Ribbons of the Sun: A Novel

By Harriet Hamilton

Book Overview

In my village we grow flowers. When their buds start to open and they are the most beautiful, we take them to Santa Maria del Sol and sell them in the marketplace. But on one terrible day, 12-year-old... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0976812622
• ISBN13: 9780976812623
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Brown Barn Books
• Length: 159 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.8"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Young Rosa dreams of visting the city with her father

Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (1/07) "Ribbons of the Sun" is the story of [..]Rosa who lives with her family near Santa Maria del Sol. Her father earns a living by working the fields and selling flowers in the village. Even though her abuelita, or grandmother, tells her the village is not the place for a young girl, Rosa always dreams of going to the village with her father to sell flowers. One day Papa tells Rosa it is now time for her to go to the city with him. Rosa is so excited and can hardly contain herself, for a trip to the village has been her lifelong dream. Excitement turns to sheer terror when Rosa finally realizes why Papa has brought Rosa along. Money is tight for the family, and Papa sells [..] Rosa to a cruel patron who mentally and physically abuses the innocent child. She is assaulted and humiliated time and again and then blamed for her actions, and her spiritual strength abandons her. Sadly enough, Rosa has no idea what is actually happening to her, as she is just beginning to grow into womanhood and has never had anything explained to her. Now with child, Rosa is thrown out of the house and must find a way to stay alive, living on the unsafe streets. No one needs or wants a worker with a baby in tow. "Ribbons of the Sun" is a story meant to open our eyes to the problem of child exploitation that exists throughout the world. Author Harriet Hamilton spent fifteen years in Mexico and considered herself as a messenger to bring this problem to the attention of as many people as possible. "Ribbons of the Sun" delivers her message. "Ribbons of the Sun" is an eye opener. It is about a problem I do not enjoy talking about or thinking about. It is sad and cruel. However, Harriet Hamilton has done a good job of getting her message across so others might be able to help the innocent children. This book is for older teens and adults only. "Ribbons of the Sun" was published posthumously.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Child trafficking is a brutal fact of life in some parts of the world, and Rosa is a victim of this practice. She and her parents live in a small Indian village in Mexico where their life is one of grinding poverty. The crops fail yet again. Rosa hopes against hope that her father will take her to the city with him when he goes there to sell flowers to the tourists. Her dreams are answered, and with great excitement; Rosa and her father travel to Santa Maria, but instead of selling flowers, Rosa is sold to a household where she will be employed as a servant. Rosa can't understand this betrayal, and waits impatiently for the weekend when she is sure that her father will come back for her--but she waits in vain. Her life of servitude is punctuated by the brutal rape by the man of the house on a weekly basis. When Rosa's pregnancy is discovered by the lady of the house, she is turned out into the street to survive by her wits. Alone and friendless, Rose believes that she has dishonored her family, and after the baby is born, she decides to end her life as soon as she finds a home for her child. Based on fact, this heartbreaking story brings attention to issues we only hear about; child abuse and exploitation. Hamilton clearly describes the harsh realities of being a child slave in an impoverished country. Rosa is a fully realized character who experiences despair over the conflict between her people's traditional ways and city life. Details of rural historical Mexico's culture and religions are integrated into the story smoothly. However, life takes a turn for the better when Rosa's suicide is prevented, and she finds sanctuary in a mission that helps young girls in her predicament. Will she ever see her family again? This book is impossible to put down, and one that you will never forget. Reviewed by: Grandma Bev