One Among Us (Home Street Home Series)

This book was an extremely difficult novel to read. What makes it so difficult is knowing that this kind of stuff happens every day. Evil lives and breathes among us. The sliver of hope through unbelievably horrific circumstances is powerfully moving, and will keep you reading until late into the night. I normally read a lot of graphic horror novels, books in which you would have to suspend any sort of belief to think it could really happen. I consider myself pretty calloused when it comes to scary or sad books. THIS book actually gave me nightmares. Likely because I have children and often find myself walking that fine line between granting independence and wrapping my kids up in a bubble. I can't remember the last time I read a book that reduced me to tears like this. One particular character's circumstance had me crying for a solid ten minutes. I had to put the book down for a few minutes to get rid of the massive lump in my throat and sop up the tears.This book is not for the feint-hearted. If you're tender-hearted, or get offended by raw, gritty, horrific scenes, walk away from this book. If you're looking for a book to read at the beach, this isn't it. But if you want to read a story of true courage...a story of perseverance...then give this one a shot.

Note: You will know and understand a few characters that appear in this book if you read Mean Little People and When Smiles Fade before One Among Us.We go with eleven year old Maggie Clarke through her abduction, her introduction to being trafficked, then her horrific day to day life throughout her imprisonment. We meet other children who are being held captive and sold by the same people, seventeen year old Cali, fifteen year old Max, twelve year old Shana, and four year old Seth. They form a sort of family until all but Seth are taken away from Maggie. All of their stories are heartbreakingThis book will tear you into tiny little pieces. Early on I found my mind drifting at times trying to imagine the best/worst way to torture these abusers, and hoping we get to see a fitting end for them, although nothing could be punishment enough for what they've done to these children.In time Maggie makes a friend, life starts to get a tiny bit easier, and then she has the rug ripped from under her again and she goes back to a constant and horrific hell. This book will gut punch you multiple times, but there are good parts too.Maggie is a strong, smart, and courageous young woman. She becomes a mother to Seth, she makes friends when and where she is able, helps who she can, and makes the best she can out of a seriously awful life. This book is hard to put down because of Maggie and her determination. I'm now moving on to Emma's story in When Smiles Fade.

The subject matter in this book is absolutely heartbreaking. It's sad, scary, and far too common :(. If like to say this book feel very short, but honestly it was SO LONG. Not in a detailed good way either. In am extremely long, boring, needless filler kind if way. Where do I begin .. I'll start with the dialogue. With the exception of the vulgar stuff needed to tell the story the dialogue would've been written by a 6th grader. You literally feel no debt whatsoever for any of the characters. It's page after page of repeated crap. The author keeps telling you how they feel because she's unable to make the characters believable , or give them personalities. Also, the over use of everyone's name. 2 characters can have an entire conversation and use the other ones name in every sentence. The book dragged on and on with multiple chapters where NOTHING mattered or was happening. I didn't care for it. Forced myself to finish it so I could just get my monies worth out of it. Wouldn't recommend it. Only giving it 2 stars because I feel like the subject matter needs to be heard.... Only, not by this author.

Eleven year old Maggie goes to the mall with her mother and brother. In the food court Maggie wants pizza and her brother wants a different lunch. Maggie is determined to stand in line and buy her own pizza so that the other girls from school see that she is capable of doing this on her own. After an argument with her mother over the pizza, her mother finally relents and gives her strict orders to stand in line to get her pizza. She is not to go anywhere else.When Maggie is distracted by a couple of other students who are petting a puppy, she leaves the line and goes to see the puppy. Her entire life changes as a result of this one poor decision when she is kidnapped and forced into a life of sexual slavery and prostitution.This is not a book that would appeal to everyone. The entire subject of sexual slavery and prostitution in our cities is one that makes us all very uncomfortable. However, for those that actually read this 650 page novel, the book speaks to a lot more than these two subjects. It speaks to the guilt that can occur to many, many people as a result of one single action. It speaks to the impact that one person can have on the lives of many others when they simply refuse to give up in spite of insurmountable odds.In my opinion, an excellent storyline, well edited with a few exceptions and believable characters.

Brilliantly written book that doesn't shy away from the brutal reality of child sex rings and forced prostatution. It shows that it can happen to anyone and that even good parents can make mistakes and errors of judgement that can have far greater repercussions than people could imagine. This books main character is Maggie who when we first meet her she is a innocent young girl from a good family who mum allows her to go buy pizza from one counter in the mall while she goes to another with Maggie Little brother. This lead Maggie to encounter a man that would change the direction of not just Maggie life but that of her whole family. Maggie is kidnapped and becomes part of a child sex ring. While their Maggie meets Seth who at start of book is four year old Maggie becomes a mother figure to Seth and tries to protect him from the horrors of their life. The book focus mainly on Maggie but it touches on the lives of many other children and young adults who she comes into contact with. Can Maggie ever escape this life or is she destined to live this life for ever? Can anyone help Maggie and does anyone even want to help her and what about young Seth can he ever escape the only life he can remember?? You will need to read the book to find out but what I will say I went on an emotional roller-coaster with this book the anger I felt towards some characters was real as where the tears I shed along the way. This book is very graphic at times and is very harrowing

Second time I've read this book. Second time I've cried out of fear and devastation for Maggie. Second time I've felt anger and rage in the pit of my stomach for this fighter. And the second time I've felt sad as the % left to read got lower and lower, I did not want this book to end. Not enough masterpieces of this calibre are out there. I've read every one of Paige Dearth's books, and I feel this way during each of them ! Thank you for your talent . Keep up the great work.

I couldn't put this book down. Shocked throughout and cried at the end. What a sad book. Made more sadder as we all know this is happening to children all over the world. I wont forget this book in a hurry. Those poor children, what torture and humiliation they suffered at the hands of those brutes, and the parents left behind wondering if they would ever see them again.

absolutely one of the best books i have ever read!! didnt want it to end.. but was afraid/sad so many times had to keep jumping a few chapters to see if things got better for the main character looked better so went back and carried on.. wont say what happens etc would hate to spoil for others but really great book keeps u gripped to ur seat!! hated it ending...

Great read a bit brutal at times,it's horrifying to think that these children went through that and still do. Traffickers are way down at bottom of the pile