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Dre Thomas and Angela Evans #2
Anybody's Daughter
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?
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?
374 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2013
438 people are currently reading
1872 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Samuels Young
28 books457 followersAward-winning author and attorney Pamela Samuels Young writes mysteries that matter. Dubbed “John Grisham with a sister’s twist” by one reviewer, Pamela’s fast-paced novels tackle important social issues.
Her most recent legal thriller, Failure to Protect, takes on the bullying epidemic and its devastating aftermath. Pamela won the prestigious NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Fiction for her thriller Anybody’s Daughter, which provides a realistic look inside the world of child sex trafficking. Her courtroom drama Abuse of Discretion centers around a troubling teen sexting case. #Anybody’s Daughter and #Abuse of Discretion are young adult editions of the two books. A young adult version of Failure to Protect is forthcoming.
Pamela also writes erotically sassy romantic suspense under the pen name Sassy Sinclair. A natural hair enthusiast, Pamela writes about her own empowering natural hair journey in Kinky Coily: A Natural Hair Resource Guide.
Prior to retiring from the practice of law to write full time, Pamela worked as Managing Counsel for Toyota specializing in labor and employment law. A former journalist, she spent several years as a television news writer and associate producer in Detroit and Los Angeles. Pamela received her bachelor’s degree from USC and also earned graduate degrees from Northwestern University and UC Berkeley School of Law. The Compton native is a frequent speaker on the topics of sex trafficking, bullying, online safety, fiction writing, self-empowerment, and pursuing your passion.
Pamela loves connecting with her fans! To invite her to a speaking engage or a book club meeting via Skype, Facebook Live, FaceTime, Zoom, speakerphone or in person, email her at authorpamelasamuelsyoung@gmail.com. To read excerpts of Pamela’s books, visit her websites at www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com and www.sassysinclair.com .
Her most recent legal thriller, Failure to Protect, takes on the bullying epidemic and its devastating aftermath. Pamela won the prestigious NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Fiction for her thriller Anybody’s Daughter, which provides a realistic look inside the world of child sex trafficking. Her courtroom drama Abuse of Discretion centers around a troubling teen sexting case. #Anybody’s Daughter and #Abuse of Discretion are young adult editions of the two books. A young adult version of Failure to Protect is forthcoming.
Pamela also writes erotically sassy romantic suspense under the pen name Sassy Sinclair. A natural hair enthusiast, Pamela writes about her own empowering natural hair journey in Kinky Coily: A Natural Hair Resource Guide.
Prior to retiring from the practice of law to write full time, Pamela worked as Managing Counsel for Toyota specializing in labor and employment law. A former journalist, she spent several years as a television news writer and associate producer in Detroit and Los Angeles. Pamela received her bachelor’s degree from USC and also earned graduate degrees from Northwestern University and UC Berkeley School of Law. The Compton native is a frequent speaker on the topics of sex trafficking, bullying, online safety, fiction writing, self-empowerment, and pursuing your passion.
Pamela loves connecting with her fans! To invite her to a speaking engage or a book club meeting via Skype, Facebook Live, FaceTime, Zoom, speakerphone or in person, email her at authorpamelasamuelsyoung@gmail.com. To read excerpts of Pamela’s books, visit her websites at www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com and www.sassysinclair.com .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
November 5, 2013
This is one of the best books that I've read this year. If you have a teenage daughter with a cellphone, this is a must read. I've read all of Ms. Young's novels and this is the greatest. She sheds light on a subject that everyone needs to be aware of, especially parents.
March 21, 2014
I hadn’t planned on reading “Anybody’s Daughter” just yet because I am currently reading “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn. However, I made the mistake of reading the sample on Amazon and that was all she wrote, no pun intended. I was immediately drawn in. The next thing I knew I was downloading the book onto my iPhone. That was late in the afternoon yesterday. I finished the book today. Needless to say it blew me away. I couldn’t put the book down. Pamela opens the story with a powerful punch. Thirteen-year-old Brianna is excited about meeting her new Facebook boyfriend Jaden, but unbeknownst to Brianna, there is no Jaden. She soon finds this out when she comes face-to-face with her vicious kidnappers. However, what the perpetrators don’t take into account is Brianna’s uncle Andre (Dre), who has a criminal past of his own and a deep love for his niece, a love so deep that he is willing to die rescuing her. This fast-paced, riveting, heart-wrenching story gives us a bird’s eye view of the world of child trafficking and it’s a dirty, ugly, gut-churning world.
