"Part travelog, part polemic, this book follows Weston (studies in women & gender, Univ. of Virginia; Render Me, Gender Me) as she travels around the nation via Greyhound bus. Combining anecdotes about incidents that take place on and around the bus with occasional didactic asides about the history and sociology of various regions of the country, Weston documents the extreme poverty and oppressive social structures that she encounters as she uses one of the only affordable travel options available to the least affluent people in the United States. Told exclusively through the first person, Weston's book includes autobiographical details about her girlfriend, economic situation, and Qigong routine. Although Weston's ambition to give voice to an otherwise often voiceless segment of the population is admirable, many of her character sketches of fellow passengers reduce them to mere caricatures with nicknames like Too-Tired and Bible lady. Unfortunately, her book offers no new solutions or information to those who are familiar with modern critiques of poverty in America; however, it will likely be an accessible and engaging read for those who are less familiar with the literature. Appropriate for public libraries.-
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