Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Bus 57: Eine wahre Geschichte by Dashka Slater

21 reviews

bookobsessedmommy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

This book had an almost light tone, which sounds off putting, but it's really what allowed me to finish it. I read primarily to escape, so I struggle to read books that depict the hard and ugly parts of real life. The tragic events of what happened on the 57 bus are told in balance way that humanizes both Richard and Sasha, without excusing Richards actions. There fact that this book is YA explains the basic levels of education the author tries to provide around the gender spectrum, sexuality, mass incarceration, gun violence, and alternative rehabilitation options for juvenile offenders. Slater gives a general idea of how things were at the time of the incident, how certain ideas and legislation effect individuals, and a few glimpses at how things have changed since then. At times, the story seemed to grow arms and legs, delving into the back stories of parents and counselors, but the of life has dealt so many young people a garbage hand and they're doing the best they can to deal with it came through.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Hate crime, Medical content, and Bullying

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Grief

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

traceyanderson's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Suicide, and Transphobia

mattyb's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Homophobia

Moderate: Death, Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Medical content

Minor: Murder, Suicide, and Toxic friendship

tiernanhunter's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Racism, Violence, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Deadnaming, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Medical trauma, Transphobia, and Classism

Moderate: Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Murder, Drug use, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Sexism

Minor: Antisemitism

greywolfheir's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Gun violence, Racism, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Suicide and Death

missjmart's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

5.0

The 57 Bus" is a powerful true story that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a range of emotions. The story revolves around two teenagers, Sasha and Richard, who come from different backgrounds and have had very different life experiences. Sasha, a gender non-binary student, is white and goes to a private school in Oakland, California, while Richard, who is black, attends a public school in the same city. One day, while they were both on the 57 bus, Richard does something that changes their lives forever - he sets Sasha's skirt on fire while they are sleeping. This event becomes national news and the book takes you through the events leading up to it, the aftermath, and the impact it had on everyone involved.

Dashka Slater's writing is truly exceptional as she skillfully brings together a range of sources, including interviews, news articles, and court transcripts, to create a compelling and empathetic depiction of Sasha and Richard's experiences. Through their story, the book offers an insightful examination of the intricate and often difficult issues surrounding identity, race, class, and gender that are so relevant in today's society.

While "The 57 Bus" may be a difficult book to read, it is undeniably a crucial one. It encourages readers to take a closer look at their own preconceptions and prejudices and to confront the harsh truths of social injustice that exist in our world. However, despite the heavy subject matter, the book ultimately offers a message of hope and resilience. It shows that even in the midst of tragedy, empathy, compassion, and forgiveness can triumph, shining a light on the better aspects of humanity.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in learning more about this incident and exploring the complexities of the people involved. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, and Medical content

mandi4886's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Transphobia, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Violence, Bullying, Sexism, Classism, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Blood, Body horror, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Grief, and Outing

Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

morebedsidebooks's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.0

As time has passed The 57 Bus has won multiple awards and made many best books list. As well as the dubious attention of appearing frequently in book challenges.
 

See my blog for an in-depth review. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Confinement, and Medical content

Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, Cursing, Murder, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, and Homophobia

Minor: Bullying, Death, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Suicide, Child death, and Suicidal thoughts

This book also discusses the drug wars of the 1980s and 90s and mentions a parent incarcerated for drug offenses.

maple_dove's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative slow-paced

4.0

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater is a book narrating the crime that happened between Richard (he/him), a boy, and Sasha (they/them), an agender teenager. It discusses the event with nuance, and asks questions, including  whether teenage violent offenders should be treated as adults.

To be honest, I can't really find the words to explain this book, nor what I liked or disliked about it. 😅

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Hate crime

Moderate: Confinement

Misgendering (graphic)