Walking Prey: How America's Youth are Vulnerable to Sex Slavery

As a survivor of sex trafficking who became an advocate for fellow victims, Smith addresses what too many Americans are willing to ignore: that sex trafficking is very much alive in contemporary America. Her account successfully analyzes what makes American children vulnerable to sexual exploitation, exposes current weaknesses in treatment for and of victims, debunks myths about child sex trafficking, and provides advice for adults to deal with this serious problem. Throughout, Smith uses her own experience as a 14-year-old prostitute in Atlantic City to underline the severity and salience of her points. While certain factors, like early sexual abuse and unstable communities, can contribute to a child's vulnerability to pimps and predators, Smith also explores how mass-media and pop-culture tropes about love and romance play a more subtle role. In addition to pointing out warning signs and methods of prevention, Smith focuses extensively on the failings of the legal and support systems in helping child victims heal. Practical tips and resources are plentiful, and are provided for all those potentially involved: children, parents, teachers, law enforcement, counselors. Smith's approach is comprehensive and from a survivor's perspective, offering a solid introduction to the topic, our current resources, and strategies to deal with it. (Mar.)