Best Books About Human Trafficking

Six Books About Human Trafficking That Taught Us So Much

Are you passionate about stopping human trafficking and eager to learn more about the issue from trusted thought leaders? Books are a gateway to empathy and knowledge, so here’s our round up of some great books to learn more about the issue.

Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System by Cyntoia Brown-Long is the memoir of a woman who was trafficked and then convicted of murder at the age of 16. The book tells her story of survival, resilience, and ultimately her fight for freedom. Brown-Long was eventually granted clemency in 2019 after serving 15 years in prison and has become a powerful advocate for criminal justice reform and the abolition of human trafficking.

The Locust Effect: Why the End of Poverty Requires the End of Violence by Gary A. Haugen and Victor Boutros provides a sobering look at the ways in which violence, including human trafficking, is perpetuated by systems of poverty and inequality. The authors argue that in order to truly end poverty, we must also address the root causes of violence and exploitation. This book also spotlights the origin story of International Justice Mission (IJM), which is a nonprofit that we are honored to stand alongside in our anti-trafficking work.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah is a powerful and poignant memoir about a young boy who is forced to become a child soldier in Sierra Leone's brutal civil war. Beah's story is a poignant reminder of the horrors of war and the ways in which children are often the most vulnerable victims of conflict.

Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade - and How We Can Fight It by David Batstone is a comprehensive examination of the global slave trade and the efforts to combat it. Batstone argues that slavery is not a thing of the past, but rather a thriving industry that touches every corner of the globe. He also offers solutions and strategies for fighting back against this modern form of slavery.

To Stop a Warlord by Shannon Sedgwick Davis is a gripping and inspiring story of one woman's efforts to bring the notorious warlord, Joseph Kony to justice. Kony terrorized communities across Central and East Africa, kidnapping children to be child soldiers and child brides. The book is a testament to the importance of human rights laws and the need to hold war criminals accountable.

Breaking Free: How I Escaped Pologomy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs by Rachel Jeffs spotlights a uniquely American story of exploitation. The FLDS cult has prioritized pologamy so much that it has resorted to extreme abuse to achieve this lifestyle. Young girls and boys are each uniquely vulnerable in this community. Girls may be married off well before they turn 18, and young boys are often chased out of their families with no education, ensuring that the elder men in the cult have access to marry as many young women as possible.