39 pages 1 hour read

Jennifer Clement

Prayers for the Stolen

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement follows Ladydi Martinez, a young girl living in the Guerrero mountains of Mexico, where she and other girls hide to avoid being kidnapped by drug traffickers. Despite their efforts, her friend Paula is taken. After various hardships, Ladydi leaves the village to work as a nanny in Acapulco, but is falsely accused of murder and imprisoned. Sensitive topics include sex trafficking, drug violence, and incarceration.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Jennifer Clement's Prayers for the Stolen is lauded for its poignant portrayal of survival in a dangerous Mexican village, blending lyrical prose with raw themes. Some critics, however, find the narrative bleak and the pacing uneven. Nonetheless, its powerful storytelling and emotional depth make it a compelling read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Prayers for the Stolen?

Readers who enjoy Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement appreciate gritty, poignant narratives focused on marginalized voices, particularly women in narco-violence-torn Mexico. Fans of The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende or The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez will find this novel compelling.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Lexile Level

HL800L

Book Details

Themes

Life/Time: Coming of Age

Identity: Gender

Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Genre

Latin American Literature

Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

Modern Classic Fiction

Topics

Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Women's Studies (Nonfiction)

Gender / Feminism