Pork Belly Tacos with a Side of Anxiety: My Journey Through Depression, Bulimia, and Addiction

Gr 8 Up–An honest but difficult to read memoir about eating disorders and mental health. The second child of Mexican and Cuban immigrants, Castañeda was raised in a Spanish-filled, boisterous, and loving environment in 1980s–’ 90s Miami. She was rewarded for her prowess on the piano and good grades with almost-daily trips to McDonald’s, eliciting comments and stares from family and strangers as she gained more weight. In her teens, Castañeda started dieting and purging to stay thin, and her first experience with depression and anxiety manifested. With deprecating humor and razor-sharp honesty, the clinical psychotherapist recounts her life—from birth to age 45—with the nostalgic feel of an older sister sharing advice. An author’s note at the start of the book warns about the derogatory use of terms like fat and chubby—a difference from the recent fat-positive anthologies by Kelly Jensen and Angie Manfredi. The narrative often feels rambling and staid, but the figures portrayed, like the authors’ parents and brother, are fully realized and are depicted with warmth. Through her reconnection with her Catholic faith, Castañeda reaches her breakthrough, eventually doing social work in the Latinx community.