No Man Is an Island

If there is anything that Thomas McFadden needs most to survive at San Pedro Prison, both physically and mentally, it would be other people. Even in a system based entirely on money, to be rich would be insufficient for him, because wealth cannot buy emotional support. Ricardo keeps Thomas alive when he first arrives by providing shelter from the cold and from dangerous inmates, but he also gives him friendship and advice, both of which are essential. The toll of confinement, even in an atypical prison such as San Pedro, is as much mental as physical. Throughout the book, Thomas seeks out friendships among the inmates and relies heavily on this sustenance to withstand the emotional duress of incarceration. Ricardo, Juan Carlos Abregon, Rusty, Roberto, and even the chaotic Samir are important bulwarks for Thomas against the despair of solitude. Yasheeda quickly becomes central...