Elfina lives in Paraguay with her grandmother and father, who often has to travel for work. When her rich aunt offers to host Elfina so she can go to a better school, Elfina, though nervous to move away from her village, is excited for the opportunity. Yet, things change for the worse when her aunt moves Elfina with her family to Canada where she doesn't go to school r passport is taken and she is forced to be a servant in their home. Feeling helpless and alone, she finally decides to find a way to escape when her uncle makes sexual advances towards her. In this English translation of a French graphic novel, readers will learn the story of Elfina, one of many teens who are forced into labor against their will. The beautiful and haunting artwork, in thick black lines with light blue washes, are sparse yet robust in their depiction of Elfina's life and feelings. A short read that will bring the plight of modern slavery to teens in a character they'll surely find relatable.

Jacob (Le Journal de guerre d'Emilio, 2012, etc.) and Delezenne (The Little Yellow Bottle, 2010, etc.) team up for this fictionalized first-person account of human trafficking and forced labor.Elfina lives on the margins in Paraguay. After her mother's death, Elfina lives with her grandmother and younger brother in a small village while their father works on as a migrant farm worker in Brazil. An opportunity to continue her education in the capital of Asunción while living in the household of her Aunt Evoala sends Elfina away from home. Soon she is moving even farther away from her roots as Aunt Evoala's family relocates to Montréal. The promise of an education is soon revealed to be a lie as Elfina stays home and is forced to work as a housekeeper and errand girl for the household while her cousins continue to go to school. Elfina summons the courage to escape the house and report what has been happening. Elfina's courage, curiosity, and work ethic make her an admirable heroine; through her story, the statistics on human trafficking and forced child labor are given urgency and vibrancy that are difficult to ignore. Backmatter includes more information on the plight of children in similar situations, including further reading, though one wishes opportunities to help were also presented.A deceptively short read that casts needed light on a dark and dehumanizing practice. (further reading, resources) (Graphic novel. 12-16)