Captive: 2,147 Days of Terror in the Colombian Jungle
In 2002, Rojas, along with Colombian senator Ingrid Betancourt, was kidnapped by the guerrilla organization known as the FARC. Rojas was campaign director for Betancourt's bid for the presidency. For six years, Rojas was held along with Betancourt and other political figures, soldiers, civilians, and three Americans. The dense jungle was as much a deterrent as the FARC itself as Rojas and Betancourt made a few failed escape attempts. Their friendship deteriorated, and tensions developed as much among the captives as against the captors. During captivity, Rojas gave birth to a son by cesarean section in the jungle with the help of a guerrilla nurse who hadn't finished medical school. When he gets an infection that requires medical attention, Rojas is separated from him for two years. Her mother launched a successful international campaign to free her daughter and grandson, and there was wide speculation on a jungle romance, but Rojas declines to detail the circumstances. Rojas attributes her survival to faith and determination in an account that echoes the Ling sisters' recent book on their ordeal, Somewhere Inside. --Vanessa Bush