The Other Boston Busing Story: What's Won and Lost Across the Boundary Line Book

You will definitely learn at least a bit from it. The book is a compilation of interviews with 65 former METCO students, a bussing program which. mostly brought urban dwelling black children to suburban white communities for school. If you're looking to gain some perspective on this experience for these people, it is a great book. Those being interviewed are in their 30s and 40s at time of interview.

There are a number of quotes and perspectives from these young men and women that jump out. The book certainly sheds light on the complexity of the issues of desegregation, integration, modern day capitalism, class, etc.

As at least one other review mentioned, there are times where the writing (commentary by Eaton on the interviews) is EXTREMELY repetitive. Points that have been made multiple times in the first few pages will be hammered at again and again, often unnecessarily. It does get irritating at times and occasionally tempted me to put down the book simply for the thought that I had already absorbed all useful information. My thinking is that this fault with the writing is due to a. Eaton's overall writing style but also b. The challenge of organizing the running responses of interviewees into a book with defined chapters and sections.

I recommend this book for some gained perspective, especially if you are someone like me who grew up in an almost all white, middle class environment.