Pamela’s characters are fleshed out, three dimensional, and frighteningly realistic. Her descriptions of the young girls and the monsters who abuse and use them are so vivid you feel like you can reach out and touch them. She adeptly juggles the main storyline along with more than one subplot, weaving it all perfectly together. We follow Andre breathlessly as he blasts through the streets of Los Angeles, knocking down creeps and doors to get to his niece. I found myself envisioning him wearing a cape with a big “S” on the front. He became my hero. There are also a lot of sheroes in the story. Angela, an attorney and love interest of Dre. Loretha, a former child prostitute who has dedicated her life to getting young girls off of the streets. I love how the women bond and work together to save the young girls who are the victims in the story. “Anybody’s Daughter” is a novel, but what takes place between the pages is really what’s going on in real life. Pamela has done superb research and the book will bring you to tears knowing that this insidious business is booming in our very own backyards. I was so inspired by this book that I immediately made a donation to one of the organizations listed in the back of the book. I hope you do the same.
Pamela’s book won a NAACP Image Award. It is much deserved. Bravo to Pamela for writing a novel that inspires, that will help change the lives of young woman the world over.
Pamela’s characters are fleshed out, three dimensional, and frighteningly realistic. Her descriptions of the young girls and the monsters who abuse and use them are so vivid you feel like you can reach out and touch them. She adeptly juggles the main storyline along with more than one subplot, weaving it all perfectly together. We follow Andre breathlessly as he blasts through the streets of Los Angeles, knocking down creeps and doors to get to his niece. I found myself envisioning him wearing a cape with a big “S” on the front. He became my hero. There are also a lot of sheroes in the story. Angela, an attorney and love interest of Dre. Loretha, a former child prostitute who has dedicated her life to getting young girls off of the streets. I love how the women bond and work together to save the young girls who are the victims in the story. “Anybody’s Daughter” is a novel, but what takes place between the pages is really what’s going on in real life. Pamela has done superb research and the book will bring you to tears knowing that this insidious business is booming in our very own backyards. I was so inspired by this book that I immediately made a donation to one of the organizations listed in the back of the book. I hope you do the same.
Pamela’s book won a NAACP Image Award. It is much deserved. Bravo to Pamela for writing a novel that inspires, that will help change the lives of young woman the world over.
November 19, 2015
Phenomenal story about human trafficking! This story was powerful, fast paced and real. The author painted a very vivid picture of what is happening to young girls all over the country. This is a story that will stay with me forever.
September 23, 2016
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.
June 6, 2016
What a story! I was crying in the first chapter. Although fiction, this issue is real and prevalent in our communities. Young's research was thorough and gritty. This book is NOT for the faint of heart. It was a heartwrenching story with a happy ending....not a reality for the most part. I wish all endings involving human trafficking would come to a positive resolution. The writing was crisp and on point. She dealt with the street element realistically. The characters were believable to the point where I could actually visualize them. After reading the book, I began talking to everybody I knew about this book and the realities of human trafficking. The only thing lacking in this book was resources for those who need a way out. When I was done, I fell away from the book as if I had been in a battle. Young is an author you don't want to sleep on. I will be reading ALL of her books, she has found a new fan in me!
August 12, 2016
True information written as a story about the lucrative paedophile sex trade in America (an Estimated 32 BILLION a year). Pimping children is common and profitable with the event of the internet. Predators of this low risk, high profit business manipulate and groom vulnerable children through Facebook and other social media. Even if a pimp is caught they rarely do time. The average age for a child to enter the sex trade in America is 12-14 years old! This book was an eye opener and a must read for anyone who has a daughter.
February 7, 2014
I would rate this 3.5
This is a brutally honest and well told story about the hideous practice known as human trafficking. The dialogue is very believable and there are some twists and unexpected events that make for an exciting conclusion. My only reluctance was that there was a bit of repetitious material that could have been deleted and thereby made the book a more enjoyable read. Still, kudos to the author for a skillful presentation of a social problem that needs to be a priority in our legal system.
This is a brutally honest and well told story about the hideous practice known as human trafficking. The dialogue is very believable and there are some twists and unexpected events that make for an exciting conclusion. My only reluctance was that there was a bit of repetitious material that could have been deleted and thereby made the book a more enjoyable read. Still, kudos to the author for a skillful presentation of a social problem that needs to be a priority in our legal system.
May 24, 2015
Anybody's Daughter, the winner of the 2014 NAACP Image Award for Fiction is not the kind of book you look forward to reading. Even if you're a fan of suspense novels (which I generally speaking am not), the themes are difficult ones, the plot challenging. And that's just from reading the synopsis. But I decided to dive in anyway, because of the accolades it received. I'm glad I did. I thought I knew about child sex trafficking, having worked on the issue in my other non-writing life. But this book, through the author's clever placement of fact and detail managed to educate me a great deal more than I otherwise would have been. The plot centers around the harrowing several-days-long ordeal of a young girl and her family after she is lured away from her life and home by the promise of what she believes will be a new romance with a handsome young man she met on Facebook. In fact, she is being trapped and will be forced into a life of what is essentially sex slavery. But this is not just any young girl, this is the niece of Dre Thomas, an ex-con determined to use his knowledge of the code of the streets to get her back.
