The 57 Bus: a true story of two teenagers
and the crime that changed their lives
Farrar
Straus Giroux. 2017
ISBN:
9780374303235
Grades 7 and up
Note: While Cathy is out on Sabbatical, Louise is writing all the reviews. Cathy will return February, 2018.
Sasha and Richard were high school students living in
Oakland, California. Sasha was middle-class and attended a small, private
school. Richard lived in one of the poorer Oakland neighborhoods and attended a
large public school. For eight minutes every day their paths crossed on the 57
bus. Then, one afternoon, Richard set fire to Sasha’s skirt. A reckless act
that left Sasha with severe burns and Richard charged with two hate crimes and
life imprisonment.
Award-wining journalist, Dashka Slater, chronicles the true
story of Sasha and Richard, one wearing a skirt; the other carrying a lighter, and
how an implusive decision changed their lives forever. Slater compelling narrative examines race, class, gender, identity,
morality, and forgiveness. Divided into four parts, readers are offered an
in-depth look at both Sasha and Richard, the fire, and then ties it all
together with the trial and aftermath. Chapters are short, but powerful and at
times upsetting.
Back matter offers some gender-neutrality milestones, and statistics
on US juvenile incarceration.
Highly recommended for libraries serving middle, high school
students.
To write this review, I used an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) from ALA Annual in Chicago.
To write this review, I used an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) from ALA Annual in Chicago.