Stolen by Katariina Rosenblatt, PhD.
Happy 2020 bookworms :) I'm back and I'm better, this month I'm sharing another amazing book by an awesome author!
This story was such an eye-opener. If you work with young girls or have young daughters this book is for you. When Michelle Obama coined the phrase "save our girls" I believe that girls who have been trafficked fall under her scope as well and it's right in our own backyard. This book dives into the life of young Katariina growing up in Florida, and how she was lured into a life of sex trafficking several times simply because no one was paying attention.
I attended a Human Trafficking training recently and learned that this is a million dollar industry. People are literally profiting off of the mistreatment and abuse of young women. How sickening to imagine. When I visited Atlanta this summer I stopped by the National Civil Rights Museum and saw this book in the gift shop. The title and picture on the front of the book caught my attention immediately. Every since I learned about Human Trafficking I've wanted to know more, learn more, and do more to help young girls avoid this trap. I skimmed through the first chapter and decided I would go ahead and purchase this book to start reading on my plane ride back home.
Y'all I slept so good on that 2 hour flight. I got through the first two pages and was out! LOL. No seriously, I never sleep good on planes but I was TIRED, do you hear me? So when I returned home I started the book over and honestly it took me about 5 months to read it. It wasn't a difficult read and it was very interesting to learn the tricks of the trade. I let so much time go by while reading this simply because i've been working on some personal goals that consumed my time as well, such is life. This book never left my heart though, early mornings or late nights i'd pull it out and catch up on a few chapters.
My favorite part about this book is the redemption and meaning of Katariina's life. She was such a smart girl but her home life wasn't that great which created low self-esteem and people pleasing behaviors that led to her being trafficked. I don't know about y'all but I've been there and even though I wasn't sex trafficked I did things I didn't feel were right at times to please others or gain their approval. Despite all she went through, she went on to get her PhD and do so many great things for other girls who have been trafficked in her community. She often spoke throughout the book about feeling like God had a plan for her life. I really connected with her on that because I've often felt that way. God has a plan for all of us! She discussed in the last chapter how her own abuse helped her save other girls. She was so determined to help other girls that she talked about standing in front of a car to stop a trafficker from driving off with one of her clients. That's passion and true dedication, something I've always admired. Such a good book!
If you want to know more about Human Trafficking or Sex trafficking you can go to her website www.StolenOnes.com . She founded Stolen Ones- There is H.O.P.E For Me, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to freeing other victims of Human trafficking. Her story is amazing, captivating, and a true story of redemption and faith. Grab a copy and Save Our Girls!
"There is HOPE, even on the Darkest of Days"
*Keep Your Head in the Books*