Pamela Samuels Young managed to keep the sense of urgency alive throughout the entire book, as Dre races against time to locate his niece, and along the way learns about a trade much more diabolical than the drug trade that resulted in his incarceration. Along with Dre, his former flame, an attorney, Angela Evans, navigate the seedy underworld of child sex trafficking and encounter the varied characters who populate it, from Loretha, once herself a trafficker and prostitute, now reformed, to The Shepherd, the sociopath who makes millions peddling the flesh of young girls.
What I liked most about the plotting of this book is that the author managed to preserve the grit and realism without giving us squeamishly uncomfortable details. If, like me, you might have avoided this book entirely because of the difficult subject matter, be assured that Pamela Samuels Young managed it as sensitively as was possible.
Characterization
The hero of this book is, undoubtedly, Dre Thomas, the man with the checkered past who is so determined to retrieve his kidnapped niece that he will stop at nothing, and I mean nothing. Kind of. Though there is the ever-present implication that Dre would kill to get his niece Brianna back, the author manages again to toe the line, making Dre do things that are questionable without morally compromising him. Though he wants to get Brianna back and will, in the heat of the moment, stop at nothing to accomplish that, in retrospect, Dre's basic nature as a "good man who's done some wrong" is preserved. He is strong, principled, loyal and determined. All of that comes through loud in clear both in his actions and dialogue. I was left wanting to know and read more about him, and even before completing this book, was browsing others by this author that would tell me more of Dre Thomas' story.
Less of a solid presence--though that may have been intentional--was Angela Evans, Dre's love interest and the lawyer who will do her best to help him bring his niece home. While Dre is exacting a little street justice, Angela is educating herself about the mainstream justice system's failings when dealing with victims of trafficking. As an attorney representing trafficked girls, she thought she knew some of what they faced, but it is through Dre's ordeal that she learns her most important lessons. I found Angela a sympathetic character and a likable one, but was not particularly attached to her. My assumption was that this was a result of it not being 'her book'. Pamela Samuels Young has others in which she is the main protagonist, so I was not troubled by the more superficial characterization of Angela. I am sure that occurs elsewhere.
The other stand-out character in the book was Brianna herself. The girl who is ripped from her family and thrown into a world she never imagined existed could well have come across as generic, or just, well, "anybody's daughter". But Pamela Samuels Young conveyed well Brianna's spirit, determination and will to escape her circumstances. And though they had few scenes together (and only at the end of the novel), she also managed to convey the closeness of the relationship between Dre and his niece in her firm belief that no matter what, her uncle would be coming to get her.
Evocative Appeal
Three words: child. sex. trafficking. If that doesn't evoke emotion, then you're dead. Apart from a sense of dismay at the extent of the scourge of this trade, Anybody's Daughter also managed to keep me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Almost every chapter ended with a sense of urgency to get to the next one, so that I felt, like Dre, that I was racing against time. The pace was effective, the brevity of the chapters added to the sense of things moving quickly, and showed the author's understanding of structure as well as content and how that can enhance a reading experience.
Worth a Re-read
The first read of Anybody's Daughter is likely to similar to watching a horror film through your fingers. You want to see what happens next, but are terrified to experience the full effect. I think the second read will be worth it, if only to pick up on more nuance of characters and details about a poorly-understood crime. I would go so far as to say that this book is educational and so, worth many reads.
The Bottom Line:
Anybody's Daughter is well worth the read. Books that entertain, convey information you might not otherwise have learned, and make you think about and see the world differently are always a good thing. Most books manage only to do one of those things at a time. This one does all three. I recommend it. It will make a great book club read because the plot alone is rich with issues that I can see a group of readers spending long hours debating and discussing.
February 6, 2014
From my blog
4 1/2
Pamela Samuels Young has became an author I must read when she releases something new. I was even more excited to find this was a follow up to her book Buying Time, we get to have more from characters Angela and Dre in book 2 of the Angela Evans series.
A great heart wrenching race to the end while reading this action packed thriller. The bonus is we get statistics on child trafficking which makes the journey more frightening and real to read. Social media has put a whole new dangerous issue for parents to have to deal with. Brianna is 13 and excited to go and meet her secret boyfriend for the first time, only to be taken into the life of human sex trafficking.
Those that picked her up didn't do their due diligence this time and they now have to deal with her Uncle Dre trying to rescue her by putting their business at risk. He knows the streets as he was a drug dealer and he takes action into his own hands when police do not take the family serious. I enjoyed Dre's character before, his a man both women and men enjoy being around. He knew when to get off the streets because he was a businessman but he was also dealing with a businessman that paid others to get their hands dirty.
