The book Sold by Patricia McCormick is written in the perspective of young 13 year-old Lakshmi, who is forced into a country where she does not know the language or culture. Naturally the the authors diction of word choices would be limited. Often Lakshmi would only nod in reply to questions or orders "'Most of them will say no; they will threaten to go somewhere else if you insist.' I nod."(128) This shows how shy and terrified Lakshmi is of her new and terrible life.
The author expresses harsh images to show how horrible Lakshmi's life has become after being forced into prostitution. "There is a bucket of water next to my bed. But no matter how often I wash and scrub and wash and scrub. I cannot seem to rinse the men from my body." (129) Even when Lakshmi tries to erase the men from her small young body, the pictures and felling of them always lingers, no matter how hard she tries to clean herself. She is left with the feeling that she is and will always be dirty. This is a well written scene because it is powerful and really proves the authors point. And also conveys the same feelings that Lakshmi has, to the reader.
When the owner of the "Happiness House" Mumtaz tells Lakshmi that she can no longer fetch a good price for her her because Lakshmi is no longer a virgin, she does it casually. "'You can go home...' She pauses, picks a fleck of betel leaf off her tongue, examines it. I try to slow the pounding in my heart at the mention of the word 'home.' Mumtaz flicks the bit of leaf into the air and continues." (132) These little details that the author puts in, creates the build of different characters. "'But if you try to run away, ' she says, 'I will grind ot chilies and put them in your private parts.'" (133) These details of Mumtaz shows how little she cares about the fact that all the girls have been tricked out of their homes to work for her. She doesn't care what happens to them as long as the money keeps rolling in. She has a black and empty heart.
The syntact of this book mostly short sentences. Sentences that are powerful and informative. Sentences that have a lot of meaning and emotions.
You make a good point on how you notice that Lakshmi feels shy and terrified throughout the book. She has the right to be frightened with all the madness going around her. "I pound on the door. I howl like an animal. I pray. I pace the room. I kick the door." (108) Her actions show how afraid of this new Happiness House she really is. All she seems to want now is to be back with her family.
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