2005: About the Book
Riding the Bus with My Sister
If you've ever loved someone you grew apart from — maybe a sister,
maybe a friend, maybe someone who was once very special to you — you know
the deep longing that led to the inspiring true story, Riding The Bus
With My Sister. Rachel Simon's sister Beth is a spirited woman who
lives intensely and often joyfully, and who also happens to have
developmental disabilities (or what used to be known as "mental
retardation"). When the book opens, Beth is spending her days riding the
buses in the city where she lives, creating powerful connections with the
drivers and passengers. Rachel, a driven professor and writer, is
struggling to come to terms with her own ambitions and loneliness—as well
as her distant feelings toward her one-of-a-kind sister. One day, Beth
invites Rachel to join her for a year on the buses. Rachel says yes, and
so begins a journey that changes both sisters' lives. Riding The Bus
With My Sister weaves together three strands: the chronicle of this
remarkable bus odyssey, life lessons Beth and Rachel learned from the
characters they met on their travels, and memories of their riveting
family story, unusual by any standard. Throughout the book, Rachel Simon
brings to light the world of adults with developmental disabilities, finds
unlikely heroes in everyday life, and discovers unrealized strength in
herself — and her indomitable, unforgettable sister. This page-turning
journey is impossible to read without laughing, and unimaginable to read
without crying. It will make you prouder of your distinct individuality,
while also making you proud to be part of the whole human family.
—from rachelsimon.com
 The movie
The Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation of Riding The Bus With My
Sister aired on CBS on May 1, 2005. Rosie O'Donnell stars as Beth,
Andie MacDowell stars as Rachel, and Anjelica Huston directs. See the
movie and stay for a discussion on October 14, 2005—see
the Events Page. For more
information, including pictures of Rachel Simon on the set, see
Rachel's site.
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