{Review} ONE AMONG US by Paige Dearth

ISBN #: 978-1502492258

Page Count: 660

Copyright: December 12, 2014

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Description:

(Taken from back cover)

Eleven-year-old Maggie Clarke is an average suburban girl known for her intelligence and beauty. Suddenly her life’s path is tragically altered when Maggie is ripped from her family and thrust into the horrific underworld of human sex trafficking. In captivity, Maggie watches over a young boy, who gives her a reason to live. Robbed of her innocence and freedom, Maggie does whatever it takes to survive.

With the help of Detective Rae Harker, the Clarkes’ frantically search for their daughter. Haunted by his own demons, Detective Harker vows to find Maggie - dead or alive. Meanwhile on the vile streets of Philadelphia, a strange man approaches Maggie with a dangerous proposition, and she risks everything to break free of the network of unsavory characters that control her. Not even she can know how far she will go to get even with the people who ruined her life.

Raw, edgy and intense, One Among Us ultimately offers hope through Maggie, who grows stronger and more resourceful through her experiences. You’ll be on the edge of your seat, rooting for Maggie as she fights for her life.

Charlene's Review:

Maggie is the average pre-teen, fighting for independence from her mother. In a single moment, that independence costs Maggie everything she holds dear, as she is lured away by a man and his puppy. Taken to an abandoned prison, Maggie and other children just like her, are dehumanized and offered up as sex objects. As her parents continue to search for her, Maggie realizes the only way she will ever escape is to follow orders and stay strong for the younger boy that she has befriended.

This is not the first book I have reviewed for Ms. Dearth. I have to say that she has matured, greatly, in her content and writing skills. The 660-page One Among Us was a little off-putting at first, but I was quickly drawn in by the meticulous description of Maggie’s abuse and strength.

This is a book of great pain and horror, and I advise anyone with an abuse background to undertake this with caution. At times I simply had to put the book down and walk away from the viciousness of the attacks on the innocent children. That being said, the hope and possibility of the main characters shone through their dire circumstances and made it a bit easier to handle.

I became intimately involved with Maggie, and Seth, the young boy she takes under her wing, as well as a few other characters. I was also completely disgusted and sickened by the men behind the kidnapping and abuse. While I felt some situations were a bit far-fetched, I became totally invested in Maggie’s story and her return to a safe life. All in all, this was a page-turner that truly invokes emotion on the part of the reader. One Among Us opens up insight into a silent issue that so many of us wish to ignore. This is a no-holds-barred look at a less than pleasant topic, and for those with emotional or past-abuse issues, I highly suggest you read with caution.


*A physical copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.