Soraya and Anita are two young girls growing up in Haiti. When they meet unexpectedly, they learn the power of friendship using their words to help another. Written by eight young women of the Restavek Freedom Writers, Stand Up For Soraya provides a glimpse of life growing up in Haiti. This picture book is illustrated by Emily Iddings and presented in both English and Kreyòl.

— Simon Traub-Epstein, International Library of Young Authors

From the publisher: “Soraya dreams of a life she once knew: A loving mother. Fun at school. Hope for the future. But now that her mother has died, her father has re-married, and her stepmother treats her as a slave, she feels alone and invisible. Until one day when she meets a little girl named Anita, whose bravery and sense of justice could save Soraya from despair. Through this story the authors issue a challenge: Could you have this courage to change a life? The Story Behind the Story Written by a team of young women served by the Restavek Freedom Foundation, Stand Up For Soraya aims to raise awareness about the inhumanity and injustice of child slavery in Haiti. These authors set out to instill empathy for children living in restavek, create outrage at the exploitation and abuse, and provide inspiration to stand up, speak up, and make a change.”