Book Review: Predators and Child Molesters

Yes, it's a far cry from DVDs and shampoo, but when I was asked to review Robin Sax's new book, Predators and Child Molesters: What Every Parent Needs to Know to Keep Kids SAFE, I thought it was important to do it. Just a day or so earlier, I'd had an awkward conversation with my children about why it's not a good idea to take off your underwear outside (!).

I received the book, and didn't read it for a few weeks. Because really, who wants to read a book about sexual molestation and abuse? I certainly didn't; but now that I have, I'm glad I did. I'm not going to say it didn't freak me out. It did. There is so much to worry about; so much that could go wrong. It's part of the territory of having children, of course.

But having more information is one of the only ways to relieve fears and to keep them from consuming us. Being proactive is far better than keeping my head in the sand. And with her calm, matter-of-fact tone, Robin Sax supplies lots of important details without being overly alarmist.

A second subtitle of the book is "A Sex Crimes DA Answers 100 of the Most Commonly Asked Questions." Perhaps that's why this book feels more like two books--one on prevention and one on what happens when a crime is committed. Since (and here I thank my lucky stars and every other star in the sky) only the first part applies to me, I wished there were more of it, and less of the rest. On the other hand, if I suspected abuse or if my child actually reported it, the second part of this book would be extremely valuable. It oulines very specifically what happens after a crime is committed, how it is investigated and prosecuted, and so on.

In terms of how to protect our kids, Sax is blunt about risks but also offers concrete advice about reducing them. The book contains an excellent chart listing important teaching points ("your body is your own," "trust your instincts") and how to discuss them with children of different ages. There is of course plenty of information on keeping kids safe online too.

The six sections of the book are:

• Recognizing the predators
• Talking to kids about risks and recognizing potential problems
• Recognizing abuse
• Reporting sexual abuse
• Going to court
• Healing and moving on

This book isn't easy to read. But sometimes, being a parent isn't easy.

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Giveaway Title: ROBIN SAX
Prize: Predators and Child Molesters by Robin Sax; paperback (one copy is autographed)
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Reviewer Mayberry Mom's daughter recently asked when she could have a computer and a TV in her bedroom. The answer was "Never."