We also meet Loretha who used to be on the streets and now has a safe house for young girls on the street. I enjoyed her story, the protector of giving girls a way out but also helping them to be a witness against their pimps. Dre's ex girlfriend Angela, is a lawyer and helps with girls. Some consider them to just as bad as the pimps for being a prostitute but what we learn in the story is that these girls are sexually exploited children and manipulated.
The additional storylines were great, adding additional suspense to the puzzle. Even though I read this genre all the time and know how it will end, great authors spin enough to keep you on the edge of your seat and throw in the gut wrenching emotional punches.
You are touched by the story and want to help. They give you websites asking for you to consider donating time or financial support to stop human trafficking.
Such a great read, if you haven't read a book by Pamela Samuels Young, you must try her.
4 1/2
Pamela Samuels Young has became an author I must read when she releases something new. I was even more excited to find this was a follow up to her book Buying Time, we get to have more from characters Angela and Dre in book 2 of the Angela Evans series.
A great heart wrenching race to the end while reading this action packed thriller. The bonus is we get statistics on child trafficking which makes the journey more frightening and real to read. Social media has put a whole new dangerous issue for parents to have to deal with. Brianna is 13 and excited to go and meet her secret boyfriend for the first time, only to be taken into the life of human sex trafficking.
Those that picked her up didn't do their due diligence this time and they now have to deal with her Uncle Dre trying to rescue her by putting their business at risk. He knows the streets as he was a drug dealer and he takes action into his own hands when police do not take the family serious. I enjoyed Dre's character before, his a man both women and men enjoy being around. He knew when to get off the streets because he was a businessman but he was also dealing with a businessman that paid others to get their hands dirty.
We also meet Loretha who used to be on the streets and now has a safe house for young girls on the street. I enjoyed her story, the protector of giving girls a way out but also helping them to be a witness against their pimps. Dre's ex girlfriend Angela, is a lawyer and helps with girls. Some consider them to just as bad as the pimps for being a prostitute but what we learn in the story is that these girls are sexually exploited children and manipulated.
The additional storylines were great, adding additional suspense to the puzzle. Even though I read this genre all the time and know how it will end, great authors spin enough to keep you on the edge of your seat and throw in the gut wrenching emotional punches.
You are touched by the story and want to help. They give you websites asking for you to consider donating time or financial support to stop human trafficking.
Such a great read, if you haven't read a book by Pamela Samuels Young, you must try her.
January 26, 2014
The most informative read of this year!!!!!
Meet Brianna Walker a thirteen year old girl Who will go on the worst journey of her life. Going against her mother rules Brianna makes a facebook page,finally getting up the nerve to meet her first real boyfriend she soon'S finds out that her new Found love is not real.Once she figured out that something is gone wrong she is kidnapped never to be heard from again.
Dealing with his own criminal past,Uncle Dre soon finds out that his past is not truly behind him yet. When he finds out his niece, who is more like his daughter has been kidnapped. He hits the street running and get her back.When his find out that sex trafficking is not just going on in other countries but in his own city of Los Angeles he is determined to race against the hands of time to bring her home.
Not alone in his search against time. A social worker named Loretha Johnson knows what is going on is this world well. After previously living "the life" as its called,she dedicates her time to helping these girls get their life back on track.She finds out about Dre situation and realize she might be just the help he needs to get his niece back.
With Adrenaline is pumping.Dre will stop at nothing to bring these people down, but will Dre be able to get to her before her life changes forever?
Wow is all I can say. If I knew thrillers were like this I would've picked up one a long time ago. This has been the most informative read I have read to date. From page one I was drawn into a world that no child should ever have to experience. I love the characters and the meaning behind this story.My emotions were all over the place. This situation is happening all over the world and we need to realize that it can happen in our own back yard to our own children. We as parents have to instill in our children that the value of not falling into this trap is important. I thank the author for opening my eyes on this. I recommend this book to everyone and I can't wait to read more from this author.
Meet Brianna Walker a thirteen year old girl Who will go on the worst journey of her life. Going against her mother rules Brianna makes a facebook page,finally getting up the nerve to meet her first real boyfriend she soon'S finds out that her new Found love is not real.Once she figured out that something is gone wrong she is kidnapped never to be heard from again.
Dealing with his own criminal past,Uncle Dre soon finds out that his past is not truly behind him yet. When he finds out his niece, who is more like his daughter has been kidnapped. He hits the street running and get her back.When his find out that sex trafficking is not just going on in other countries but in his own city of Los Angeles he is determined to race against the hands of time to bring her home.
