Slavery Today

By Kevin Bales and Rebecca Cornell

Book Overview

An introduction to slavery in the world today, in rich and developing nations alike. Clearly and concisely written for young adult readers.

Twenty-seven million people -- young and old, men and women -- are locked in bondage worldwide. Slavery Today traces the products created by this inhuman system from the jungle and farm through the global markets and into our lives and homes.

Co-authored by the world's leading experts on modern slavery, it unpacks the controversies over prostitution and the buying back of slaves while setting out solutions and demonstrating how readers can get involved in the global anti-slavery movement.

"[The Groundwork Guides] are excellent books, mandatory for school libraries and the increasing body of young people prepared to take ownership of the situations and problems previous generations have left them." -- Globe and Mail

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0888997736
• ISBN13: 9780888997739
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: Groundwood Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

High school World Cultures Teacher Sees Need for ALL Students to Read this Book

As a high school World Cultures teacher, who for many years, has taught my students about modern slavery, I am constantly looking for the best resources to excite my students into action. I have read all of Kevin Bales' books including the modern slavery "bible", Disposable People, but I find them too lengthy to bring into a semester course. This new book, also written by the modern slavery authority Kevin Bales, combines all of the successful elements of his other books- anecdotal evidence, statistics, personal stories, world government reactions and ways to help but does it in an accessible format that lends itself to time limitations. After reading this new book, I gave it to a few of my students to get their reactions. They said what a fast read it was and how they were compelled to finish. Also exciting was that they said they then registered on the freetheslaves website and were now called to do more than just know about the problem. I have on my 2009 budget a classroom set of these books and hope to find the money to buy one for each student. The hope is they take the book home and share with their parents, friends and neighbors. The realities of modern slavery need to be exposed and this little 141 page book may just be the device necessary to carrying out this necessary project. My suggestion is any social studies teacher, specifically economics teachers, should be using this book to teach the basics of global economies, supply and demand, fair trade vs. free trade, and other economic basics that are often cold and not interesting to students. Put a face and a story behind the concepts and not only do you teach the definitions, you awaken the world to the continued injustices happening each and every day; and most importantly,you empower your students. Teaching students to make subtle but important choices through their purchases teaches responsibility and respect for humanity and the power of their economic buying power.