I Am a Taxi

Reach for this book when your middle-grade reader is beginning to ask difficult questions about global inequality, the justice system, or the complexities of 'right and wrong' in desperate circumstances. It is a powerful choice for children who are ready to look beyond their own borders and develop empathy for peers living in vastly different realities. The story follows twelve-year-old Diego, who lives in a Bolivian prison with his incarcerated parents. When a family crisis forces him into a dangerous job in the illegal drug trade, he must rely on his wits and courage to survive. While the subject matter is intense, the book focuses on Diego's resilience and the deep bonds of family that drive his every choice. It is a sobering but deeply humanizing look at the war on drugs through the eyes of a child, best suited for mature readers aged 10 to 14 who can handle realistic depictions of hardship.