3.5 stars

This is a straightforward profile. There's not any analyzing from the author about what the subject, Carmen, did, that was right or wrong; it just states the facts and readers draw their own conclusions.

I found Carmen's attitude toward life in general to be a very typical poverty mindset - very shortsighted, a bit defeatist, lacking ambition. And for those in poverty, it's normal to be surrounded by others in the same situations, with all the same values, which is a dangerous place to be.

A few drawbacks:

It is very hands-off in the storytelling, presented without bias, mostly. This could be a good thing in some ways, but it lacked a fire, if you will, and that made the book more frustrating to get through.

There's profanity, and many sexual references, including child marriage/abuse, and drug abuse.

It's a look at the welfare system of the 1960s and 1970s, which is interesting to me, but I think most people will benefit from reading a more modern account to understand the current situation.

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