Slavery Today

November 15, 2008
Grades 10-1 Authoritative and passionate, this small book by leaders of the antislavery movement is a horrifying account of contemporary slavery across the globe. Part of the Groundwork Guides series, it discusses numbers (about 27 million slaves today), causes (including war, corruption, and poverty), and conditions (today, slaves are cheap and that makes them disposable, thrown out when weak or sick), all within an overview that shows that human trafficking now is often in children, whether as soldiers, prostitutes, or forced labor. The disturbing subject matter is not easy reading, and some of the text is dense. But sidebars throughout the book tell individual stories, including an interview with one child. For readers who want to get involved, he is clear that the boycott of goods produced by slaves is not the answer; in fact, boycott could increase poverty, which is the root cause of the problem. Instead, the authors give realistic suggestions about how to move past outrage and into sustainable efforts towards change. Extensive back matter includes Web sites and lists of organizations.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2009
Slavery has not disappeared, it's just become more difficult to see. This thought-provoking volume is full of disquieting information about globe-wide contemporary slavery. Though the text is sometimes burdened by its own indignation, anecdotal sidebars about individuals' experiences keep it from being too abrasive. The final chapter, followed by information on anti-slavery organizations, calls on governments and individuals to eradicate slavery. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)