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Crash: A memoir
220 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 7, 2026
I grew up in Havelock North yet had never heard of the Woodford House bus crash that happened a few years before I was born, in which the driver, two teachers and two students died. Sally Wenley, then a sporty 16-year-old, suffered head injuries and became paraplegic as a result of the crash, and now writes her memoir of that incident and its impact on her life.
As you would expect for an award-winning journalist, it's a well-written and engaging account. Wenley doesn't come to the crash itself until late in the book, and it's clear it took courage to confront and write about what she remembers of the day that changed her life so drastically. You're left with the impression of an incredibly capable and resilient woman who was dealt a very difficult hand.
Would recommend to anyone who enjoys good memoirs, especially for its insights into trauma and physical & mental recovery. (And thank goodness we know more now than we did in the 1980s - the "stiff upper lip" mentality would have made recovery so much harder...!)
As you would expect for an award-winning journalist, it's a well-written and engaging account. Wenley doesn't come to the crash itself until late in the book, and it's clear it took courage to confront and write about what she remembers of the day that changed her life so drastically. You're left with the impression of an incredibly capable and resilient woman who was dealt a very difficult hand.
Would recommend to anyone who enjoys good memoirs, especially for its insights into trauma and physical & mental recovery. (And thank goodness we know more now than we did in the 1980s - the "stiff upper lip" mentality would have made recovery so much harder...!)
August 10, 2026
I don't like commenting on memoirs, as they are just so personal. But I read this in less than 24 hours, and really didnt want to put it down, but I had to still parent! Highly recommend you read this.
Review of advance copy
I have no recollection of this event as we were in the UK. What a baring of the soul .. although I am sure it was worse really! I have always heard Sally’s byline on RNZ. I didn’t realize she was a paraplegic.
Review of advance copy
An excellent read. Raw and honest.
August 20, 2026
What a read - you are a brave lady Sally Wenley. Thank you for sharing your difficult journey in this emotional read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews