Escaping the Devil’s Bedroom: Sex Trafficking, Global Prostitution, and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
by Dawn Herzog Jewell
Published by Monarch Books
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Reviewed by Sarah van Ingen
Few writers have the courage to address the topic of sex trafficking. Dawn Herzog Jewell is a notable exception. She has traveled the globe to learn more about sexual exploitation and the efforts to end this profound injustice. From Amsterdam to Athens, from Costa Rica to Chicago, Jewell tells stories of specific individuals whose lives have been significantly impacted by sex trafficking and prostitution. Escaping the Devil’s Bedroom records what Jewell has learned about both the pain–and the healing–of those involved in sexual exploitation.
Jewell approaches the topics of sex trafficking and global prostitution from a distinctly Christian point of view. Because her writing is so strongly influenced by a Christian lens, it will be a Christian audience that will most appreciate this book. Worldwide, there is a significant debate over how best to approach the topic of prostitution or sex work. Jewell glosses over some of this controversy because she approaches the topic so strongly from her one viewpoint. That being said, Escaping the Devil’s Bedroom is a great introduction to one of the most pressing crises of our time. Readers will come away with a good overview of the complex issues involved in sex trafficking and global prostitution.
At times, the writing is choppy. It’s not always easy to see how various parts of a chapter flow together. Nevertheless, the book remains engaging because of the balance Jewell achieves between global statistics and personal stories.
I want to encourage you not to back away from this book because of the tough content. In Part 1, Jewell does record the stories of darkness that she has encountered in the world of sexual exploitation. But she does not stop there. Part 2 then goes into the stories of hope and recounts how individuals caught in this terrible web have begun to find freedom. Then, just when your heart has been gripped by both the pain and the healing, Jewell goes on to Part 3 where she describes what you personally could do about this urgent topic.
In the end, this book is an encouraging call to action.
Armchair Interviews agrees.
Author’s Web site: http://www.EscapingTheDevilsBedroom.com