Not alone in his search against time. A social worker named Loretha Johnson knows what is going on is this world well. After previously living "the life" as its called,she dedicates her time to helping these girls get their life back on track.She finds out about Dre situation and realize she might be just the help he needs to get his niece back.
With Adrenaline is pumping.Dre will stop at nothing to bring these people down, but will Dre be able to get to her before her life changes forever?
Wow is all I can say. If I knew thrillers were like this I would've picked up one a long time ago. This has been the most informative read I have read to date. From page one I was drawn into a world that no child should ever have to experience. I love the characters and the meaning behind this story.My emotions were all over the place. This situation is happening all over the world and we need to realize that it can happen in our own back yard to our own children. We as parents have to instill in our children that the value of not falling into this trap is important. I thank the author for opening my eyes on this. I recommend this book to everyone and I can't wait to read more from this author.
April 30, 2014
I just finished the last 7% of this book while sitting at my desk. I had originally given it five stars, but then I decided to bring it down one star. This story was wonderful and made me feel a lot of emotions. It also opened my eyes to a part of the world that I knew was out there but didn't really understand how it was done.
The only reason this story lost one star from me is because I felt like the character development of some of the characters wasn't quite where it could've been. The main characters were fleshed out nicely, which is important. But I felt like I could've known a bit more about the backgrounds of Dre's friends and Shepherd's lackies. It would make those supporting characters feel more real.
Brianna is another one that I felt could've used more character development. I felt like I was getting to know her well in the first third of the book, but it tapered off drastically from there to the point that I just didn't connect with her anymore. The book stopped being about Brianna and started being more about Dre's struggle to get her back, and I'm not sure that's what the author intended to do.
Then there's Brianna's mother. She's barely covered in this book at all. At one point, there was something written about Brianna living with her grandmother, and her mom and dad were out of the picture. That didn't make ANY sense at all because Bree's mother is clearly in the beginning of the book and very upset about her daughter missing. I didn't like that inconsistency because of the confusion it caused me. Despite that, Brianna's mother definitely needed to be in the story more so the reader could experience the mother's pain.
All of this just comes down to better character development, which was the only thing this book was lacking. Everything else was great, and I'd recommend it to a lot of people so at least it gets out there that human trafficking is a very real and very serious thing going on.
The only reason this story lost one star from me is because I felt like the character development of some of the characters wasn't quite where it could've been. The main characters were fleshed out nicely, which is important. But I felt like I could've known a bit more about the backgrounds of Dre's friends and Shepherd's lackies. It would make those supporting characters feel more real.
Brianna is another one that I felt could've used more character development. I felt like I was getting to know her well in the first third of the book, but it tapered off drastically from there to the point that I just didn't connect with her anymore. The book stopped being about Brianna and started being more about Dre's struggle to get her back, and I'm not sure that's what the author intended to do.
Then there's Brianna's mother. She's barely covered in this book at all. At one point, there was something written about Brianna living with her grandmother, and her mom and dad were out of the picture. That didn't make ANY sense at all because Bree's mother is clearly in the beginning of the book and very upset about her daughter missing. I didn't like that inconsistency because of the confusion it caused me. Despite that, Brianna's mother definitely needed to be in the story more so the reader could experience the mother's pain.
All of this just comes down to better character development, which was the only thing this book was lacking. Everything else was great, and I'd recommend it to a lot of people so at least it gets out there that human trafficking is a very real and very serious thing going on.
February 16, 2014
OMG! AND I DO MEAN OMG! I just finished "Anybody's Daughter!" It was amazing! I intended to read it at a later date but I made a quick road trip and decided to listen to it instead! GREAT CHOICE! The narrator brought the characters, that Pamela Samuels Young created, to life in a major way! This book was so serious yet it was truly was amazing!
Brianna,12, befriends Jaden,"14," on Facebook and decides to meet him face-to-face on her way to school. This secret meeting takes a turn for the worse and from this moment forward Brianna's life changes forever.
Dre, her beloved uncle, makes it his life mission to find his niece and bring her home where she belongs. Yes. Brianna has no dad but she has mom, grandma and an uncle who loves her as his own. These predators have messed with the wrong girl this time!
This is a fast-paced, jaw-dropping novel that every parent, future parent and caregiver should read. As much as we'd like to hope bad things won't happen to our children, we should pay close attention to this novel and the lessons that it teaches because truly it could be anybody's daughter.
Once I was done, I sat with my mouth open in silence! I finished it in less that 24 hours and worked a full shift and slept all night which let's you know that this book was so great that it motivated me to dedicate all waking free moments to this great story! The struggle is real and the author did not short-change the reader at all! She took real topics and expertly penned them in the form of a novel. I loved it!
Brianna,12, befriends Jaden,"14," on Facebook and decides to meet him face-to-face on her way to school. This secret meeting takes a turn for the worse and from this moment forward Brianna's life changes forever.
