Cover Image: Nobody's Girl:  A Memoir of Lost Innocence, Modern Day Slavery & Transformation

Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Lost Innocence, Modern Day Slavery & Transformation

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

A really sad sobering read about the author’s experience in the sex trafficking trade.
Unfortunately, it’s still very alive and thriving.
Amaya was extraordinary in that she survived and recovered from it

Was this review helpful?

This one was a DNF for me. I will not be posting a review of it but thank you for sending. it just wasn't for me. Thank you again for the copy

Was this review helpful?

This memoir contained a lot of disturbing but important and eyeopening information about how life isn't the same for everyone. The poor girl in this book isn't looking for pity, but does want to share her story, to help others, i think.
An engaging, read, only a few hours but absolutely well worth it.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a review by the publisher, via Netgalley

Was this review helpful?

Despite the subject matter I still enjoyed reading this memoir. The author has written a realistic account of her harrowing life as a survivor of abuse, slavery and sex trafficking. The subject matter is difficult but the book is easy to read and the ending is hopeful. I would recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

This was such an impactful (and important!) story. I'm speechless. It's been a while since I encountered a book that left such a mark in my mind. I strongly recommend this.

Was this review helpful?

“Nobody’s Girl” by Barbara Amaya is an incredibly powerful and moving book. I want to thank and commend Ms. Amaya for sharing her truth and bravery with the world and for being able to advocate so strongly and beautifully for those suffering.

The pain and anguish she went through is a hideous stain in the world that continues today and it is so important that people are aware of this.

As a survivor of sexual abuse myself, Ms. Amaya’s story particularly effected me and inspired me with her strength and resilience.

Thank you again for all you are doing for survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking everywhere.

Was this review helpful?

What a fast read. I am not going to forget this book for a very long time. It was full of strength, heartache, sadness, intensity, and transformation. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this eye opening book.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!

heavy themes for sure. child abuse, rape, sex trafficking. this isn't for the faint of heart.

it was VERY difficult to read at times. it certianly made my heart hurt for the author.

Was this review helpful?

I wish I hadn't of waited so long to read this book. It has everything I am always looking for in a book. The story is told very well. lots of details, you feel like you are in the story itself. I hate it when I am reading and the author goes on and on about things that do not pertain to the book. Not here, Barbra Amaya surely has a hit with this one.
A child is more or less ignored throughout her child hood, she finally runs away only to get involved with a pimp in New York City. Typical story she gets hooked on drugs, gets clean, gets hooked again. The pimp beats her up, she gets thrown in jail. This book really outlines how normal everyday people can and get hooked up in this lifestyle. I hope everyone who reads this sees how easy it would be to fall into this trap.
Without spoiling the ending I will tell you there are some decent people in this book that try and help her.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Animal Media Group for the ARC of this book! This is my honest review.

"Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Lost Innocence, Modern Day Slavery & Transformation" by Barbara Amaya.

5 stars!

WOW, just WOW!!! A wonderful book! I couldn't put it down! So heartbreaking!
Everything that poor child went through, so unfair! I couldn't stop the tears!
From being sexually abused by 2 family members to running away several times, being sent to a mental hospital, jail, becoming a prostitute, a drug addict, more and more people abusing her everyway possible, totally lost and confused...

The kind of story, a real story, that stays with you forever!

You have to read it! It will change you! And make you realize that when you complain about a headache some people have real issues!

Barbara Amaya, you are so brave! I'm glad I could read your story! You are so talented!

Thank you for giving me a chance to read this wonderful, powerful, meaningful book!

Review shared online on NetGalley, Goodreads, Twitter...

Was this review helpful?

I finished this book feeling immense admiration for what Barbara Amaya has overcome and having the strength and willingness to help herself and others despite rightfully losing faith in the human race at one point. Her story, while short and pretty to the point, didn't portray the emotions I would have anticipated. Instead, while she does communicate anger and hurt, her story more so communicates forgiveness and strength to move forward. Her retelling was a bit stiff, but she does say in the beginning that she is remembering the best she can. What happened to her was absolutely tragic, and society at large failed her in many instances. The most unfulfilling part of her entire ordeal, in my opinion, was the ambiguous answer her own father gave her about WHY, WHY HER. I just wanted to take that young 12 year old and give her a warm meal, a safe bed and a hug. There are so many broken people out there, whether they are the prostitutes or the traffickers, and I applaud Amaya not only shining light on the issue, but providing real advice on how to get involved and make a positive difference.

