Description
Book SynopsisIn 1957, Joseph Spagna and five other men waited to board a bus called the Sunnyland. Their plan was: ride the bus together - three blacks and three whites - get arrested and take their case to the US Supreme Court. This book chronicles the story of an American family against the backdrop of one of the civil rights movement's lesser-known stories.
Trade Review“
Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus stands as a magnificent testament and tribute to the lives of many people—Ana Maria Spagna’s parents, the many patriots of the civil rights movement, and the citizens of communities far and wide, large and small. Her surprising story renewed my awe in the interconnectedness of all of our lives and affirmed that the current championing of hope in our country is a hope deserving of all its fervor.”—Kathleen Finneran, author of
The Tender Land: A Family Love Story"A beautifully written account."—Teresa Scollon,
ForeWord"With this new and nuanced memoir, Ana Maria Spagna shows us yet another facet of herself. In the field of universal human questions, "Who am I?" takes a close second to the simple yet elegant, "Why?" The author crosscuts through both in
Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus."—Ann Beman,
Literary Review"[
Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus is] a personal journey, filled with revelation after revelation about humanity and family and self."—Joe Ponepinto,
Raven Chronicles"
Test Ride is the story of Ana Maria's voyage of personal discovery, as much autobiography as biography, as she comes to terms with memories and family relationships."—Paul T. Murray,
MultiCultural ReviewTable of ContentsPart 1 – I Think I Can Serve
1 – In Front of Speed’s
2 – Never Go Back
3 – The Tallahassee Bus Boycott
4 – The Acquaintance of Grief
5 – The Forgotten Coast
6 – Something More Part 2 – A Highly Personal Thing
7 – Handwriting
8 – Herndon
9 – The Cloven Hoof
10 – City of Hope
11 – Folsom
12 – Community Care
13 – A Real Difference
14 – Orchard Burning Part 3 – Fiftieth Anniversary
15 – Every. Single. Day.
16 – Tarpon Springs
17 – Not Forgotten
18 – Heroes and Sheroes
19 – Always Go Forward
Epilogue – No Big Deal Acknowledgments
