2009 - Test Ride on the Sunnland Bus: A Daughter's Civil Rights Journey

by Ana Maria Spagna


"Spagna's remarkable generosity to her readers . . . makes her latest effort the best type of memoir or narrative history. Never self-congratulatory or maudlin, often brutally honest, always deeply personal, Spagna's story goes well beyond the facts of her late father's role in the Tallahassee bus boycott of 1957."—Marc Covert, Oregonian

"A beautifully written account."—Teresa Scollon, ForeWord

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

Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus is an absorbing story of a daughter’s search to understand her father’s involvement in the civil rights movement. While Ana Maria Spagna’s ability to capture the nuances of her father’s life is impressive, it is the wonder and persistence she brings to her tale that make this such an engaging book. Any daughter who has puzzled over the mystery of her heritage will love Spagna from the get-go.”—Danielle Trussoni, author of Falling Through the Earth

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