Bolivia

Sally said, "G'day, I have a suggestion for Bolivia. It is a young adult book called: Diego! Run by Deborah Ellis. It is a new release here in Australia - not sure about the rest of the world - but won't be too far away - and can be purchased online." Bonnie said, "Thanks, Sally. It turns out that we Americans have the same book, but with a different title. I Am a Taxi sounds like the same book, doesn't it?"

For twelve-year-old Diego and his family, home is the San Sebastian Women's Prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia. His parents farmed coca, a traditional Bolivian medicinal plant, until they got caught in the middle of the government's war on drugs. Diego's adjusted to his new life. His parents are locked up, but he can come and go: to school, to the market to sell his mother's hand-knitted goods, and to work as a "taxi", running errands for other prisoners. But then his little sister runs away, earning his mother a heavy fine. The debt and dawning realization of his hopeless situation make him vulnerable to his friend Mando's plan to make big money, fast. Soon, Diego is deep in the jungle, working as a virtual slave in an illegal cocaine operation. As his situation becomes more and more dangerous, he knows he must take a terrible risk if he ever wants to see his family again.
__________

UPDATE: Sally has read the book and written a review.