A review by edh
Answering 911: Life in the Hot Seat by Caroline Burau

3.0

I snagged this one while I was working a desk shift because the chair on the cover looked soooo comfortable... turns out, this slim little memoir was really engaging and engrossing! Caroline's transition from crack smoking, abused girlfriend to 911 dispatcher is bittersweet: just as she gains mastery over the hectic, oppressive atmosphere of the call center (just when DO you think they get time to vacuum a place that's occupied 24/7?) she's beginning to doubt whether she can do this job for 30 years like Kristen, Queen of the Main Line. She becomes jaded because of the constant exposure to crisis & misfortune, but also discovers that her detachment has given her an inner strength she didn't know was possible. The push/pull of "life in the hot seat" will keep readers glued to the page for more than just voyeuristic thrills. Give this one to high schoolers thinking about possible careers, or anyone who wants a glimpse into the inner workings of an extreme job.