Today we are going to talk about November’s book of the month, Anybody’s Daughter
Synopsis
Based on the real-life horrors faced by thousands of girls, award-winning author Pamela Samuels Young takes readers deep inside the disturbing world of child sex trafficking in a fast-paced thriller that educates as much as it entertains.
Thirteen-year-old Brianna Walker is ecstatic. She’s about to sneak off to meet her first real boyfriend—a boyfriend she met on Facebook. But Brianna is in for a horrifying surprise because her boyfriend doesn’t exist. Instead, Brianna unwittingly becomes the captive of a ring of drug dealers- turned-human traffickers who prey on lonely girls from dysfunctional homes. But they’ve made a big mistake in targeting Brianna because she doesn’t meet either of those criteria.
Brianna’s Uncle Dre, a man with his own criminal past, is determined to find the niece who is more like a daughter to him. Rather than sit back and rely on police to bring Brianna home, Dre scours the dark corners of Los Angeles looking for her. He is stunned to learn that the trafficking of children isn’t just happening in other countries. It’s occurring at epidemic levels right in his own backyard.
Dre is not alone in his desperate search. Loretha Johnson knows this world well. A social worker who previously lived “the life,” Loretha now dedicates her time to saving as many young girls as she can find. She turns out to be an invaluable resource for Dre, who ultimately gets a lead on The Shepherd, a mastermind in the trafficking world whose every move is fueled by ego and greed. Dre vows to bring his reign of terror to an end.
While Brianna makes a futile effort to thwart her captors, Dre is getting closer and closer to finding her. The woman he loves, attorney Angela Evans, knows the dangers faced by sexually exploited children because she represents them in juvenile court. Angela lends her moral support and, eventually, an important clue to Brianna’s whereabouts.
As he races against the clock, Dre ultimately comes up with a daring plan—one that puts many lives in danger, including his own. But will he find Brianna before it’s too late?
Questions to think about and/or answer:
- Many teenagers, especially black female teenagers, are considered runaways. Do you think the laws should be changed for missing children?
- What new information have you learned about human trafficking while reading this book?
- Do you feel the author painted a clear picture of Brianna’s situation?
Press Reviews
“A fast-paced, well-written thriller that’s grounded in important social issues.”
–Kirkus Reviews
“One of the best thrillers I have read in a long time.”
–Digna Dreibelbis, Autumn Blues Reviews
“I was in tears for most of the book and in shock for the rest! … This is a 5-star read and every parent needs to pick it up!”
–Ella Curry, BAN Radio Show
Mocha Girls Speak
Mocha Girl Nicole I LOVED THIS BOOK SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH. BEING BORN AND RAISED IN LOS ANGELES AND KNOWING ALL THE STREETS THAT WERE MENTIONED MADE IT THAT MUCH MORE REAL FOR ME. I CRIED AT THE END AND AS I READ THE AUTHOR’S NOTES. I REALLY SAT THERE AND CRIED. THANK GOD BRI HAD AN UNCLE LIKE DRE. THANK GOD PEOPLE CARED AND LOOKED FOR HER. SO MANY GIRLS GO MISSING AND NOBODY GIVES A DAMN………MADE ME THINK OF MY DAUGHTER……SHE’S ONLY 5 AND I KNOW THAT I CAN’T SHIELD HER FROM EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE AS SHE GETS OLDER BUT LORD KNOWS I’LL TRY. GREAT WORK PAMELA.
Mocha Girl Barbara Wow, this story was so real! Everyone needs to read this book. Anybody’s Daughter is a well written story about teenage sex trafficking. As parents we try to protect our children from the unknown, but they find ways to deceive us.
Brianna is a 13-year old girl living with her mother. Brianna’s Uncle Dre gave her an I-phone as a gift and the trouble begins. She created a Face book account unknown to her mother and meets a boy named Jaden on line. They correspond and plan to meet one morning before school.
The best made plans go awry and Brianna is kidnapped into the world of teenage sex trafficking. There is no 14-year old Jaden and Brianna is afraid but believes that her Uncle Dre will rescue her. Uncle Dre has put his criminal past behind him until Brianna is kidnapped. He enlists the aid of family and friends to help find his niece. The story is very intense and heartbreaking. Pamela Samuels Young did an excellent job of creating this fast paced story.
Mocha Girl Bernie Excellent story that had me flipping pages to find out what was going to happen next. I always thought of human sex trafficking as something that happened overseas or to foreigners. I highly recommend this page turner to anyone that enjoys a good read. It will definitely cause you to do more to shield your child from the dangers of social media.
Book Details
Series: Angela Evans Series No. 2
Paperback: 374 pages
Publisher: Goldman House Publishing
Publishing Date: October 27, 2013
ISBN-10: 0989293505
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