Don't Be a Victim

April 27, 2020
In the introduction to this sensible guide on how to avoid becoming a crime victim from TV legal commentator Grace (Objection! with Diane Clehane), with an assist from Hassan (Cheech Is Not My Real Name with Cheech Marin), Grace says that in college her dream was to teach Shakespeare. All that changed when her fiancé was murdered, and crime became a part of her life, first as a criminal attorney then in television and as a legal analyst. In the first section, she cites the notorious 1991 case of 11-year-old Jaycee Dugard, who was kidnapped while walking alone to a school bus stop and held captive for 18 years, before giving such commonsense tips for child safety as walking one’s child to the bus stop and waiting for the bus, along with less obvious precautions like making sure one’s child’s clothing doesn’t have strings or straps that an abductor can grab on to. Later sections address protecting your children (from threats including malevolent babysitters and cyber threats), protecting yourself (such as from elevator assaults and driving dangers), protecting the elderly, and more. Readers will find most of her advice familiar, such as to lie down and be still if you can’t escape a mass shooting, but Grace’s conversational tone makes for easy reading. Those concerned with personal safety will find comfort and practical advice.

July 1, 2020

Drawing on her experience as a prosecutor and a TV journalist, Grace, with coauthor Hassan, collects stories of sexual assault, abduction, and murder. Some of her anecdotes conclude with the intended victim making it out alive, others end tragically, but all provide lessons on staying safe in a variety of situations and settings, from elevators to restaurants and bars to cruise ships. The book is organized into five parts (protecting oneself, one's children, the elderly; remaining safe traveling; and staying safe online), making it easy to locate pertinent sections. Often overdramatic and intended to stoke up fear, the tales border on sensationalism, but the tips are practical (there is safety in numbers, don't listen to music while running), albeit organized in a stream-of-consciousness fashion. Parents may find this book useful, as many of the tips are aimed at protecting children in both physical and online environments. VERDICT For fans of Grace as well as those seeking advice on personal safety. [See Prepub Alert, 12/9/19.]--Mari Cheney, Paul L. Boley Law Lib., OR

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