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kimabill's review against another edition
4.0
This book tells the true story of a trans teenage girl whose skirt was set on fire by a young Black boy on a city bus. The author did in-depth interviews with everyone involved in the event and she tells the story with an incredible amount of empathy. The book is written for a young adult or maybe even middle grade audience and I really appreciate the way the author doesn't talk down to her audience but at the same time, she demands respect for the folks she is writing about. Even the introduction almost made me cry. She carefully explains why she used the names and pronouns that she did and how every decision about those things was discussed with the young people she was talking about. The book covers issues about LGBTQ+ rights, class inequality, racial discrimination, and the criminal justice system. And it does all of these things while still being extremely accessible. I wish every school would include this book in their curriculum - I think it would really help people have compassion for folks whose lives are different than theirs.
jschroe40's review against another edition
4.0
This was a hard read, in the sense that it was based on true events, and from the sense that some portions were a bit graphic, related to the burn incident. That being said, it is also an important book that touches on several important topics.
cjblume's review against another edition
5.0
rating a true story is always so weird because it feels like i’m rating part of their life.
the story itself is very sad but it brings to light a lot of the a surrounding our society, the justice system, & incarceration. the ending is very interesting because you are just wishing it never happened to anyone. i hope everyone has moved on since this time.
the story itself is very sad but it brings to light a lot of the a surrounding our society, the justice system, & incarceration. the ending is very interesting because you are just wishing it never happened to anyone. i hope everyone has moved on since this time.
hthompson51's review against another edition
5.0
Heartbreaking story about a small [terrible] decision that altered two teenage lives. I liked the lead up with back stories on both teens as well as the interspersed stats and info on gender identity and racial and economic disparities in Oakland as well as in the U.S. judicial and penal systems.
silversky087's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 ⭐ i will definitely think about this book every now and then, it's very eye-opening. i'm very glad i read it!
andreaturner's review against another edition
5.0
I vaguely thought I knew what this book was about, but I couldn't have been more wrong and more pleasantly surprised. I read it in two afternoons, a quick read with heavy, important subject matter presented in a way that was easy to digest. I'd teach it in all of my high school English classes tomorrow if I could. The stories of these two young people are told with such empathy. Excellent young adult nonfiction. A great companion to Just Mercy, also.
seventhchariot's review against another edition
The 57 Bus is a true story.
For those who aren't aware, this is the synopsis:
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.
What I enjoyed:
• The importance of this novel: teaching of pronouns and different terms for gender,sexuality,etc.
• The multimedia format that shows everyone's side of the story
Other things that I would have personally liked to have seen:
• More of an emotional punch (the writing style wrote in a detached style)
Recommended for:
• Everyone
• For those who identify as, and for those who want to learn/understand pronouns and terminology mainly genderqueer, will find something important in this novel.
For those who aren't aware, this is the synopsis:
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.
What I enjoyed:
• The importance of this novel: teaching of pronouns and different terms for gender,sexuality,etc.
• The multimedia format that shows everyone's side of the story
Other things that I would have personally liked to have seen:
• More of an emotional punch (the writing style wrote in a detached style)
Recommended for:
• Everyone
• For those who identify as, and for those who want to learn/understand pronouns and terminology mainly genderqueer, will find something important in this novel.