Erin Hanna’s review of Traffic Stop: Human Division

You won’t fall in love with the characters in this book, but they will probably keep you up at night. After meeting some of them, you might feel like you need to take a scalding shower, to listen to some of the counsel they’re given, and to feel grateful if your life story doesn’t match up with Marley’s.
It honestly took me a minute to wrap my head around Seth’s character as his is not one I’ve encountered in any other book I’ve read. The story is developed partly through Seth’s sometimes limited and sometimes insightful perspective that propels the story. His character has limitations, but don’t we all only see our side of the story?
Debut author Stacey Cahill has managed to weave together many different perspectives in addition to Seth’s. She presents a disturbing reality check into how trauma has written versions of itself, unbidden, into the lives of these characters. The simple thought that “hurt people hurt people” barely scratches the surface here. She does not sidestep the uncomfortable, or even unbearable, showing readers a more complex rendering of the issues – pride, substance abuse, grief, lust, dishonesty – that culminates with human trafficking. Cahill has built characters who aren’t lovable, but they certainly feel authentic.
After a few weeks, I still can clearly picture Otis’s car ride with Rob. I can imagine Marley noticing for the first time a lock on her bedroom door. I hear echoes of Linda Lynn’s poignant conversations with Layne Kennedy.
While this book shows how damaging one’s choices can be, it also presents the opportunity for healing. Though some of the characters have caused irreparable damage to others, no one is beyond redemption.

Erin Hanna, Media Specialist