Sasha and Richard are seen as polar opposites in modern society. The one time they cross paths, their lives go up in flames.
This true story of an agender teenager who was set on fire by another teen on the 57 Bus in Oakland, California forces them to both navigate their lives in an entirely new way.
I enjoyed how this book challenged the way I view different aspects of society: the justice system, crime, and gender inequalities. The literary style of the book reads like a fiction novel, and while this allows for a smooth narrative, readers may benefit from explicit timestamps for each event to help create a real-world timeline.
Slater’s novel opens with an introduction of both characters. Sasha was raised in a supportive family, is an extremely bright student, and wants to raise awareness for the LGBTQ+ community. After years of discovering their identity, they work to increase inclusivity in all environments and have even communicated with the government in hopes of implementing gender inclusivity in official documents.
Richard is a young boy who is light-hearted and funny, and sometimes a bit of a troublemaker. He is known to have disciplinary issues but is trying to be a better person to make his family proud. On the bus ride home from school, Richard meets Sasha. He lights their skirt on fire, claiming it to be an “immature prank,” which results in him receiving a seven-year sentence in an adult prison.
This intriguing book shares the ideas of two individuals – both fighting incredible amounts of social stigmas – taking the reader through their lives and the challenges they face. The 57 Bus taught me the importance of understanding each person’s situation before making a judgment. I was fascinated to learn about different groups of people that I had not been exposed to before, which taught me the true meaning of respecting one another despite our differences.
The real text messages sent between characters gave me a true insight and understanding as to what was occurring during the moments of chaos and havoc. The quotes, narratives, and stories from the characters’ family members provide an additional lens into the main character’s lives.
Opening this book with an unbiased mind will allow readers to see the world from a different perspective. I gained greater empathy for all groups of people through the themes of reality, forgiveness, and compassion highlighted throughout the book.
This book is an excellent read and one that is meant for all readers – regardless of class, gender, or personal beliefs. It has the power to challenge your ideas and may even change your life.
This true story of an agender teenager who was set on fire by another teen on the 57 Bus in Oakland, California forces them to both navigate their lives in an entirely new way.
I enjoyed how this book challenged the way I view different aspects of society: the justice system, crime, and gender inequalities. The literary style of the book reads like a fiction novel, and while this allows for a smooth narrative, readers may benefit from explicit timestamps for each event to help create a real-world timeline.
Slater’s novel opens with an introduction of both characters. Sasha was raised in a supportive family, is an extremely bright student, and wants to raise awareness for the LGBTQ+ community. After years of discovering their identity, they work to increase inclusivity in all environments and have even communicated with the government in hopes of implementing gender inclusivity in official documents.
Richard is a young boy who is light-hearted and funny, and sometimes a bit of a troublemaker. He is known to have disciplinary issues but is trying to be a better person to make his family proud. On the bus ride home from school, Richard meets Sasha. He lights their skirt on fire, claiming it to be an “immature prank,” which results in him receiving a seven-year sentence in an adult prison.
This intriguing book shares the ideas of two individuals – both fighting incredible amounts of social stigmas – taking the reader through their lives and the challenges they face. The 57 Bus taught me the importance of understanding each person’s situation before making a judgment. I was fascinated to learn about different groups of people that I had not been exposed to before, which taught me the true meaning of respecting one another despite our differences.
The real text messages sent between characters gave me a true insight and understanding as to what was occurring during the moments of chaos and havoc. The quotes, narratives, and stories from the characters’ family members provide an additional lens into the main character’s lives.
Opening this book with an unbiased mind will allow readers to see the world from a different perspective. I gained greater empathy for all groups of people through the themes of reality, forgiveness, and compassion highlighted throughout the book.
This book is an excellent read and one that is meant for all readers – regardless of class, gender, or personal beliefs. It has the power to challenge your ideas and may even change your life.
The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives