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In spite of the intellectual, emotional, and physical barriers between him and the student who ride his bus every day, Bertram, a bus driver for special children, enjoys a special friendship with his passengers.
Bertram, a dedicated bus driver, navigates the daily route for seven children with diverse physical and intellectual disabilities, fostering a unique bond that transcends their individual challenges. Each chapter functions as a vignette, focusing on a specific passenger to reveal their internal world, family dynamics, and the societal barriers they encounter. The narrative framework shifts between the perspectives of the children, highlighting their distinct voices and the varying levels of support they receive from their guardians. Through these intimate portraits, the text examines the intersection of personal identity and the external perceptions of disability.
Readers and critics frequently note the author's ability to inhabit the perspectives of her characters without resorting to sentimentality or clinical detachment. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of the vignette format in humanizing individuals who are frequently marginalized by society. Reviewers highlight the balance between the harsh realities of the characters' lives and the moments of genuine connection they experience. The work is often praised for its nuanced exploration of how different home environments shape the self-perception of children with disabilities. Readers frequently point to the emotional resonance of the individual stories as a primary strength of the collection.
Page Count:
108
Publication Date:
1993-06-03
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192717162
ISBN-13:
9780192717160
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