The 57 Bus A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives — Content Guide for Parents
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
A NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller
Stonewall Book Award Winner
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the 21st Century (So Far)
The riveting New York Times bestseller and Stonewall Book Award winner that will make you rethink all you know about race, class, gender, crime, and punishment. Artfully, compassionately, and expertly told, Dashka Slater's The 57 Bus is a must-read nonfiction book that chronicles the true story of an agender teen who was set on fire by another teen while riding a bus in Oakland, California.
Two ends of the same line. Two sides of the same crime.
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 economically challenged 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. But in The 57 Bus, award-winning journalist Dashka Slater shows that what might at first seem like a simple matter of right and wrong, justice and injustice, victim and criminal, is something more complicated—and far more heartbreaking.
More Accolades and Awards for The 57 Bus:
A TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist
A Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Honor Book Winner
A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist
Don’t miss Dashka Slater’s newest propulsive and thought-provoking nonfiction book, Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed, the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Winner which National Book Award winner Ibram X. Kendi hails as “powerful, timely, and delicately written.”
Frequently asked questions
Is The 57 Bus A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book recounts a violent incident where Richard set Sasha's skirt on fire, resulting in severe burns. This act is described as a hate crime, highlighting the violent nature of the event. The violent act of setting someone on fire is described, which may be considered frightening for some readers. The context of hate crimes adds to the intensity of the narrative.
Does The 57 Bus A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives have violence?
The book recounts a violent incident where Richard set Sasha's skirt on fire, resulting in severe burns. This act is described as a hate crime, highlighting the violent nature of the event.
Does The 57 Bus A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives have scary content?
The violent act of setting someone on fire is described, which may be considered frightening for some readers. The context of hate crimes adds to the intensity of the narrative.
Does The 57 Bus A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives have religious themes?
No religious content detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does The 57 Bus A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives have racial/cultural content?
The narrative includes the racial backgrounds of the characters, with Richard being African American and Sasha being white. It discusses the complexities of race in the context of the crime and the justice system.
Does The 57 Bus A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives have profanity?
The book includes conversational swearing by teens, with instances of words like 's--t', 'f--k', and 'bitch', though it is noted as not excessive.
Does The 57 Bus A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives have climate change?
No climate themes detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does The 57 Bus A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives have sexual identity?
No sexual content is present in the narrative. The focus is on the incident and its aftermath rather than sexual themes.
Does The 57 Bus A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives have gender roles?
The story addresses issues of gender identity, particularly through Sasha's experience as an agender individual. It challenges traditional gender norms and explores societal perceptions of gender.
Does The 57 Bus A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives have lgbtq+ themes?
The book features Sasha, a teenager who identifies as agender and was attacked while wearing a skirt. The narrative explores themes of gender identity and societal acceptance, framing the events as a critical examination of hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals.
