Overview

"Mary's childhood was shattered by her mother's suicide when she was only 13 years old. As a teen, she was the victim of a horrific sexual assault which left her a perfect target for a tall, dark, strong, and charming man who promised to protect and love her... in the nearby big bright city full of promise, the Big Apple. Just a few days after realizing her new boyfriend's form of ""love"" involved sharing her with other men, she was arrested for prostitution and sent to Rikers Island to serve time as an adult. She served her time there as ""Maria Rodriguez,"" with a fake birthday, too, which her pimp-boyfriend Marshal had drilled into her brain along with a lot of messed-up ideas about love and loyalty. The 15-year-old Mary transformed herself into tough ""Maria,"" and had to get creative to avoid beatings during her 40-day stay in the notorious prison. She taught herself many more ""tricks"" to survive in her life turning tricks--including how to trick customers into paying her, without actually having intercourse with them. She'd later trick her own family and her ""square"" boyfriend's family into thinking she was pregnant and had a baby--as she illegally adopted the newborn of a friend. She managed to ditch her pimp, and New York, opting to raise her daughter in Hawaii. Her luck in love did not improve, but her skills at selling ""sex"" provided plenty of income so she could make sure her daughter had all the best tutors and lessons--everything Mary herself never had in her own childhood. With the help of some church ladies and a non-profit called MADE IN HOPE devoted to helping victims of sex trafficking, Mary became ""Miracle Mary""--a miracle she was still alive and smiling. ""Miracle Mary"" is so grateful to now be able to help bring lots of love and joy to the many children she's watching, and to the expanding circle of all God's children she's getting to know via social media and the internet as she shares her inspiring story of survival with the world."

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"""TRICKED should be required reading for all middle-schoolers and older, especially anyone working with at-risk kids. This fascinating story will break your heart, make you laugh, and give you hope."" -- Judy Bernstein, author of They Poured Fire On Us From the Sky and Disturbed In Their Nests ""During my 30+ years in law enforcement and even longer reading crime stories, this is by far the most unique story I've come across. Both tragic and comic, a page-turner that will stay with you."" -- David Putnam, bestselling author of three crime series with fictional protagonists (Bruno Johnson, David Beckett, and Imogene) inspired by real-life characters. ""She had it all... new cars, jewelry, travel, nice condos -- though, sometimes, beatings, rape and 'so much horror' came with the price. 'I wanted to let these girls know that there are options...That if grandma can do it, they can too'."" - Carla Herreria Russo, HUFFPOST ""An unflinching, powerful, must-read story of tragedy and ultimate triumph."" - LISA DAILY, DAYTIME SHOW (NBC)"

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