A work of narrative nonfiction that illuminates the little-known world of the anexos of Mexico City, the informal addiction treatment centers where mothers send their children to escape the violence of the drug war.
As a feat of research, the book reflects a remarkable effort ... But as a work of narrative nonfiction, the book struggles to draw us into the disparate anexo communities. The focus moves from person to person and place to place with such frequency that the reader feels unmoored and, at times, numb.
Astute and harrowing ... Given ongoing arguments over immigration, drug use, and legalization, Garcia’s outstanding book adds compassion and insight to this important social and political discussion.
What makes this book different from an ethnographic study of illicit drug treatment facilities is the significance of Garcia’s own story, which also crisscrosses the border ... Garcia delves into moral ambiguity, where the boundary between victim and perpetrator is not clear-cut.
