"Sassy, streetwise Sammy is falling through the cracks. Neglected by an alcoholic mother, the problems she endures at school and home lead her to act out, seeking attention from unseemly adults when what she wants most is protection. Meanwhile, in a small Eastern European village, sweet Nico is about to turn 13. As her family falls upon desperate times, her father receives an offer of money to marry her off. But when she's shuttled across the border into Ireland, she and Sammy find one another in a suburban brothel that is to be their new 'home.' As Nico and Sammy journey into this dark underbelly and out the other side, their friendship forms a potent bond. Heartbreaking and breathtakingly beautiful, Cloud Girls exposes the failings of polite society and the cruelty that exists beneath its surface, yet reminds us that goodness and love can flourish in the darkest times"-- Provided by publisher.