Hidden Girl

The True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave

By: Shyima Hall, Lisa Wysocky

Narrated by: Robin Eller

Shyima Hall was born in Egypt on September 29, 1989, the seventh child of desperately poor parents. When she was eight, her parents sold her into slavery. Shyima then moved two hours away to Egypt's capitol city of Cairo to live with a wealthy family and serve them eighteen hours a day, seven days a week. When she was ten, her captors moved to Orange County, California, and smuggled Shyima with them. Two years later, an anonymous call from a neighbor brought about the end of Shyima's servitude - but her journey to true freedom was far from over.

A volunteer at her local police department since she was a teenager, Shyima is passionate about helping to rescue others who are in bondage. Now a U.S. citizen, she regularly speaks out about human trafficking and intends to one day become an immigration officer. In Hidden Girl, Shyima candidly reveals how she overcame her harrowing circumstances and brings vital awareness to a timely and relevant topic.

©2014 Shyima Hall (P)2014 Tantor

Unexpected

What made the experience of listening to Hidden Girl the most enjoyable?

It was simple and to the point. This is not a book to be read for entertainment. It is for enlightenment and that's what I got.

What did you like best about this story?

That it wasn't sleazy, violent and not too descriptive. I could see clearly in my mind the places and people without dragging it out. It was so plainly written yet broke my heart. There is a lot to be said about such ability to bring her story to life in such an uncomplicated way. Her emotions came through clearly and embedded them in my soul.

Which character – as performed by Robin Eller – was your favorite?

This was a narrative. It was done very well. The concise pronunciation and lack of any attempt at accent made it feel as though Robin's first language was not English, giving the effect that Shyima could have been the reader.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

While there was nothing horrific physically, on an emotional level I was horrified. I did drop a few tears.

Any additional comments?

This book should be read by everyone for a small insight into a crime which has been ongoing since the beginning of mankind. It would also be a fabulous book to give to a child who is forever complaining about how unfair things are in their life.

Opened my eyes

I was aware of the term "human trafficking, but this book opened my eyes to the implications of what that meant for one person and, as I now understand, many thousands. Before I happened upon this book, I interpreted human trafficking to mainly refer to people held for sexual purposes, but I now understand more fully what the term implies.

This story is told in a simple and relatable manner. It reveals an indomitable human spirit which I truly found uplifting. It left me hoping that if I ever encounter an individual in that circumstance, I might be able to recognize it and help that person. Shyima, I wish you the very best. You deserve it.

Wow. Absolutely riveting - and chilling.

Only TWO percent make it out of slavery. 17 thousand new slaves are brought to the U.S. each year. These two details from the book were new for me. I wish her all the best in life.

Her situation was terrible

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was good that I listened because I think it opened my eyes to problems that I knew about but did not fully comprehend. I think the tale was only "OK" as far as the way it was written. It was very matter of fact and much more of a documentary type book than a story which is what I generally listen to. Towards the end she kind of lost my attention. I know this needs to be said and I am really glad that her situation ended as it did.

Would you be willing to try another book from Shyima Hall and Lisa Wysocky ? Why or why not?

Probably not another one, I have heard her story and the writing was not something that grabbed me. Definitely worth the listen just not something I would listen to again.

Was Hidden Girl worth the listening time?

Definitely. I think everyone needs to be aware of what is going on.

The book was longer than the story.

They could have shortened the book by at least 3 chapters. The beginning and middle were interesting but too much was written about her life after her rescue which was more if a normal happy life and not so unusual. I was reading the book to learn more about human trafficking and found the end too slow to listen too so I fast forwarded through the end. It was good to learn that not all trafficking is for sex. This book was about slave labor in one household.

great story.

what a remarkable story! it was great to hear, but horrible that this continues to occur today.

A BIT PREACHY AND NAIVE

The underlying story here is heartbreaking abd compelling. However it is not told very well. The reader doesn't get a real sense of the pain and horror experienced by a child forced into indentured servitude. She claims to have moved on in her life as a survivor yet she is unable to really tell others her story in an honest and indepth manner - just as expected by a still traumatized person suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She wants the world to know of her "bondage" and "slavery" especially in the United States, the poster child for cruel oppression lasting hundreds of years, even more than 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Hall claims to have gotten her life together and wants to help others by being a police officer or ICE agent. She says that she only sees life and people in "black and white", "good or bad", no gray areas. She states that she believes in God. Yet, she gets pregnant out of wedlock by a guy she only knew about 6 months. Instead of marrying her "baby daddy", they decide the "black and white" thing is to shack up together. What happened to marriage? Sounds awfully "gray" to me.

Don't get me wrong. I feel for what this child suffered, being sold by her parents in Egypt for $20 a month, then being forced to clean house, be a nanny, and live in a closet when brought to the U.S. But she hardly knows what real slavery and bondage means in America. She was not raped or kept in chains. I can't allow her to be the standard bearer for the oppression, slavery, brutality, cruelty that this country is known for. This book reveals nothing that can't be found on Wikipedia or Google. In fact, I read Hall's story in People magazine. I bought this book to get a first-hand feel for what she went through. Instead, we are given a preachy, teachy, prosaic, often naive account that just glides over the facts. Oh, except for an excruciating blow-by-blow chapter of what is involved in becoming an American citizen, complete with parts of the naturalization test questionnaire, required documents, and other minutiae of little interest. I would have liked to know how Hall really feels about the betrayal of her family, her country of origin and the foreigners who smuggled her here. I hope she doesn't hit the wall one day, believing that this tragedy is really behind her. Particularly not with a child to care for. I want to see her ACT on her intent to make sure other children don't suffer from child endangerment, abuse, and smuggling by Egyptian citizens by actually getting a job in law enforcement. Right now all she's doing is talking a big game while not living by the high standards that she claims to revere and expect of others.

This is not a book about slavery and its long-term consequences. At least when Hall was "freed", she could walk down the street as a white citizen without going through decades and decades of racism, depravation, and oppression. This is a true crime story which would have benefited from the experience of a true crime writer. I don't know what Hall's co-author contributed other than, possibly, editing. No research, no background, no NOTHING about child smuggling and modern day indentured servitude. Just a simple memoir, giving nothing of the real essence of the writer. An opportunity missed.

I think this is a great book so empowering

I loved this book it was so empowering for women of all ages and it really gives you a great idea of what it was like I would recommend this book to anyone who is having a rough time and
it was so amazing to learn how she overcame everything

Modern Slavery - who knew?

What made the experience of listening to Hidden Girl the most enjoyable?

True story of a young girl sold into slavery, with all it's hidden, dark and dirty aspects. A not too much talked about subject matter, yet, a true story. I was beguiled by the story and wanted to know what was going to happen next. Cannot and actually refuse to understand parent that sell their children - and in this case - WHY THIS particular one?

Who was your favorite character and why?

Shyima is my favorite character, only she can tell it the way she felt it.

What about Robin Eller’s performance did you like?

Great narration, warm voice and clearly spoken.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend the book, even for young adults.

Hero

She is an amazing woman! She is an inspiration to so many. Such a touching story.