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Prayers for the Stolen

By Jennifer Clement
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Prayers for the Stolen, Jennifer Clement weaves a poignant tale set in a rural Mexican village plagued by the threat of drug cartels and human trafficking. The story follows the journey of Ladydi, a young girl whose community must contort itself to protect its women. Through Ladydi's eyes, the book explores themes of resilience, survival, and the small glimpses of hope found amidst oppression.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're drawn to powerful narratives about resilience and survival. Set in the challenging environment of Guerrero, Mexico, it offers a poignant look into the lives of women facing dangers from drug cartels and societal corruption. The gripping and heart-wrenching story is conveyed through the voice of a young girl, balancing raw reality with moments of hope and resistance.

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‘The best thing you can be in Mexico is an ugly girl.’

On the mountainside in rural Mexico where Ladydi lives, being a girl is dangerous. Because the stolen girls don’t come back.

Ladydi is determined to get out, to find a life that offers more than just the struggle to survive.

It was Paula's mother who had the brilliant idea of digging the holes. My mother said that the State of Guerrero was turning into a rabbit warren with young girls hiding all over the place...

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

It was Paula's mother who had the brilliant idea of digging the holes. My mother said that the State of Guerrero was turning into a rabbit warren with young girls hiding all over the place...

'Now we make you ugly,' my mother said. 'The best thing you can be in Mexico is an ugly girl.'

On the mountainside in rural Mexico where Ladydi lives, being a girl is dangerous. Especially a pretty one. If the Narcos hear there is a pretty girl on the mountain, they steal her. So when the black SUVs roll into town, Ladydi and her friends hide in the warren of holes scattered across the mountain, safely out of sight. Because the stolen girls don't come back.

Ladydi is determined to get out, to find a life that offers more than just the struggle to survive. But she soon finds that the drug cartels have eyes everywhere, and the cities are no safer than the mountains.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Jennifer Clement's Prayers for the Stolen is a powerful novel that explores the themes of violence against women and the impact of the drug trade in Mexico. Despite its stark and brutal portrayal of women's hidden lives in a cartel-controlled area, the novel is rendered with poetic language and visceral authenticity, offering glimpses of happiness and hope. The book's narrative, told through the voice of an open-hearted teenage girl, is praised for its lyrical beauty, vivid characterisation, and dark humour, making it an inspiring story of resilience amidst adversity.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099587590

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 February 2015

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 170g

Pages: 240

Collections

Education & Reference Fiction General Fiction Jennifer Clement Literary Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

Jennifer Clement was born in 1960 and has lived in Mexico since 1961. She is a graduate of New York University. She is the author of the memoir Widow Basquiat and two novels- A True Story Based on Lies, longlisted for the Orange Prize and The Poison That Fascinates. She is also the author of several books of poetry, and is co-founder and director of the San Miguel Poetry Week. Jennifer Clement was awarded the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) Fellowship for Literature 2012. She was also President of PEN Mexico from 2009 to 2012 and is a member of Mexico's prestigious Sistema Nacional de Creadores. She lives in Mexico City.

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