Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction

by Maia Szalavitz

any given story. * * * ON MY FOURTH birthday, I just couldn’t wait to go to the party room of the building where my family lived in Washington Heights. Before the party started, I vibrated with anticipation. I probably wore my favorite blue dress, with red-and-white appliqued flowers running in a stripe down each side. My mom had invited the other preschoolers in the building, as well as my New Lincoln classmates, for a total of about 15 kids. As the guests arrived, I circled the table. We had pointy party hats, but I wouldn’t wear one because I didn’t like the feeling of the rubber string cutting into my neck. But I was eager for dessert and presents, kicking my legs to disperse nervous energy as I sat. Finally, my mom brought the cake in and the singing started. She placed the large conical confection on the table. What had been a noisy, chaotic room rapidly went surprisingly still and quiet: my cake