Resource Roundup: Books

For Human Trafficking Prevention Month, our staff has pulled together lists of resources to help increase understanding of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). Throughout the month, we’ll be releasing new resource lists each week. This week we’ve selected 4 moving books for you to read.  

“A Piece of Cake” by Cupcake Brown
This powerful memoir is about the transformational importance of having at least one supportive adult/mentor in one’s life. Cupcake Brown survived CSEC, homelessness, foster care, addiction, and gang involvement to become a lawyer and motivational speaker. 

“Pushout” by Monique W. Morris
This book explains how American systems, particularly the education system, consistently fail Black girls. Black girls and young people of color are at disproportionate risk of CSEC in large part due to the systems that criminalize, overlook, and create barriers for them. 

“Paid For” by Rachel Moran
In this book, Rachel Moran shares how she was first exploited at age 14 and stayed in “the Life” until age 22. She shares with readers her “journey through prostitution” and explains how inherently violent the sex industry is and gives insight into how dangerous full decriminalization would be. 

“Free Cyntoia” by Cyntoia Brown
Cyntoia Brown was arrested and sentenced to life in prison at 16 years old for killing a man in self-defense who bought her for sex. She shares her story of redemption and resiliency.