Only 13
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by Julia Manzanares & Derek Kent
Price: $14.95
Book Website: http://www.only13.net
362 Pages, Paperback, 5.5 x 8.5
ISBN-10: 0-9772841-0-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-9772841-0-8
Only 13 is my life story. At 13, I ran away from an impoverished, rural Thai village, only to become involved in the sex-tourist industry meeting American and European men. Child prostitution was the only way that I could find to send money to my impoverished family. My entrance into this world was selling my virginity, for which I earned $1,200. I did this to make up for my father's death for which I was blamed, which occurred while he was searching for me. I also needed to pay for my sisters' schooling so that they would never have to see sex-tourists as I did.
I spent five years in the sex-tourist industry in Thailand before marrying to go to Switzerland. That trip lasted only 12 days. Upon returning to Thailand, I met up with a former customer who took me to Germany where I worked in a massage parlor, while at the age of 19, I looked only 15 years old, and received a premium from my customers.
A bad relationship in Germany led me to Sweden where I worked as a stripper for two years before returning to Thailand and writing my story. I am now living in England. This book is written in my voice and will give you a new angle on what it is like to be born a poor girl in rural Thailand. You will think my thoughts, see my views, feel my pain, and share my victory of leaving the industry. You will learn what it is like to be me. I am now working to raise awareness about girls born into my situation, and to get them out of the industry.
About The Author
Julia Manzanares has served as an English-As-A-Foreign Language/ Intercultural Communication Instructor and Teacher-Trainer for the past 18 years with 12 years spent teaching abroad in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. She earned an M.A. in Psychology/Drama Therapy from California State University, Los Angeles and holds Certificates in TESOL and Neuro-Linguistics.
Derek Kent earned his B.A. from U.C.L.A. and has been an English-As-A-Foreign Language Instructor in the Middle East and Thailand for 15 years. He is now involved in providing educational opportunities, developing job and career training, and establishing a support center for disadvantaged young girls in Thailand.
Reviews
Praise for Lon's life story
A highly recommended-read. It is informative, damning and at times touching. At the end you really feel like you know Lon.
www.Stickmanbangkok.com
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...is actually an engrossing story of a girl who ran away from her home in Isaan at age 13 to come to work in Bangkok. I sincerely hope that this story will help focus more attention
on the plight of disadvantaged Thai women.
Kurt Heck, GoodwillBangkok
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She speaks with the powerful and determined voice of an activist making clear the injustice that she and many other girls have suffered.
David Reid, geocities.com
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...the first book, to my knowledge, that tells about how local (Thai) prostitutes view their profession in general, the sex-tourists in particular.
Bernard Trink, Bangkok Post
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This book is well worth a read, even by Old Thai Hands.
www.bangkokatoz.com Mehkong Kurt
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...this is the best book on THAILAND I have ever read. ...finest of its genre. ...probably that will ever be written. I found the social commentary balanced, accurate, and particularly telling from the personal point-of-view of Lon. A fine book.
www.thaivisa.com
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Had me in tears on my flight back from BKK.
www.phuket-info.com
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