"You cannot be powerful all the time, or you will break. You cannot be flexible all the time, or you will lose direction. Be like water. Flow. Don't crash.”

"I Kick and I Fly" by Ruchira Gupta is a gut-wrenching story about Heera, a 14-year-old girl trapped in a living nightmare. Growing up on the outskirts of Bihar's red-light district Forbesganj, she's always known she's destined for prostitution - it's just the way it is.To survive the extreme poverty her father plans to sell her into sex trade believing only selling her off will fetch money and pay off the debts.


Luckily for Heera her mother and elder brother thinks differently as a new hope brews inside her in the form of kung fu. When she meets Rina Di, a kung fu teacher who becomes her mentor, everything changes. Through kung fu, Heera discovers her own strength and determination to fight back against the darkness surrounding her.

As we read further, we see not only Heera's character growth but also other characters' growth and shift in perspective. The slow change in Heera's home situation and the newfound voice of the members to challenge the status quo was quite moving.

This book is a raw, unflinching look at the sex trafficking industry and the vulnerable girls caught in its grasp. Heera's journey is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and survival.

A must Read for everyone!