Holly's courage and resilience is powerful, as are her thoughtful recommendations for law enforcement, government officials, and parents.” - Cindy McCain, Business Owner, Humanitarian, & Senior Advisor to the McCain Institute Holly Austin Smith's story helps to unravel the common mistruth that American youth are not vulnerable to human trafficking. “Walking Prey sheds light on the shameful reality of child sexual exploitation and human trafficking within the United States. Told from a survivor's perspective, this book should be required reading for service providers, community members, and our young people.” - Lisa Goldblatt Grace, LICSW, MPH, Co-Founder & Director My Life My Choice “Rarely does a book synthesize the complicated world of the sex industry with such insight and thoughtfulness. This is a clarion call to take a sharp look at one of the most striking human rights abuses, and one that is going on in our own backyard. Smith argues that these young women should be treated as victims by law enforcement, but that too often the criminal justice system lacks the resources and training to prevent the vicious cycle of prostitution. Her experience led her, two decades later, to become one of the foremost advocates for trafficking victims. A chance encounter with an older man led her to run away from home, and she soon found herself on the streets of Atlantic City.

Smith speaks from experience: Without consistent positive guidance or engagement, Holly was ripe for exploitation at age fourteen. In Walking Prey, advocate and former victim Holly Austin Smith shows how middle class suburban communities are fast becoming the new epicenter of sex trafficking in America. At the same time, thanks to social media, texting, and chatting services, predators are able to ferret out their victims more easily than ever before. Younger and younger girls are engaging in adult sexual attitudes and practices, and the pressure to conform means thousands have little self-worth and are vulnerable to exploitation. Today, two cultural forces are converging to make America's youth easy targets for sex traffickers.

Walking prey book cover images