Published: 2023
Series: N/A
Author: Azam Ahmed
Illustrator: N/A
Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime, History, Memoir, Audiobook, Politics, Biography
Audience (Grade Levels): 11th–12th Grade / Adult (Due to mature content)
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
Goodreads Link: Fear Is Just a Word
Triggers: Graphic violence; References to sexual assault; Drugs
Review By: Evan Waugh
Publisher’s Summary:
Fear Is Just a Word begins on an international bridge between Mexico and the United States, as fifty-six-year-old Miriam Rodríguez stalks one of the men she believes was involved in the murder of her daughter Karen. He is her target number eleven, a member of the drug cartel that has terrorized and controlled what was once Miriam’s quiet hometown of San Fernando, Mexico, almost one hundred miles from the U.S. border. Having dyed her hair red as a disguise, Miriam watches, waits, and then orchestrates the arrest of this man, exacting her own version of justice.
Woven into this deeply researched, moving account is the story of how cartels built their power in Mexico, escalated the use of violence, and kidnapped and murdered tens of thousands. Karen was just one of the many people who disappeared, and Miriam, a brilliant, strategic, and fearless woman, begged for help from the authorities and paid ransom money she could not afford in hopes of saving her daughter. When that failed, she decided that “fear is just a word,” and began a crusade to track down Karen’s killers and to help other victimized families in their search for justice.
What do people do when their country and the peaceful town where they have grown up become unrecognizable, suddenly places of violence and fear? Azam Ahmed takes us into the grieving of a country and a family to tell the mesmerizing story of a brave and brilliant woman determined to find out what happened to her daughter, and to see that the criminals who murdered her were punished. Fear Is Just a Word is an unforgettable and moving portrait of a woman, a town, and a country, and of what can happen when violent forces leave people to seek justice on their own.
Review:
Within the first chapter of Azam Ahmed’s brilliant work of reporting, Fear Is Just a Word, I was quickly reminded of the fact that sometimes life can be just as strange and exhilarating as fiction.
Fear Is Just a Word follows the story of Miriam Rodriguez as she hunts for her daughter, Karen, and the identities of those responsible for her kidnapping. While searching for answers that could shed light on Karen’s fate, Miriam has to not only face the dangers of speaking out against the Zeta drug cartel, but also wade through the corrupt and ineffective bureaucracy of the Mexican government and law enforcement agencies.
Throughout Ahmed’s narrative, I was absolutely amazed at Miriam’s tenacity, as she takes on the bulk of the investigation into Karen’s disappearance, using social media and a mix of local and government sources that allow her to eventually compile a list of eight people responsible for Karen’s disappearance. What’s even more amazing is that Miriam befriends a soldier in the Mexican Marines, which allows her to eventually organize and conduct military raids that she actively participates in! For this reason, Fear Is Just a Word is ultimately a testament to the strength and love that only mothers are capable of.
If you are someone who is hesitant about reading nonfiction, Fear Is Just a Word reads better than any action-fiction book could.
If you would like an abridged version of Miriam’s story, or would like a preview of Azam Ahmed’s book, read the excellent New York Times article, “A Mother’s Quest for Justice in a Lawless Mexican State,” by Cristina Rivera Garza (contains some minor spoilers).
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
Because of the heavy and violent nature of the material, this book is best suited for older high school students (grades 11–12) in advanced Social Studies, Current Global Issues, or Journalism courses.
- Media Literacy & Investigative Journalism (ELA): Have students analyze the narrative style used by Azam Ahmed. Pair readings from the book with his reporting pieces or the referenced New York Times article to discuss how investigative journalists gather primary sources, vet information in high-risk environments, and construct a narrative arc out of real-world events.
- Modern World History & Geopolitics (Social Studies): Use the background information in the book regarding the rise of drug cartels to study the historical impact of lawlessness, governmental corruption, and how geopolitical border dynamics affect local communities. Students can map out the structural elements that lead to a “collapse of formal justice” in a region.
- Social-Emotional Learning Extension (SEL): Host a structured debate or seminar examining the concept of justice vs. vengeance. Have students explore the psychological toll of grief, resilience, and advocacy by researching modern organizations founded by family members of missing or exploited individuals.
