Body Trade

A Book to Break Your Heart

Where do I start with "Body Trade"? READ IT.

The novel follows two girls as they journey from northern Canada to Mexico. The descriptions of the land and people are vibrant and memorable. I found the evolving relationship between the girls very realistic, and enjoyed the dynamic between them - the big sister / little sister thing they have going is at times really sweet, and, at other times, well, the annoyance is palpable.

At the heart of this book, Body Trade is about inequity - what it us to be the most vulnerable of our society, to be female, to be a minority, to be poor, to be homeless, to be a child. There is also the question of the "white saviour complex"; Tanya wants nothing more to protect (seemingly) naive Rosie, but is she helping? In the end, can we take back what we've done; can we "please go back?"