Dre, her beloved uncle, makes it his life mission to find his niece and bring her home where she belongs. Yes. Brianna has no dad but she has mom, grandma and an uncle who loves her as his own. These predators have messed with the wrong girl this time!
This is a fast-paced, jaw-dropping novel that every parent, future parent and caregiver should read. As much as we'd like to hope bad things won't happen to our children, we should pay close attention to this novel and the lessons that it teaches because truly it could be anybody's daughter.
Once I was done, I sat with my mouth open in silence! I finished it in less that 24 hours and worked a full shift and slept all night which let's you know that this book was so great that it motivated me to dedicate all waking free moments to this great story! The struggle is real and the author did not short-change the reader at all! She took real topics and expertly penned them in the form of a novel. I loved it!
October 24, 2014
Anybody's Daughter is riveting, mesmerizing and almost unbelievable.
I read this book in one afternoon, I could not put it down. Of course I have seen the news reports, of course I have have been shocked, of course I have been repulsed, but until I read this book I had no idea of the grossly shocking details. Why, why, why aren't officials doing more? I really want to believe that race has nothing to do with the lack of action, but again all we have to do is watch the news to understand that race has everything to do with it.
Anybody's Daughter was so well written, the research it must have taken, the emotional toll on the author and everyone else involved must have been devastating. For me, this was not a read that was easy to put down, I just had to finish it so that I could find out what happened with Brianna, although I realize it's fiction. The reality is that the conclusion of this book is not the norm, it is just the opposite, most of these children are not returned to loving families, their lives are cut short before they can ever live them.
I think Pamela Samuels Young has written a book that should be a best seller. I am going to recommend it to everyone I can, book clubs should read it, it should be required reading for some college courses, it is a very finely written, thought provoking read. I will be rereading it, I will be checking web sites to find ways that I might be able to help put a stop, or at least try, to the terrible epidemic this is becoming.
I read this book in one afternoon, I could not put it down. Of course I have seen the news reports, of course I have have been shocked, of course I have been repulsed, but until I read this book I had no idea of the grossly shocking details. Why, why, why aren't officials doing more? I really want to believe that race has nothing to do with the lack of action, but again all we have to do is watch the news to understand that race has everything to do with it.
Anybody's Daughter was so well written, the research it must have taken, the emotional toll on the author and everyone else involved must have been devastating. For me, this was not a read that was easy to put down, I just had to finish it so that I could find out what happened with Brianna, although I realize it's fiction. The reality is that the conclusion of this book is not the norm, it is just the opposite, most of these children are not returned to loving families, their lives are cut short before they can ever live them.
I think Pamela Samuels Young has written a book that should be a best seller. I am going to recommend it to everyone I can, book clubs should read it, it should be required reading for some college courses, it is a very finely written, thought provoking read. I will be rereading it, I will be checking web sites to find ways that I might be able to help put a stop, or at least try, to the terrible epidemic this is becoming.
May 14, 2016
This book came highly recommended to me and for good reason. This heartbreaking, all-too-real tale of innocence lost and taken grabbed me and wouldn't let go. Relentless in its realness and alarming in its parallel to current events in this country, it is a must read for absolutely everyone. I dare you to read this book and walk away unaffected. I applaud the author for delving into such heavy subject matter and for shedding light on atrocities shrouded in darkness. HIGHLY recommended read.
Adrienne Thompson
Author of Locked out of Heaven
March 12, 2014
This is the kind of book that blurs the lines between fiction and reality. There are plenty of little girls being sexually exploited in this country and Brianna Walker's story -- though fictional —could be happening right next door. Paula did an amazing job telling this story and showing the world that these girls are victims and we have to protect them.
March 30, 2015
A real eye opener and reality check for parents of preteens and teenagers who frequent social media web sites. A story packed with a serious punch. A must read and purchase.
November 9, 2017
So enjoyable.....One of my new favorite writers
January 30, 2014
Oh my gosh! This was an intense book. Dre is trying to get back with his ex when he gets a phone call that his niece is missing. Dre has always considered Brianna like his own and will do whatever he has to, to get her back. He has help in his search to find her but the Shepherd is a powerful player and he is who has Brianna. Human trafficing is a big deal and makes a lot of money so the Shepherd sees no reason this little 'nucance' should cause problems but he doesn't know just how much Dre is willing to do. The question is can he do it in time to save Brianna?
This horribly wonderful book and I know that sounds like it conflicts but really it is true. It is a wonderfully written story about things that happen all too often in real life! Brianna meets a 'boy' on facebook and goes to meet him. When she does, she gets kidnapped and thrown into 'the life'. Dre has plenty of history on the streets and isn't above calling in old favors to get his niece back. His sister is falling apart, his girlfriend is a lawyer, and the only people he can really trust to do what needs to be done are from his past. I can't imagine how terrified Brianna was in this book but the author did almost too good of a job making a fictional story seem absolutely real. I know things like this happen daily but this was an eye-opening book.
