They Called Me Red

"Such a beautiful color red."

They didn't have the perfect life, but it was their life: Devon's and his dad's. Then Lily came along, enchanting his father with her shy glances, spicy cooking, and exotic teas. Devon has a bad feeling about this new woman who seems endearing one minute, ice cold the next. It isn't until Devon finds himself in an unfamiliar room in an unfamiliar country that he starts to realize just what type of person Lily is and what she is capable of. Clinging to thoughts of his father and of home, he fights to find hope while living a nightmare.

From the critically acclaimed author of Dear Jo: The story of losing Leah ... and searching for hope.

"... a story of child exploitation and human trafficking that, although fictional, could easily have been plucked from today's headlines. Told with compassion and delicacy, the novel centres on a boy who is changed forever after he's sold into the global sex trade ... Although the subject matter carries the potential for graphic descriptions of Devon's situation, Kilbourne artfully depicts the horrors of forced child prostitution without resorting to disturbing specifics. The plot moves at a heart-pounding pace sure to appeal to young adult readers, and yet Kilbourne manages to imbue her characters with both depth and humanity ... A potential challenge for any YA author is to both delight and instruct a generation that is less likely to crack open a book than to plug into an iPod ... Kilbourne recognizes the need to meet YA readers on their own turf.” – Quill & Quire, Oct. 2008"

An exposé of human cruelty, courage, desperation, and resilience ... This isn’t an easy book to read, but it’s an important one that may lead teens to a better understanding of global issues and human rights." – Booklist, December 2008

"Kilbourne stands apart from others ... she enlightens her readers on facts of life that, while they could be ignored, are important to deal with in terms of our global community ... Teens, parents, and teachers should all make They Called Me Red a priority on their reading list!" – Ann Ketcheson, CM: Canadian Review of Materials, July 2008

"... great emotional depth, which provides a human face to the global crisis of human trafficking." – Martin Avery, author and educator

"They Called Me Red is an intelligent and sensitive glimpse into the disturbing world of child sexual exploitation. Christina Kilbourne has crafted an engaging read that will open the eyes of young readers to a world too little discussed." – J. Andersen, Head of Library, J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate

"Kilbourne gets the dread across ... [and] the storyline is handled tactfully; fear and circumstances of imprisonment are the main focuses." – ForeWord, Nov. 2008

“... a topic that receives little attention in Y.A. literature ... The reader is drawn into [protagonist] Devon’s grief, fear and confusion through a powerful story ... realistic and dramatic ... the right amount of tension to keep the pages turning. Highly recommended." – Resource Links, November 2008

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