Ma, he sold me for a few cigarettes

It took me about a week to read this book and what a book it was. It is about a child who had a very traumatic childhood:physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect. She had a mother who did not seem to care about her daughter she was more interested in keeping her boyfriend sweet. She would do anything for him and that included making sure he had hearty meals and the children she had had nothing. Martha, the daughter, would have to steal things to sell and bring the money home thinking it will go towards food to feed the family but instead it was to feed the boyfriend's drinking and smoking habits.

You would have to read the book to know what I am talking about. I experienced various emotions though this book. In parts I was very angry and in others I was upset. I could visualise the setting Martha lived in, the school she attended on rare occasions, children who mimicked her. I just wanted to get into the book and take Martha away from such a dire situation and give her the love and care she needed.

I was a little disappointed with the ending as I would like to have seen a more positive ending in relation to Martha but there is a follow up to this book and I look forward to that.

Children have voices and they use their voices to express feelings, views and opinions. Let's listen to them when they do as they could be in a situation similar to Martha. No child should experience that. No-one helped Martha but we can help children who are in such situations.