The kind folks at WaterBrook Press sent me a copy of The Road of Lost Innocence (The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine) by Somaly Mam. From my point of view, this book has three things going for it – it’s written by a woman, it’s a memoir, and it focuses on Southeast Asia. All three tend to be reoccurring themes with my reading, so this book was a welcome addition to my bookshelf.

The Road of Lost Innocence is not just another story of a suffering victim; it’s how one woman is taking action on behalf of others, for the least of these.

From the inside cover:

Born in a village deep in the Cambodian forest, Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery by her grandfather when she was twelve years old. For the next decade she was shuttled through the brothels that make up the sprawling sex trade of Southeast Asia. Trapped in this dangerous and desperate world, she suffered the brutality and horrors of human trafficking – rape, torture, deprivation – until she managed to escape with the help of a French aid worker.

Somaly Mam is cofounder and president of AFESIP (Acting for Women in Distressing Situations), based in Cambodia, and president of the Somaly Mam Foundation, based in the United States. Under her leadership, the two organizations seek to save and socially reintegrate victims of sexual slavery in Southeast Asia. Mam was named a CNN Hero and a Glamour Woman of the Year in 2006.

From Amazon.com:

“The Road of Lost Innocence is unputdownable, and you read it with a lump in your throat. Somaly Mam’s story is an account of how humanity can sink to the lowest levels of depravity, but it is also a testimony of resistance and hope. She lifted herself out of a well of terror and found the determination and the resilience to save others. Somaly Mam is my candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.”
—Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of Infidel

“An inspiring story from the front lines of a global tragedy. Somaly Mam’s courageous fight to save women and children reminds us that one person can stand up and change the fate of others for good.”
—Mariane Pearl, author of A Mighty Heart

Links

To learn more about how you can help fight human trafficking, visit the foundation’s website: www.somaly.org.  A portion of the proceeds of this book will be donated to the Somaly Mam Foundation.

You can watch Mam interviewed about rescuing children from the brothels in this 3-minute video.

© 2008 Monica Brand | Paper Bridges