I rate this a 5/5. It is something everyone who has a child or loves a child should read just to realize better what can happen.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
**This book contains adult themes/language**
This horribly wonderful book and I know that sounds like it conflicts but really it is true. It is a wonderfully written story about things that happen all too often in real life! Brianna meets a 'boy' on facebook and goes to meet him. When she does, she gets kidnapped and thrown into 'the life'. Dre has plenty of history on the streets and isn't above calling in old favors to get his niece back. His sister is falling apart, his girlfriend is a lawyer, and the only people he can really trust to do what needs to be done are from his past. I can't imagine how terrified Brianna was in this book but the author did almost too good of a job making a fictional story seem absolutely real. I know things like this happen daily but this was an eye-opening book.
I rate this a 5/5. It is something everyone who has a child or loves a child should read just to realize better what can happen.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
**This book contains adult themes/language**
January 19, 2014
The Tide is Changing
Donna Walker has kept a very tight leash on her only child Brianna. When Brianna receives an iPhone for her birthday, Donna immediately flies into a tirade about the internet and perverts. Despite Donna’s warnings, Brianna manages to have a secret social media life, which also includes boyfriend Jaden. What could possibly go wrong with this scenario?
Angela Evans is no longer working with the US Attorney’s office. After being news herself with an ex turned stalker and drug dealer, she’s now working as an attorney trying to help young girls who are being prostituted.
Pamela Samuels Young has crafted an incredibly well-written novel. This book is emotionally difficult to read, but well worth the trouble. Readers are fully brought into the plot as children are forced into a world of human trafficking.
ANYBODY’S DAUGHTER is just that, anybody’s daughter. With sex being such big business, pimps have gone from being selected to these new Guerilla pimps who have taken to kidnapping and forcing children into the depravity of sex.
My heart broke for each and every child as I read this book. I thought about all of the teens posted on FB on a daily basis missing and wonder if they’ve been found or fallen into a fate such as this. We all expect technology to make life easier, but it seems it’s making it easier for the wrong things.
Reviewed by: Crystal
Donna Walker has kept a very tight leash on her only child Brianna. When Brianna receives an iPhone for her birthday, Donna immediately flies into a tirade about the internet and perverts. Despite Donna’s warnings, Brianna manages to have a secret social media life, which also includes boyfriend Jaden. What could possibly go wrong with this scenario?
Angela Evans is no longer working with the US Attorney’s office. After being news herself with an ex turned stalker and drug dealer, she’s now working as an attorney trying to help young girls who are being prostituted.
Pamela Samuels Young has crafted an incredibly well-written novel. This book is emotionally difficult to read, but well worth the trouble. Readers are fully brought into the plot as children are forced into a world of human trafficking.
ANYBODY’S DAUGHTER is just that, anybody’s daughter. With sex being such big business, pimps have gone from being selected to these new Guerilla pimps who have taken to kidnapping and forcing children into the depravity of sex.
My heart broke for each and every child as I read this book. I thought about all of the teens posted on FB on a daily basis missing and wonder if they’ve been found or fallen into a fate such as this. We all expect technology to make life easier, but it seems it’s making it easier for the wrong things.
Reviewed by: Crystal
April 6, 2014
The title itself alerts readers and the storyline alone deserves high esteem and great praise since it can be "anyone's daughter" who can get caught up or involved in human trafficking. Pamela S. Young takes on a story that needs to be told and shared, since so many of us are blinded or only take it in consideration with movies like "Taken." However, this novel closely reminds me of the movie "Taken" from an urban perspective.
This book is a bit difficult for me to read like when I watched movies on human trafficking whereas family is involved in some of the cases for money (the last one I saw was occurring in Russia); also because this hits home. The story also holds my interest and the simplicity of it is so spot on for me, especially from a tween/teens perspective with FB, texting, and these young girls are usually trapped with an abusive sex predator who at first makes them feel like a queen or a lady to end up doing their bidding.
Side note: I recently also got involved in being a human trafficking volunteer at my church, to be aware and informed.
I received a free copy on Amazon promotional day from the author and freely providing an honest review.
Adrienna Turner, author of The Day Begins with Christ.
www.dream4more.org
This book is a bit difficult for me to read like when I watched movies on human trafficking whereas family is involved in some of the cases for money (the last one I saw was occurring in Russia); also because this hits home. The story also holds my interest and the simplicity of it is so spot on for me, especially from a tween/teens perspective with FB, texting, and these young girls are usually trapped with an abusive sex predator who at first makes them feel like a queen or a lady to end up doing their bidding.
