Little has been published about familial child sex trafficking in the United States. In What They Couldn't Take: A Memoir of Survival from Familial Sex Trafficking, Adira James sheds light on this part of the human trafficking prism. Through the lens of her vivid flashbacks and the situations most seared in her memory, James shares the abuse that was inflicted on her by her parents, other family members, and the men she was sold to for sex.
Throughout her memoir, James shows how she survived her childhood through sheer will, dissociation, living in her vibrant imagination, and escaping to the outside world when possible. She strives to bring hope to those who suffer by sharing the positive techniques she has used on her journey to feeling free. These techniques include writing, moving meditation, therapeutic practices, and artistic expression. James also instructs readers on what to look for to uncover trafficking situations and offers advice on how to help those who may be trapped in the industry of child sex trafficking.
