Sonita

Daughters for Sale

Sonita Alizada

$39.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

HQ
30 September 2025

Rap & Hip-Hop; Memoirs; True stories of heroism, endurance & survival; Social discrimination; Human rights

One woman’s extraordinary journey from child bride to global changemaker

At just 10 years old, Sonita Alizada was nearly sold into marriage. By the time she turned 16, her price was set at $9,000 – a sum meant to buy her future for someone else’s benefit. In a world where nearly 15 million girls are forced into marriage each year, Sonita’s story is a heartbreaking but all-too-common reality. Yet, she refused to let her fate be sealed.

In her eponymous memoir, Sonita shares her powerful journey from the streets of Afghanistan to international stages as a rap artist and activist. Breaking through oppressive traditions and laws, she escaped her destiny as a child bride and transformed her pain into music that resonated across the globe.

This book is not just her story, it’s a call to action. Sonita’s message is clear: Dreams have the power to change lives. Weaving together her family’s harrowing escape from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, her rise as a human rights advocate, and her belief in the transformative power of hope, Sonita's story will leave readers galvanised to fight for a world where every girl’s voice is heard.

By: Sonita Alizada
Imprint: HQ
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 240mm, Width: 159mm, Spine: 30mm
Weight: 480g
ISBN: 9780008752835
ISBN 10: 0008752834
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 30 September 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Sonita Alizada is an Afghan rapper and activist who escaped child marriage in 2015, when her viral music video, 'Daughters for Sale', helped her secure a scholarship to study in the United States. Through her music and advocacy work, Sonita has campaigned for women's rights and against child marriage, partnering with organizations like the Malala Fund, Global Partnership for Education, and Girls Not Brides. She has received the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award and the MTV Europe Music Generation Change Award, and was included on the BBC's 100 Women list in 2015. Sonita, who learned English upon moving to the US, graduated from Bard College in 2023; she is currently pursuing a master's degree at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Reviews for Sonita: Daughters for Sale

'Sonita Alizada's remarkable journey is a testament to resilience and optimism. Her story inspires courage and hope, reminding us of the power of the human spirit.' – Hillary Clinton