Based in South Africa, plot around a young girl growing up, was treated poorly, and ended up muted for years, due to horrors she endures. Read around 2004. Based on true story.

[Donna Brown]

Hope Someone can help, i read a book in 2004 ish, i was on holiday in spain and somebody had left the book for others to read. Basic plot line was set in Afica i want to say Rwanda but could be mistaken, a young girl goes though an awful time growing up and runs away joining a circus , lots of horrible things happen to her, and she ends up in an home? And becomes mute and somebody eventually comes in who she trusts to open up to . I have searched for years for this book and i find similar books but not this one , i want to say the front cover was orange with a tree on it, but again it was such a long time ago. I hope someone can help i would love to read this book again.

[Mello]

Is it fiction? There's a memoir called Street Kid by Judy Westwater. Could it be your book?

[Donna Brown]

No it was based on a true story..from what I can remember.

[Rainbowheart]

Was this book for kids, teens, or adults?

Is it a memoir written by the girl herself, or by a different author about the real girl's life?

How old is the girl when the story begins? Does she stay in her country the whole time?