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"One teenager in a skirt. One teenager with a lighter. One moment that changes both of their lives forever. If it weren't for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But one afternoon on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned, and Richard charged with two hate crimes and facing life imprisonment. The case garnered international attention, thrusting both teenagers into the spotlight."--… (more)
User reviews
Yet, this book was not just about the crime but about the people; specifically Sasha and Richard. The book is broken out into different parts. The first parts give the reader an insight into who Sasha and Richard are before the event. While, the event was horrible, I felt like Richard really did not have malice intentions towards Sasha. He just made a very stupid judgment in error that cost him dearly. Just from reading this book, it seemed that Richard was a scapegoat. This book captured my attention and kept it until the very end.
Alternating between
You have to read this book!
Written for young adults, appropriate for middle grade, and a compelling read for adults. This true story takes place in Oakland, in the neighborhood my grandparents lived in long before the events described in this book took place. While the setting was
Although other readers found this book to be one-sided, preachy, and even lacking in detail, there is much to be gleaned from reading it.
Slater could have focused great attentiion and detail on the horrific act that this
Good quick read. Took two days. Would recommend to high school readers particularly those looking for affirming stories and people in the LGBTQ community.
Most of the “chapters” that comprise this book are no longer than 2 or 3 pages. While this choppy reportorial structure could potentially create an uneven staccato rhythm to Slater’s writing, instead it accurately reproduces the assortment of viewpoints and contexts that create an intricate mosaic around the unfortunate event, its causes, and its consequences. Slater begins by presenting an account of the event itself. She then shifts the focus to Sasha, a teenager who embodies the very meaning of intersectional identity—Sasha, assigned male at birth, identifies as agender or genderqueer—that is, neither male nor female. Sasha uses the gender-neutral pronouns “they” and “them,” a practice Slater adopts throughout the book. Sasha is also on the autism spectrum. The next section of the book focuses on Richard, who set Sasha’s skirt on fire. Richard, a black teenager, lives in poverty and has grown up surrounded by crime and violence. When Richard’s and Sasha’s lives intersect one fateful day in Oakland on the 57 bus, Slater focuses on the complex ways in which race, gender, sexuality, privilege, prejudice, and socioeconomics affect what happens next as she discusses perceptions and misperceptions of sexuality, gender identity, and institutionalized racism.
The book proceeds at a brisk pace that belies its profound implications, and it handles complex and relevant contemporary issues in a style appropriate for its intended adolescent audience. I highly recommend that everyone read this book and share it with a young adult.
In short chapters The 57 Bus illuminates both injured Sasha's and incarcerated Richard's stories both before and after the fateful afternoon their lives briefly intersected. I read this book in two days and I could hardly put it down. It is shelved in my local library as a "teen" book, but it really is for anyone who wants to read a story of redemption, hope and healing.
The moment: person with a white skirt; person with a lighter--both on the 57 bus. Yes, what you
The non-fiction book introduces the reader to each person, so that we do not assume "good vs. evil." Assumptions have consequences. Let's avoid what is avoidable. The facts. Sasha, born a male, considers themself agender and uses the plural pronoun, which takes getting used to while reading. Sasha likes wearing skirts. They were raised in a white, fairly safe community and they are super, super smart. They didn't fit in completely but had close friends growing up and respected for their intelligence. Sasha loved public transportation and the thought that goes behind making it all work. Seemingly, they seem advantaged, and to an extent, yes. Their parents accepted these choices by Sasha and expected others to respect them as well. Richard, on the other hand, has a much different life. His mother loves him but works a lot of hours, and Richard sometimes doesn't always hang around the best people. There is much more disadvantages to his community than Sasha has. He's actually a good kid, but he does do some stupid stuff sometimes and doesn't know why he didn't think it through. He ends up arrested before this incident; and, when he returns, he attends a different school where a counselor of sorts helps students like him use education to achieve and not end up dead.
These lives reflect the social divides in America. If Richard didn't live in a higher crime area because society had more choices for his mother, would he have done what he did? Was this a hate crime? As the book unfolds, Richard doesn't seem to have any animosity toward seeing a boy in a skirt. He claims to be homophobic, but I'm not convinced he knew what the word meant. As the novel progresses, you see how incarceration affects Richard. Did it keep him from achieving what he could have? Did it keep him out of trouble and gave him a future he wouldn't have had? Did it protect him? Sasha recovers and attends a prestigious college while Richard serves time in a juvenile facility. Two totally different lives. The parents even care for each other. Sasha's parents do not hate. They see the problems in society and the justice system and want Richard to have help. They don't judge him. Everyone wants what is best for everyone and strive for this positive outcome.
As you read the book, you discover statistics about incarceration of juveniles, what seems to help, and what doesn't. You also discover everyone is a person. Assumptions and hate create the problems and no one benefits. It's a fascinating look at an incident that lasted a short time but had consequences for all of us. It is well worth your time because you will really think about what is being said and, hopefully, take a deep breath and choose to be someone who researches truth instead of jumps to conclusions.
This true story encompasses gender identity, racism, bias, class
Sasha identifies as agender, using the pronoun "they." I'm blown away by their sense of self. Most people would be left bitter, seeking retribution, but Sasha has this incredible inner peace. Really, I wish they could bottle it and spray it all over the world. Sasha's parents are supportive in a way that every child deserves, regardless of gender or sexual preference.
I especially love how this book questions the way we prosecute teens. Casting blame is easy, but the reality is almost always far more complicated.
While Sasha's and Richard's stories are unique, different versions are playing out all over the world. Maybe reading this will help us all learn a better way forward.
This sounds like a terribly sad (true) story and one that you don't think you'd ever want to read, but Sasha and Richard's stories have so much heart that you won't regret picking it up. There's also a ton to think
• What separates a hate crime from an impulsive, reckless decision?
• Should juveniles be tried and sentenced as adults? What are the potential impacts?
• How did the expression of gender identity influence the behavior of others? How did the expressions of support change this behavior?
• How can understanding of differences increase tolerance and acceptance?
• How does news reporting and social media influence public opinion? How does this book attempt to go further than the surface treatment of this case?
• What roles do remorse and forgiveness play in the outcome?
The book is divided into four sections: Sasha, Richard, the Fire, and Justice. Chapters are short and riveting. Up-to-date gender terminology is conveyed. We get to know the families and background of those involved, and I cared about what happened to them. It would be nice to see an addition to the book at some point in the future to find out each of these two fares later in life.
Recommended to readers who wish to become more informed about gender identity issues, juvenile crime, and criminal justice concerns. Book clubs may also be interested, as it challenges many commonly-held assumptions and includes lots of room for debate. Contains language and graphic descriptions the results of a person being set on fire. I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.