Allison Hobbs has written a book that is gritty, raw and brutally honest about the dark underworld of sex trafficking. Fifteen year old Gianna “Lollipop” Strand goes to the boardwalk to meet a friend and befriends Bullet. Unbeknownst to her, he is an ex-con who abducts her so that he can be her pimp.
Not intended to be a book with a happy ending, Stealing Candy warns about the dangers of living on the streets. It reminds you to keep a close eye on your children so that they know about the hidden dangers of talking to strangers. It also reminds you to focus on what is important in life.
I wish this book was more kid friendly. I would definitely have recommended it to some of my younger readers but Hobbs has created a very graphic tale that can, at times, be utterly disgusting. I’m not saying that she isn’t a fabulous writer but even I had to skip lines because they were too strong for me to take.
Formats Available: Book
Reviewed by Damera, Okolona Branch