A walk across the sun

India after the Tsunami two sisters, the oldest Ahalya Ghai who is 17 are left with no parents or future, in an attempt to survive they endeavour to make it to a convent but during their trip in a taxi they are abducted and sold into the sex trade.
American lawyer Thomas Clarke witnesses the abduction and even though he is fighting his own personal battles he joins the organisation CASE (Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation) to fight for the two girls and many like them.






Corban Addison
Silver Oaks
c2012
Reading Level:  Adult
Genre: Legal Thriller
Tone: Moving, Sobering, Compelling
Gold Coast Public Library:
https://gcccopac.sirsidynix.net.au/

Ten cents a dance

Set in 1940's wartime Chicago, to escape poverty Ruby a fifteen year old girl becomes a dancer in a nightclub instead of a factory job.  She gets paid to dance with men each night, unbeknown to her ailing mother.  Ruby under the influence of Paulie gets drawn into the seamier and darker side of nightlife and the mob.








Christine Fletcher
Bloomsbury
c2008
Reading Level: 13 -18 years
Genre:  Historical Fiction
NoveList Plus:
http://web.ebscohost.com/novp/detail?vid=6&hid=10&sid=c919bd0b-d196-475a-9f6b-0ca5feab0afd%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#db=neh&UI=275179

For the Win

A scifi story set in futuristic China, where Matthew Fong like many a poor child is used to  farm vast amounts of virtual gold, he and his friend escape and live on their winnings.  Boss Wing, the man who hires these boys is not happy as he has lost his most talented game worker as he gains all the profits that these boys make.

Matthew being an intellegent boy finds another way of gaining huge rates for the gold he mines, but this does not last for long as he is recaptured by Boss Wing and beaten, but as he is desperate for Matthews skills he reaches an agreement with him that benefits both.

Cory Doctorow
Tor Books
c2010
Reading Level:  12 - 18 years
Genre:  Science Fiction
NoveList Plus:
http://web.ebscohost.com/novp/results?sid=c919bd0b-d196-475a-9f6b-0ca5feab0afd%40sessionmgr13&vid=4&hid=10&bquery=ND+Book+AND+TI+for+the+win&bdata=JnR5cGU9MCZzaXRlPW5vdnAtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d

The linnet bird

England during the Victorian era was no place for a poor twelve year old girl with no mother, for money her father sells her for sex. Using her wit and cunning and with a doctor she has befriended she escapes her circumstances.  She reinvents herself as a middle class lady and boards the "first fleet" a ship bound for India, where many a middle class lady journeys in search of a husband.
Unfortunately for Linney she encounters Somers Ingram who has it in for her and knows of her past so she is blackmailed into marry a brutal man and her life is no better than the one she left behind.  As an adult Linney uses her intelligence and courage to rise above the situation and make a life for herself.




Linda Holeman
Crown Publishing Group
c2006
Reading Level:  Adult Fiction
Genre:  Domestic Fiction,  Historical Fiction. Love story, Autobiography, Adult literature
NoveList Plus:
http://web.ebscohost.com/novp/detail?vid=3&hid=10&sid=c919bd0b-d196-475a-9f6b-0ca5feab0afd%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#db=neh&UI=134005

David Copperfield

Set in 1820 England the story is of the life of a seven year old English boy and his unfortunate circumstances.  With the death of his father his mother remarries Edward Murdstone, who is the epitamy of the mean stepfather.  David retaliates so he is dispatched to a boarding school.  Once his mother dies after childbirth, David is removed from the school and sent to work in a blacking factory in London.  Misfortune follows David and with no adults care David is forced to fend for himself.  To avoid being sent back to Edward the evil stepfather David changes his name and his life progresses into adulthood.

Charles Dickens

Penguin Books
c2007
Reading Level:  Adult Fiction
Genre:  Coming of Age stories, Adult Fiction
Tone: Dramatic, Romantic
Gold Coast Public Library:
https://gcccopac.sirsidynix.net.au/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=ABn0U0HbeL/BUR/216880060/123

 

Also available:

David Copperfield

Jacqueline Morley

Barrons

c2011

Reading Level:  Teenage

Genre: Graphic Novel

Gold Coast Public Library:
 https://gcccopac.sirsidynix.net.au/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=ABn0U0HbeL/BUR/216880060/123

Counting on Grace

An American historical fiction about two twelve year old achievers in their class.  Grace and Arthur are removed from school by their parents against the advise of the teacher to start work in the textile mill, their income is used to help support the family like many of the other children in working class families.

Grace who is a passive child accepts the norm without question, but Arthur a boy who questions  right and wrong and is of a stronger character fights against the situation and plans to escape it.

With the help of his school teacher who sees the injustice, Arthur is encouraged to write a letter to the National Labour Committee about the children working in the mills. A photographer is sent out to document the conditions but when nothing happens Arthurs frustration grows and he decides to take action.

Elizabeth Winthrop
Random House Children's Books
c2006
Reading Level: 12 -18 years
Genre:  Teenage Fiction
NoveList Plus:
http://web.ebscohost.com/novp/search?sid=02f0cf63-2572-49f4-ab8f-ae22c955595d%40sessionmgr14&vid=1&hid=8

Diego Run

A story about a twelve year old Bolivian boy who uses his wits, strenght and cunning to stay alive on the streets. His parents are locked up but Diego has freedom.  Freedom comes at a cost, he makes a living by selling the goods made by his mother and by being an errand boy. When his younger sister runs away his mother is fined to keep her safe and to find the money Diego is forced to look for better paying work.

Together with his friend Mando they make a decision and risk everything and join the illegal cocaine trade and the atrocious working conditions.





Deborah Ellis
Allen and Unwin
c2007
Reading Level: 12 - 15
Genre: Teenage Fiction
Gold Coast Public Library
https://gcccopac.sirsidynix.net.au/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=0qN5CXEY5c/BUR/16330054/123