The Cellar

"On the day Mr. and Mrs. Songoli's young son fails to come home from school, fourteen-year-old Muna's fortunes change fo... (more)

"On the day Mr. and Mrs. Songoli's young son fails to come home from school, fourteen-year-old Muna's fortunes change for the better. Until then, her bedroom was a dank windowless cellar, her activities confined to cooking and cleaning. Over the years, she had grown used to being abused by the Songoli family- to being their slave. Now that Scotland Yard has swarmed the Songoli house to investigate the disappearance of the son, Muna is given a real bedroom, real clothing, and treated, at least nominally, as a daughter. But her world remains confined. She is not allowed to go outside, doesn't know how to read or write, and cannot speak English. At least that's what the Songolis believe. Before long it becomes clear that young Muna is far cleverer -and her plans more terrifying- than the Songolis, or anyone else, can ever imagine."--www.amazon.com. (less)

"On the day Mr. and Mrs. Songoli's young son fails to come home from school, fourteen-year-old Muna's fortunes change fo... (more)

"On the day Mr. and Mrs. Songoli's young son fails to come home from school, fourteen-year-old Muna's fortunes change for the better. Until then, her bedroom was a dank windowless cellar, her activities confined to cooking and cleaning. Over the years, she had grown used to being abused by the Songoli family- to being their slave. Now that Scotland Yard has swarmed the Songoli house to investigate the disappearance of the son, Muna is given a real bedroom, real clothing, and treated, at least nominally, as a daughter. But her world remains confined. She is not allowed to go outside, doesn't know how to read or write, and cannot speak English. At least that's what the Songolis believe. Before long it becomes clear that young Muna is far cleverer -and her plans more terrifying- than the Songolis, or anyone else, can ever imagine."--www.amazon.com. (less)

""Lily?"" My stomach dropped as a tall, dark-haired man stepped into view. Had he been hiding between the trees? ""No. S... (more)

""Lily?"" My stomach dropped as a tall, dark-haired man stepped into view. Had he been hiding between the trees? ""No. Sorry."" Gulping, I took a step back. ""I'm not Lily."" He shook his head, a satisfied grin on his face. ""No. You are Lily."" ""I'm Summer. You have the wrong person."" You utter freak! I could hear my pulse crashing in my ears. How stupid to give him my real name. He continued to stare at me, smiling. It made me feel sick. ""Y. (less)

Muna is treated as a slave by the Songoli family, cooking and cleaning for them and confined to a dark, windowless cella... (more)

Muna is treated as a slave by the Songoli family, cooking and cleaning for them and confined to a dark, windowless cellar at all other times. She is badly beaten and tortured by them until the day the younger son fails to come home from school. (less)