnapped and sold into prostitution and her heroic battle to be reunited with her little family.

302 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

22 people are currently reading
362 people want to read

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Oxana Kalemi

1 book4 followers

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5 stars
224 (45%)
4 stars
180 (36%)
3 stars
76 (15%)
2 stars
13 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Sabrina Rutter.
616 reviews95 followers
March 12, 2013
I really couldn't stand to put this book down. Although a lot of the time sequences didn't make much sense I truly feel that Oxana is telling her real story, there's just too much small detail thrown in for me to feel otherwise. This is an important book in my opinion, especially so for people that live in any area where prostitution is very heavy.

In my quiet little town here in the US there was a massage parlor full of Asian women. I knew what was going on because of the books I read. These women were here illegally, and their pimp was a black man from Chicago. The men from India would be lined up out in to the street waiting to go in and choose a girl. Too bad for the pimp I live in the Bible Belt, and his operation was soon shut down. I still wonder if those Asian women were treated as victims that day, or as prostitutes. I wonder this because my town is not really equipped to handle something like this.

I pray that more, and more laws will be passed to protect these women who's lives are destroyed by these evil people, and I pray that Oxana finally gets her happy ending.

Profile Image for Dana.
250 reviews
Read
April 28, 2012
I cannot rate this book for the simple reason that if I give it a five stars, I would be considered a sadist and if I give it 1 or 2 stars, I would be telling that I didn't like this book. Neither of which is true. This book left in me a shock, pity and hatred that would take a long time to fade away. I appreciate Kalemi's courage and passion, not only for escaping and taking refuge, but also for writing a book and telling the true story to the world to warn and to show the alarming rate at which compassion and humanity is leaking from the face of this earth. Her love for her children was heart touching. I would also like to thank the POPPY Project for their remarkable service and for showing a ray of hope to all those suffering women out there.
Profile Image for Caz.
948 reviews
October 6, 2012
I was shocked by this story of the trafficking of women as sex workers. Women sold into being prostitutes and was equally shocked to learn that this is the 3rd largest trade behind drugs and arms. I felt naive in not fully understanding that this sort of thing actually happens. We hear of drugs and arms and not of this. WHY?

Oxana, you are truly an inspiring women. To be able to tell of the awful things that happened to you from such an early age and the triumph that you are able to tell your story. I felt so many emotions reading this book, I cried for what happened in your life and thought how much must one person bear, I cried for your separation from your children, I felt anger at the people who betrayed you and cried for happiness when you were given asylum.

I have since read up on the POPPY Project and commend them for their work in helping improve the wellbeing of women in the UK who have been trafficked and are in need of support and advocacy.
Profile Image for petimat ᥫ᭡.
11 reviews
January 8, 2023
Es war für mich schwer, das Buch zu lesen. Nicht weil es schwer verständlich war, nein, weil ich mir immer wieder gedacht habe "wieviel Leid kann ein Mensch ertragen?". Einmal in die Hände genommen und ich habe es verschlungen. Das Buch ist sehr herzzerreißend geschrieben. Definitiv nichts für schwache Nerven!
4 reviews1 follower
January 3, 2011
very emotional book and it is deffo recomend to everyone to read. The author goes through alot of pain and suffering and how men treated her was unimaginable. human slavery needs to stop and thts it!!
Profile Image for Kingfan30.
1,028 reviews4 followers
June 7, 2013
A truly shocking story, its unbelievable that this actually goes on. Thank goodness for POPPY. I did however feel the story was cut short with no resolution to the situation with her children and I hope that she managed to get this sorted.
Profile Image for Nor Azlin.
10 reviews3 followers
June 8, 2011
I just cry and I hope that my mom will not face like all the women in this book faced!
Profile Image for Sally.
45 reviews
Read
July 27, 2011
A Good book! How lucky we are!
Profile Image for Tatevik.
5 reviews8 followers
February 21, 2012
Touching.Go thank God if it never happened to you...
Profile Image for Katie Gosling.
8 reviews
April 21, 2012
A very quick read, I loved how straight to the point the author was. I love true stories and this book made me want to read the book in one go, reminded me of how lucky we are.
Profile Image for Jordan.
22 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2013
One of the most heartbreaking stories I have ever come across. Made me feel ill, sick and horrified that these things are happening in the world
Profile Image for Marleen Hellebrand.
54 reviews
November 16, 2025
Es geht um Oxana die aus Not heraus den Frauenhandel zum Opfer gefallen ist. 340 Seiten purer Schock. Nach jedem Kapitel muss man erstmal schlucken.
Profile Image for Bücherplanet.
153 reviews12 followers
December 8, 2012
Eine traurige Geschichte unserer kriminellen Welt.

Oxana wird in für Osteuropa in gewöhnlichen Verhältnissen groß. Als Teenager wird sie das erste Mal vergewaltigt, was ihr Leben grundlegend ändert. Sie verliebt sich, heiratet sehr früh und glaubt geliebt zu werden bis ihr Mann sie prügelt Zuhause einsperrt. Als er sie das erste mal verkauft hat sie 3 Kinder.

