In its 2025 list of most challenged U.S. library books, the American Library Association (ALA) named *Sold* by Patricia McCormick as number one. The 2006 novel, based on survivor interviews, has sparked debate over its depictions of sex trafficking and assault, but the author highlights how it empowers young readers to disclose their own abuse.
Sold, published in 2006, recounts the story of a 13-year-old girl sold into sex slavery in India, drawing from Patricia McCormick's interviews with survivors in India and Nepal. Challenges often cite scenes of sexual assault as 'pornography,' as McCormick addressed in a 2023 New York Times article amid false claims.
McCormick shared powerful accounts from school visits: 'At nearly all the visits, students come forward to say that they have been sexually abused or are being sexually abused — and that seeing their experience rendered in a book finally emboldened them to say so.' Classmates offered empathy, and teachers identified needs they might have missed.
As detailed in our overview of the ALA's full 2025 list, challenges frequently target sexual themes, LGBTQ+ topics, and violence. The ALA argues such books are essential resources for youth facing trauma, and banning them limits access. This deep dive underscores Sold's role amid rising objections to diverse stories.