Land of Forgotten Girls, The

When their mother and younger sister die, Soledad and Ming’s father moves them from the Philippines to the southern US where he marries Vea. But, their father abandons them, leaving them with a terribly abusive stepmother and living in abject poverty, and the sisters must use their imaginations and resiliency to survive their desperate existence. This authentic story presents both uncomfortable truths and realism, in a compelling novel for grades 4-7. Suitable for read-aloud, novel study, or literature circle, this award-winning book raises issues of resiliency, adversity, poverty, abusive, and allows readers to develop understanding and empathy.