A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison

This is the first novel by Corban Addison. He is a lawyer specializing in corporate law and litigation, much like the main character of this book, Washington, D.C. attorney Thomas Clarke. Addison has taken his interest in international human rights, including the abolition of modern slavery, and translated it into this story involving two teenage girls orphaned by the 2004 South Asia tsunami and kidnapped into the sex trade. The story follows the girls' dark journey into this horrible demension of human behavior and the involvement of Thomas Clarke, and an NGO that prosecutes human traffickers, in rescuing the girls. Addison has translated real information into a fictional venue which has the grim ring of truth combined with tension as well as elements of the higher values of family love, loyalty, perseverance and hope. The story brings the reader a greater awareness of this ruthless side of today's world, present not only in nations far away, but also in our own country. The book reads a bit like a John Grisham novel. In fact, Grisham, who usually declines to endorse upcoming authors, made an exception in Addison's case, strongly praising the story and its message. Addison handles the sex and violence in a manner which tells the action without excessive detail. The book is dedicated to "the uncountable number of souls held captive in the sex trade and the heroic men and women across the globe working tirelessly to win their freedom." I'm glad I read the book and have had my awareness level raised by the experience. It is forecast to be out in January 2012.