In 1954, Josette is nineteen, and her life's path has reached a fork. Behind her trails a road paved with her own illegitimate birth, an unloving and abusive family, and the horrors of Nazi-occupied France. The two roads before her both harbor the unknown, but she chooses the one that ensures her survival. She leaves home for the strange and wonderful land of America. She has no education, no money, and no connections, but she's armed with the power of hope for a better life and the resolve to never use her dark past as an excuse for failure. Determined to succeed, she dives into the workforce and learns as much as possible about everything she encounters, strives to be the best she can be, and vows to overcome any obstacle thrown in her way. Bought and Paid For is the result of author Jo Thompson's search for her own identity. In conducting that search, she provides us the same opportunity to find ourselves. Whether or not we share her abusive background and wartime experiences, the journey itself uncovers a spark of hope that lives beyond the page and into each of our lives.