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Deborah Ellis
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I Am a Taxi (The Cocalero Novels, 1) Hardcover – August 31, 2006

by Deborah Ellis (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 48 ratings
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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.
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    9 - 12 years
  2. Print length
    176 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    4 - 9
  5. Lexile measure
    760L
  6. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  7. Publisher
    Groundwood Books
  8. Publication date
    August 31, 2006
  9. ISBN-10
    0888997353
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0888997357
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–Ellis's novel attempts to expose the strains that cocaine production and trade and the U.S War on Drugs have placed on Bolivians. Diego's parents have been wrongfully incarcerated for drug smuggling. While they serve their 16-year sentences, the 12-year-old, who would otherwise be homeless, lives in the women's prison with his mother and younger sister. He earns money as a taxi, running errands in the city for the prisoners. One day his friend convinces him that they can make easier money working for men who turn out to be involved in cocaine manufacturing. The boys are enslaved in the jungle, Diego's friend dies, and Diego barely escapes with his life. This harrowing part of the narrative is somewhat rushed and is less convincing than the rest. Nonetheless, because of its unusual setting and subject matter, and Ellis's efforts to explicate complex social, political, and economic issues, this book should find a place in larger collections.–Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Diego, 12, lives in prison in the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia, stuck there with his parents, who have been falsely arrested for smuggling drugs. He attends school and works as a "taxi," running errands for the inmates in the great street market. Then his friend, Mando, persuades him to make big money, and the boys find themselves stomping coca leaves in cocaine pits in the jungle, with local gangsters and a smooth boss who supplies "hungry noses" in America. Readers will be caught up by the nonstop action in the prison, and also in the jungle survival adventure, where escape is tempered by the specter of death. The connection between medicinal coca leaves, sacred to the indigenous people, and their exploitation by the global drug runners is not entirely clear, but, as in The Breadwinner (2001) and many of her previous books, Ellis tells a bold story of contemporary kids in crisis and brutally exploited far away. A sequel is on the way. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Groundwood Books (August 31, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0888997353
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0888997357
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 760L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 48 ratings

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Deborah Ellis

Deborah Ellis

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
48 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Patricia Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Poverty, Will and Family Cocalero
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2015
Verified Purchase
I have visited the prisons in Ecuador, Peru and Boliva and this is just what you see. This story is very correct about the children living with their parents in prison. I saw small shops under stairwells and restaurants in hallways. Very different from the U.S. Interesting read. I plan to buy the follow up book.
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MD NYC
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and engaging
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2018
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My 15 yr old son found it very interesting.
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Last Mango
4.0 out of 5 stars Lived in South America...
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2007
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This book is an interesting and engrossing read. I'm not certain that younger readers (for which the cover, in particular, seems to be aimed)will "get" it, but the action makes for quite a page-turner, and the subject matter is very thought provoking. The author includes some anti-American and anti-religion undertones which I find a bit annoying, and although she does explain that the cocaine extraction process is different from the coca tea itself, the reader is left cheering for the humble coca farmers. Once again, I hope youthful readers make the distinctions, and that the "bad guy" is cocaine use and not necessarily the U.S. In any case, this book could be a great read-aloud, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
5 people found this helpful
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Linda J. Berthiaume
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2017
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Great story. My students are enjoying it and are anxious to read the sequel.
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T Wirzba
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2012
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My 12 year old daughter loved this book. Anything Deborah Ellis writes is well researched and wonderful. She wants to read the sequel!
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Tracy - Author, Travel, Photography, Running
5.0 out of 5 stars The most interesting book I've read with my kids in the last 12 months
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2009
All three of my children commented on this catchy unusual title, expressing doubt that it could possibly be of any interest to them (ages 10, 12, and 14), "What is that? Who checked that out of the library?"

Having traveled to Bolivia, I couldn't wait to begin reading it aloud to my youngest before bed. We were not disappointed and I've tossed it to the next child, insisting she read it as she is interested in traveling to South America.

The book is quick paced, includes a few Spanish words (Saltenas, Chupe, tc.) and a good glossary for assistance is at the end. Many simple aspects of the Spanish culture were touched on, such as religion (whether the Angel Gabriel will actually come and open the prison doors, lighting church candles) and explaining the Quechua VS Aymara Indians. Descriptive paragraphs of the laundry hanging to dry, bowler hats, merchants in the markets, and more made me envision being back on a village street in Bolivia.

Diego is smart, cautious, and asks many questions. There is much emphasis on maintaining composure, loyalty, surviving, and not showing one's fear. I did not interpret any underlying messages, anti-American tones, or otherwise. It is often said in South America, "The bus comes when it comes...." and perhaps, due to my travels through Bolivia and Peru, I have a different attitude of... Life is what it is...and this story about a boy, is what it is - the struggle and challenges of his life. Highly recommend.

Tracy Foote
Author: Let's Go Up! Climbing Machu Picchu, Putucusi and Huayna Picchu
 Let's Go Up! Climbing Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu and Putucusi or A Peru Travel Trip Hiking One of the Seven Wonders of the World: An Inca City Discovered ... the Andes Mountains (Multilingual Edition)
2 people found this helpful
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Oh wise one
4.0 out of 5 stars I did like the lesson (do not do drugs be street smart ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2017
This story is about a boy who lives in a prison in Bolivia because his parents where falsely convicted of a crime. He makes money by running errands outside the prison for the inmates . I personally think the book is just okay but that is just me. I did like the lesson (do not do drugs be street smart etc), it taught and i think lots of people that live comfortable lives can learn from this.
All in all i think its a great read that you should at least consider it.

-Zach age twelve
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Linda McHale Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2015
Great book!!
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Top reviews from other countries

Sepp Unterwurzacher
5.0 out of 5 stars A truly rare book
Reviewed in Germany on November 22, 2022
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A truly wonderful book. Goes straight to your heart. We read it together with the children. One of my favourites. Unforgettable.
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seonaid mackenzie
5.0 out of 5 stars I am a taxi
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2014
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this author is amazing for reluctant readers, and so interesting, my daughter aged 10 just finished the Breadwinner and straight into this one
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Jennie
5.0 out of 5 stars Good kids' book
Reviewed in Canada on September 2, 2011
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Having just been to Bolivia and visiting Casa de la Amistad (Friendship House)in Cochabamba where the children of the prison inmantes go to be educated nourished, and loved, and having been told about this book, I was very eager to purchase it for my church library. Although it's not a Christian book per se, it shows the lives of children who must live in the prison with their parents. It's also an eye-opener about how the inmates must fend for themselves for even such basics as food, so different from the prison system in North America.
Although it is actually a children's book, I read and enjoyed it, and think that a child would too. It's fast paced, and the reader is drawn into the life of Diego, the 12-year old protagonist. The author made me have empathy for Diego especially after he left the prison for the jungle, where he was obviously being exploited by those in the drug trade. However, the author doen't overdo the horrors of the jungle camp, so it's definitely suitable for children. My only complaint about the book is that it leaves the reader hanging at the end, and that you must read it's sequel Sacred Leaf, to find out what happens to Diego. I have a personal dislike of this type of series, as I believe each book must be complete in itself.
However, I will be recommending this book to the children in my church.
One person found this helpful
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Rebbecca
5.0 out of 5 stars Interests
Reviewed in Canada on January 29, 2018
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This book struck me at first as a story about a boy who ran errands for his mom who lived in the prison while he lived with his dad on a farm, but after reading it I learned 3 very important things, never ride minibuses, don’t trust anyone when they say they can makes lots of money fast, and the Chocmamba is a very poor and run down place.
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robin williams
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2015
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Very happy
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