Sie schafft den Mann zu verlassen, aber durch das fehlende soziale System hat sie keinerlei Absicherung und ist gezwungen zu arbeiten. Der Zusammenhalt der Familie ermöglicht es ihr in die Türkei zu gehen, um dort zu arbeiten. Durch die Verlockung des Geldes lässt sie sich von einer vermeintlichen Freundin zum Arbeiten nach Albanien locken. Die Odyssee durch Kroatien, bis sie am Ende in England landet, hat sie viel Kraft gekostet. Nur die Hoffnung ihren Kindern irgendwann ein besseres Leben zu bieten, lässt Oxana durchhalten.

Das Buch ist in jeder Zeile spannend. Leider oft so brutal und traurig, das man es nicht weiter lesen mag. Man kann nicht sagen, dass es mit einem Happy End endet, dass wäre wohl auch nicht zu erwarten, aber sie schafft es ihre Situation zu verändern. Ich habe jede Minute mit gelitten und für sie gehofft. Immer wieder habe ich mich gefragt, wie man so ein Martyrium über so lange Zeit durchstehen kann ohne vollends daran zu zerbrechen. Dieses Buch kann man nur empfehlen!!
Profile Image for Bárbara.
64 reviews
October 5, 2011
Passei vários anos sem ler relatos de vida e este ano já li 3. Todos começam por uma fase crítica da vida da protagonista, o ponto de viragem que fez com que ela decidisse mudar de vida, depois voltam atrás e começam a história do princípio ao fim. Neste livro, nem percebi exactamente onde encaixava o tal capítulo inicial na história de vida dela.
O modo como é escrito também não me agradou particularmente, mas também não esperava que agradasse.

Mas a história de vida da protagonista é brutal. É irreal que exista gente tão insensível e que o tráfico humano ainda exista nos dias de hoje. Este tipo de livros devia ser de leitura obrigatória para obrigar a sociedade a abrir os olhos, tomar conhecimento dos horrores que se passam à nossa volta e procurar sinais de quem está mal e precisa de ajuda.
46 reviews2 followers
May 18, 2016
Although I really love this book, I didn't feel as connected as I felt like I should have. It's a horrible true story and something no one should ever suffer. I'd also like to know how her life is now...
1 review
April 16, 2020
It's the 16th of April 2020 we are in lockdown because of covid-19. I haven't read a book in years and now I have so much free time, I am only up to chapter 7 and I'm enjoying it so much.
Big love from Lisa Defreitas Sydney Australia 💜🙏💜
Profile Image for Louise ❤️.
3 reviews2 followers
December 26, 2015
This book was amazing!! I couldn't put it down. I was shocked but inspired by what this women has been through but came out of the other side. It's a brilliant read about a strong brave women!
Profile Image for Coco.
282 reviews5 followers
April 25, 2018
Eine sehr heftige und erschütternde Geschichte.
Profile Image for Eve H..
172 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2022
Ein verdammt wichtiges Buch. Mehr möchte ich dazu nicht sagen.
Profile Image for Adelaide Silva.
1,246 reviews69 followers
August 30, 2019
3,5* Uma autobiografia, com uma história de vida brutal.
A crueldade da sociedade que obriga a que ainda gaja tráfico de seres humanos e que obriguem mulheres a prostituirem-se para dar melhor vida aos filhos.
Não dou mais * porque na narrativa há um salto temporal que não nos elucida como a autora passou de uma situação para a outra
Profile Image for Adelaide Silva.
1,289 reviews16 followers
February 5, 2025

3,5* Uma autobiografia, com uma história de vida brutal.
A crueldade da sociedade que obriga a que ainda gaja tráfico de seres humanos e que obriguem mulheres a prostituirem-se para dar melhor vida aos filhos.
Não dou mais * porque na narrativa há um salto temporal que não nos elucida como a autora passou de uma situação para a outra
Profile Image for Lícia Simões.
40 reviews3 followers
April 6, 2020
É o relato, na primeira pessoa, de uma mãe raptada por uma rede de prostituição.
Uma história aterradora, que nos mostra o lado mais sombrio que o ser humano pode ter.
Mas, felizmente para Oxana, há esperança.
Profile Image for Kira Butler.
34 reviews2 followers
October 12, 2022
Found this in my collection while I was packing up books and opened it and found the first few pages so heartbreaking and couldn’t stop reading until the end. What a life to be forced into. I tried to look online to find where the author is today but nothing. Can only hope her dreams came true
1 review
July 24, 2023
I enjoyed this book, it,s an eye opener. Hard to imagine this goes on, although I,ve heard it does go on. I hope you get your children back. These men are the lowest of the low. I hope you write another book to let us know how you get on and what happens with your children. Good luck in your quest.
3 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2025
Ich konnte mich richtig in Oxana reinversetzen weil die Autorin ihre Gefühle und ihre Lage so gut beschrieben hat. Leider ist es eine wahre Geschichte und ich finde man muss es gelesen haben, um sich immer wieder daran zu erinnern dass es solche Dinge auf dieser Welt gibt
1 review
November 4, 2025
Read this book in 2 days (a record breaker for me)… would have been less but had to pause to breathe in between & decompress.

Such captivating writing, allowing you delve into the author’s world and live moment by moment, feeling every emotion, struggles & victory.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

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