A shocking true story of contemporary slavery: a young girl, snatched from her tribal village in Africa, survives enslavement in Sudan and London before making a courageous escape to freedom.
Mende Nazer lost her childhood at age twelve, when she was sold into slavery. It all began one horrific night in 1993, when Arab raiders swept through her Nuba village, murdering the adults and rounding up thirty-one children, including Mende.
She was sold to a wealthy Arab family who lived in Sudan's capital city, Khartoum. So began her dark years of enslavement. Her Arab owners called her "Yebit," or "black slave." She called them "master." She was subjected to appalling physical, sexual, and mental abuse. She slept in a shed and ate the family leftovers like a dog. She had no rights, no freedom, and no life of her own.
Normally, Mende's story never would have come to light. But seven years after she was seized and sold into slavery, she was sent to work for another master--a diplomat working in the United Kingdom. In London, she managed to make contact with other Sudanese, who took pity on her. In September 2000, she made a dramatic break for freedom.
Slave is a story almost beyond belief. It depicts the strength and dignity of the Nuba tribe. It recounts the savage way in which the Nuba and their ancient culture are being destroyed by a secret modern-day trade in slaves. Most of all, it is a remarkable testimony to one young woman's unbreakable spirit and tremendous courage.
If you thought that slavery ended in 1865 - think again. Slave tells the true story of Mende, who was captured in a raid on her Nuba village and sold into slavery in Sudan. This, and another recent book, Escape from Slavery: The True Story of My Ten Years in Captivity and My Journey to Freedom in America by Francis Bok (published in late 2003), are must reads because they tell of slavery happening today, this minute, in Sudan (where slaves change hands for $150) (Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).
Denver Post
Nazer tells her story of individual dignity combined with uncommon courage.
Publishers Weekly
... a straightforward, harrowing memoir that's a sobering reminder that slavery still needs to be stamped out [and] a profound meditation on the human ability to survive virtually any circumstances.
Booklist - Hazel Rochman
Starred Review. The shock of this title is that it refers to what is happening right now, in Sudan, Africa, and also in the West. [This is] a clear, compelling, first-person narrative that conveys her young voice with powerful authenticity. Her memories of childhood in her Nuba village are idyllic. The details are unforgettable, capturing both the innocence of the child and the world-weariness of one who has endured the worst.
Kirkus Reviews
.. Nazer heart-wrenchingly describes the ragged unpredictability of beatings, the crowding thoughts of home, the repulsive food, and the drear of daily toil. Sent to London to work for her mistress's sister, the wife of a Sudanese diplomat, Nazer manages to contact a fellow Nuban who helps her to escape and gets her a lawyer... Revelatory in the truest sense of the word told with a child-pure candor that comes like a bucket of cold water in the lap.
Waris Dirie, author of Desert Flower
By telling her story, Mende has managed to shed much needed light to the plight of the rest of our African sisters and throughout it all, her strength and beauty never fade.
Norma Khouri, author of Honor Lost Love and Death in Modern-Day Jordan
An eye-opening account of the atrocities that can and do happen when one nationality believes it is superior to another, and an unforgettable plea for all people of all nations to focus on the importance of human rights and to understand that we are all equal, all part of one human race, and therefore should all be treated equally.
Libby Manthey, Riverwalk Books Limited, Chelan, WA Slave retells the story of Mende Nazer, captured in 1993 at age 12 in southern Sudan and taken to Khartoum to work as a house slave. As you read about Nazer's enslavement and her eventual run to freedom in September 2000, you will weep, rage, and shout for justice. I couldn't put it down.
Recent Reader Reviews
Rated of 5
by Krystle AMAZING! I read Slave for my semester book report. I have no idea why I chose this book, I was just drawn to it, but I'm extremely glad I read it. Slave is one of the best books I have ever read (and I read a lot) It is an eye opener that modern slavery... Read More
Rated of 5
by Nicholas Walling inspiring Slave is just a book that will inspire you, broaden your knowledge, make you want to do something, and make you realize just how cruel this world really is.
Rated of 5
by Gai Mawut Shame the devil Many books have been written about Sudanese civil wars and ensuing sufferings of the civilians under NIF , but non has ever captured the true magnitude of the suffering than the Slave . I have just finished reading it , but while I was reading I... Read More
Rated of 5
by Angela Touching 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... Read More
Rated of 5
by Siun Thank you Mende I was deeply affected by Mende's book. Once I started reading it I could not put it down and read it late into the night. She is a courageous young lady, and whilst reading this book, i wanted to put my arms around her and give her comfort and... Read More
Rated of 5
by vicky sad,touching and heart broken When I read this book I was only 14 years age. This book has inspired me a lot because of the way this book was written and the difficulties that Mende has to go through. When I first read this book I thought I was there with Mende feeling her pain... Read More
To be a moral witness is perhaps the highest calling of journalism, and in this unforgettable, highly readable account of contemporary slavery, author Benjamin Skinner travels around the globe to personally tell stories that need to be told -- and heard.
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(336 words).
Denver Post
Waris Dirie, author of Desert Flower
of 5
by Krystle
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