Was this review helpful?

Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Lost Innocence, Modern Day Slavery &Transformation, is a book I would definitely recommend for every young lady and man to read.
Barbara Amaya, shares,in this non-fictional autobiography, how her early childhood abuse, by the hand of her father and older brother, pushed her life into a alternate direction. After running away from home and juvenile detention centers, a very young Barbara ends up in the hands of traffickers who later sale her to her long term enslaved, a pimp by the name of Moses.
Barbara takes us into a world of drugs, prostitution, abuse, and manipulation. She gives us the ugly realities of an entire underground world that functions right up under our noses.
This book exposes and teaches at the same time. It is almost like a manual of sorts on what a victim looks like, what the predator looks like, and what redemption looks like.
Why 4 stars? There were a few parts in this book that could have benefited from a bit more detail and explanation. Some parts were a bit confusing because it seemed as if there was information missing.
Overall, this was a very informative and enlightening read.

Was this review helpful?

A few weeks ago I announced that I had been approved to review two books on Netgalley. This past weekend I sat down and read one titled Nobody's Girl by Barbara Amaya.

The memoir is about Barbara enduring sexual abuse at the hands of several of her relatives, running away, and being sold into sex trafficking. She ultimately overcomes and becomes an advocate for runaway youths. Even though this story took place in the 70's and 80's, it's unfortunately still a current problem today and will resonate with modern readers. This story was heart breaking; especially when her cries for help were repeatedly ignored. However, in the end, it becomes an inspiring tale of resilience and a triumph over evil. The story was written well and I connected with her as a character. I gave this 5 stars. Trigger warnings for sexual abuse, violence, drug abuse and attempted suicide.


This is available now and I'd highly recommend the audiobook.

Was this review helpful?

This was a beautiful story of the reclamation of oneself. It hit close to home but felt amazing to read. I absolutely loved it.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this and finished it about two days. Barbara’s story is brutal and enticing, but so heartfelt. Her story captivated me and taught me a lot about prostitution, as opposed to vague details. Her strength is inspiring. If you’re looking for a touching memoir, with a dark past, this is it.

Was this review helpful?

Although this book was short and a quick read, it covers a wide range of topics including family abuse, runaways, drug addiction, forced prostitution, and arrests/jail time. Barbara Amaya's memoir is an eye-opener if you are not familiar with these topics. The author recalls why she ran away from home and the continued cycle of abuse she received on the streets at the hands of pimps; and her desperate attempts to break free from that cycle. I applaud her strength in not giving up on herself, and ending up helping people just like herself. I think adding the information at the end of the book was a great idea - information very useful and appropriate.

Thank you to Animal Media Group LLC and Net Galley for this book.

Was this review helpful?

This was a very sad look at life on the streets for a 12 year old runaway. I applaud the author for sharing her story. I know as much as the book was wrote to share with others, I feel it was also wrote to heal ones self. Seeing all the horrors written on the page not only solidified it for the author but shared it with her abusers.

Was this review helpful?

really good book but it brings about the reality of abuse/prostitution,sex trafficking these days, its upsetting to read, its something we hear about most days in news, it reiterates just what the people go thru, this story is hard hitting but not for the faint hearted

Was this review helpful?

Amaya's story is a truly inspiring one. She suffered abuse at home and then turned to prostitution once she ran away. It's remarkable that she survived everything that happened to her, and she's very brave for writing about her experiences. I did wish that there was a little more to this book. I finished it in just a few hours. I would have loved for Amaya to explore some of the events a tad more just to add some depth to the story, but overall, I'm still amazed and in awe of her life.

Was this review helpful?

This book must have been very hard to write but very very necessary. This is a very difficult subject but the more we talk about it and get it in the open the more healing can start. Very well written

Was this review helpful?