Side note: I recently also got involved in being a human trafficking volunteer at my church, to be aware and informed.
I received a free copy on Amazon promotional day from the author and freely providing an honest review.
Adrienna Turner, author of The Day Begins with Christ.
www.dream4more.org
March 24, 2014
WARNING: IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ THIS NOVEL, DON'T PICK IT UP. If you do, you will miss whatever scheduled appointments you've made because you will not put this book down. This is the exemplification of a page turned that holds you until the last word is read and you take an audible deep breath. The dichotomy here is that this is FICTION, BUT the characters are real, the plot is real, and the story, unfortunately, is real. You move in and out of turmoil with each character. You cry with them, feel their anguish, and live their nightmare. This powerful story takes your breath away. Pamela Young is a master storyteller and she weaves her message in this unforgettable novel through your heart, your mind, and your soul. Dre and Brianna capture your heart through Young's authentic dialogue and powerful action scenes. At the close of this fiction, the reader can only pray that these events never touch their lives. Pamela, what an awesome work of art you have created…a reality that we all need to read, digest, and then go out together, with you, and FIGHT.
February 7, 2014
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.
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.
February 19, 2024
OMG! Before you begin reading this book, make sure you have a box of tissues handy. You're going to need it. It is a very emotional read. Anybody's Daughter kept me on the edge of my seat. The more I read, the more I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. All I could do was think that what if this had been my Goddaughter, niece or little cousin that had been kidnapped. The raw emotions of Brianna's uncle were so real. Dee wasn't going to stop until he had Brianna safely home. At one point in the book, I thought I knew who was helping The Shepherd(as he called himself) exploit those young girls. I wasn't to far off from my prediction. Anybody's Daughter is a must read for everyone, especially teenaged girls. I gave this book 4 stars only because of repetition of a few words.
November 2, 2014
A rabble-rousing tale about the child sex trade. Unfortunately a very heavy-handed rendition, which seeks to rub our noses in the problem and the lack of societal solutions. Characters are not very sympathetic. We can see the whole plot coming after the first chapter or so. Very dreary read, with few redeeming characteristics.
Kidnapping of young children and forced prostitution is certainly an important problem. I feel, however, that other novelists have done better jobs of drawing us into the inner view while providing some glimmers of hope for the future. The denouement here is not worth the pain of the read.
Kidnapping of young children and forced prostitution is certainly an important problem. I feel, however, that other novelists have done better jobs of drawing us into the inner view while providing some glimmers of hope for the future. The denouement here is not worth the pain of the read.
December 1, 2015
The book Anybody's Daughter is about a 13 year old girl named Brianna who has been kidnapped and is brought into a world of human sex trafficking. This book has made me learn new things about the world. I've learned that you should not believe in anyone you don't know on social media. Many girls in the world are getting more and more involved in this. This book has taught me to be more careful when I'm on any social media.
February 9, 2014
A real look into human sex trafficking.
Too real in some places, I cringed to think I might have to read something graphic but... this is how it really is. And much worse. Kudos to the author for taking us right to the ledge and for reeling it in for the faint of heart. The epidemic is real, the characters were believable, and the writing overall was stellar.
Too real in some places, I cringed to think I might have to read something graphic but... this is how it really is. And much worse. Kudos to the author for taking us right to the ledge and for reeling it in for the faint of heart. The epidemic is real, the characters were believable, and the writing overall was stellar.
April 12, 2023
Excellent
This book really hit me emotionally. Being a mother to three girls this book wrenched my heart and my stomach because although it is a fictional book, stories like this are taking place around the world right now and it's so scary. Ms. Young did a great job with this story.
This book really hit me emotionally. Being a mother to three girls this book wrenched my heart and my stomach because although it is a fictional book, stories like this are taking place around the world right now and it's so scary. Ms. Young did a great job with this story.
May 30, 2016
Excellent, Informative and Eye Opening Read
This book was well written and while fiction is very real. The scenarios are chilling to think that our children suffer from such atrocities. I have four daughters and kept picturing this happening to one of them. Dre was calm considering. Kudos for bringing our attention to an often overlooked topic.
This book was well written and while fiction is very real. The scenarios are chilling to think that our children suffer from such atrocities. I have four daughters and kept picturing this happening to one of them. Dre was calm considering. Kudos for bringing our attention to an often overlooked topic.
January 3, 2017
This was a great real life story about sex trafficking of minor children. As a social work administrator I see first hand the effects of these horrific crimes against children thank goodness the laws are now protecting children by decriminalizing children's roles in this profession. Great job Pamala Samuels Young who is now my favorite author. Another great story
Want to read
January 22, 2014FREE ON AMAZON 22/01/14
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