Pamela Samuels Young Has a Cautionary Tale for Parents

Anybody’s Daughter by Pamela Samuels Young explores the growing problem of predators using social media to lure children into becoming victims of human trafficking. This adeptly written legal thriller, inspired by Young’s experience seeing girls no older than 13 or 14 strolling the ‘track’ in Compton, serves as a chilling reminder to parents of the need for constant vigilance.

Thirteen-year-old Brianna Walker meets Jaden, a nice Christian boy from a nearby school, on Facebook. After exchanging messages for a few days, they agree to meet secretly. The only problem is that Brianna’s new boyfriend doesn’t exist. The exchange was a ruse designed to lure her into an underground sex trafficking ring.

Brianna’s mother Donna shuts down emotionally when she hears the news. She already lost her husband in Iraq, so this is one tragedy too many. Brianna’s Uncle Dre hatches his own plan to get his niece back, taking advantage of connections made during his criminal past as well as a former romance with attorney Angela Evans. His tactics are unconventional and risky, but he’s determined to make sure his niece stays out of harm’s way.

Dre’s a surprisingly likable character, despite his rough edges. As you read, you can’t help but admire him for the intensity of his love for Brianna. The connection between him and Angela was hard for me to swallow at first, but I suppose she wouldn’t be the first “good” girl to fall for a “bad” boy.

Anybody’s Daughter is a fast paced and engrossing read. I picked it up after dinner and read into the wee hours of the night because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing, without resorting to senseless violence like one might expect from a book that deals with such as sensitive subject.

Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher.

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