Review by Yabsera Bekele

The short: Inspired by a true story, this book tells the story of a girl who was made a slave after being kidnapped by slave raiders from her home in the Darfur region of Sudan and how destiny led her to become a saint in Italy. 

The long: Early in her childhood, a young girl named Bakhita is kidnapped by slave raiders from her home in Darfur and made to be a slave. She then endures the trauma of being sold and resold along the slave trade routes until age thirteen when she is sold to the Italian consul living in the capital. Soon after chaos started in Khartoum, the consul returned to Italy and brought Bakhita along with him. Bakhita then joins a convent starts her journey from slavery into sainthood. 

To read or not to read: Absolutely read! Through Bakhita, this story shares the harsh reality faced by so many others in Sudan and other countries concerning human trafficking. Furthermore, the story highlights the importance of resilience despite hardship and turns pain and trauma into empowerment.