When I read this book I was only 13. I had gone shopping with my mom for my birthday and stopped into the bookstore. It drew my attention because I love biographies. It was hard for me, my brother is the same age as her and all I could think about is that my brother is in America and doing just fine, but this girl almost my age being tormented by her own people. I cried during this book. After reading it I wanted to learn more about the slavery in Sudan so I researched it. It is just wrong what Mende went through. I love you Mende and good luck with the future. This writer is still thirteen.