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I am a Taxi

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I am a Taxi
Deborah Ellis
Groundwood Books, 2006. 205 pgs. Chapter book.

Diego is an intelligent 12-year-old boy living in San Sebastian's Women's Prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia with his mother and young sister Corina. His father lives across the square in San Sebastian's Men's Prison. These prisons have been Diego's home for almost four years. Since it is his mother who is the prisoner, not him, Diego is allowed a lot of freedom. He runs errands for many of the inmates in the prisons to earn some money. He also attends a good school and enjoys learning. His best friend gets him involved in a job that will make them rich. Diego knows that any job in Bolivia that pays that much money is in the drug business, but to help his family he goes along with Mando, not knowing what it will cost him in the end.

In I am a Taxi, Deborah Ellis portrays Diego as an admirable and likable character, though far from perfect. Despite the environment he is growing up in, he has a good head on his shoulders and tries to use it. As part of his "get-rich job", Diego does partake of some cocaine-laced cigarettes. The author is not promoting it as a positive experience, but some people may get offended by a 12-year old taking drugs. The ending is rather abrupt, but there is a teaser for the sequel as consolation.
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