stephaniechristensen's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
5.0
thankstomylocallibrary's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
savvypotions's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Medical content, Death, Gun violence, Murder, and Racism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicide, Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Deadnaming
ethan_libra's review against another edition
3.0
This is my second time reading The 57 Bus, and while I didn't feel as strongly about it as before, I still enjoyed this book. This is an informative and engaging nonfiction work that explores the experiences of two very different individuals, and while this juxtaposition manages to work at times, most of the time the transition between the two main plots can feel awkward, and a clear timeline of events is difficult to establish. I would have preferred that the author separate these two parts entirely, much like how the backstories of both individuals are separated for the first third of the book. I also had some issues with the book switching to and from different styles of writing, as it could be disorienting to transition from nonfiction reporting to more poetic vignettes, for instance. Finally, I found the ending to be weak. However, I will strongly recommend this book for its depiction of young LBGT+ and POC experiences, and the accessible look it takes into the daily lives of its main characters. I also liked how this book didn't try to pad the book with needless information; if I wasn't gone on vacation for two weeks, I probably could have finished this in 3 days or so. This is a powerful book with a powerful story to tell. With some more thematic and stylistic clarity, it could be amazing, but for now, it's just good. In reality, I'm leaning more towards 4 stars than 3, but I don't like overrating books.
*Side note: Unless you're writing for a website or blog, don't include a full description of the book in your review. People can look up a book's description if they haven't read it or forgot the plot.
*Side note: Unless you're writing for a website or blog, don't include a full description of the book in your review. People can look up a book's description if they haven't read it or forgot the plot.
hanwoos's review against another edition
4.25
The best non-fiction I have ever read. I haven't read a nonfiction book so well written, EVER. The author does an amazing job at teaching the reader about gender identity, and about the juvenile justice system.