Hugely poignant and moving
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The blurb
"I watched in awe as Miz Rosa stopped those men on the bus with her clear, calm “no” and I thought about that word. What if I said no? What if I refused to follow the path these White folks wanted for us? What if I kept this precious baby?
Montgomery, Alabama, 1955
On a cold December evening, Mattie Banks packs a suitcase and leaves her family home. Sixteen years old and pregnant, she has already made the mistake that will ruin her life and disgrace her widowed mother. Boarding the 2857 bus, she sits with her case on her lap, hoping that the driver will take her away from disaster. Instead, Mattie witnesses an act of bravery by a woman named Rosa Parks that changes everything. But as Mattie strives to turn her life around, the dangers that first led her to run are never far away. Forging a new life in a harsh world at constant risk of exposure, Mattie will need to fight to keep her baby safe.
Atlanta, Georgia, present day
Ashlee Turner is going home. Her relationship in ruins, her career held back by prejudice, she is returning to the family who have always been her ock. But Ashlee’s home is not the safe haven she remembers. Her beloved grandmother is dying and is determined to share her story before she leaves…
When Ashlee finds a stack of yellowing letters hidden in her nana’s closet, she can’t help the curiosity that compels her to read, and she uncovers an old secret that could wreak havoc on her already grieving family. As she tries to make sense of what she has learned, Ashlee faces a devastating choice: to protect her loved ones from the revelations, or honor her grandmother’s wishes and follow the path to the truth, no matter where it may lead.
The Review
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with historical fiction novels. Taking a real historical event and trying to blend a fictional story around it can be tricky to get right. But, oh my, Harrison does this right.
We meet Mattie, whose story starts on that very same bus where Rosa Parks made her infamous stand against racial oppression. Through Mattie's eyes we understand the significance of that moment, how it enabled black women to start questioning everything they had always believed to be true. It causes her to reconsider the course she had decided upon for her and her unborn child and to make the ultimate brave sacrifice that she had been unable to contemplate before that moment. Her resolve and bravery will capture your heart entirely and you won't be able to leave this book without finding out what happens to Mattie.
Riding that bus as it pulled away, I wondered what life would feel like defying rules and making my own decisions. The mere idea had something turning inside of me, deep in my core. Deeper than my belly. Kinda like a flame on a matchstick, dying and breathing its last only for someone to blow and spark its life again. Not some blaze running amuck across a cane field. Just a gentle flame safely contained in the palm of your hand.
The timeline of the story is split between two; we alternate between Mattie's story and that of her grand-daughter, Ashlee. Despite being separated by two generations, the two women have so much in common. Through their eyes we are able to see how many aspects of racism and racial oppression have vastly improved, and yet, devastatingly, how far we still have to go to achieve racial equality.
The characters in this book are simply wonderful. You'll ache for them so much as they come through incredible adversity. This is both an inspirational and bittersweet story, and one that I inhaled in only 2 days. It's not just about racial inequalities (although that is a pivotal element of this book), but about family, death, inter racial relationships, hardship and strong women. I loved the structure of the alternating storylines, but Mattie's story was far and away my favourite. You can't help but root for her, she demonstrates such remarkable determination and resolve to provide for her child against all the odds.
Harrison paints wonderful, believable characters who each have their own distinct voice. I loved her writing style and can't wait to see what's next.
The Girl at the Back of the Bus was released in paperback on 8th February 2021 by Bookouture.
Big thanks to Bookouture, for organising and inviting me to take part in the blog tour. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
About the Author
Suzette D. Harrison, a native Californian and the middle of three daughters, grew up in a home where reading was required, not requested. Her literary "career" began in junior high school with the publishing of her poetry. While Suzette pays homage to Alex Haley, Gloria Naylor, Alice Walker, Langston Hughes, and Toni Morrison as legends who inspired her creativity, it was Dr. Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings that unleashed her writing. The award-winning author of Taffy is a wife and mother of two teens, and she holds a culinary degree in pastry and baking. Mrs. Harrison is currently cooking up her next novel...in between batches of cupcakes.