On Monday, November 4th, 2013, in Oakland, California, the lives of two teenagers unexpectedly crossed and forever changed the direction of their futures. Sasha, an agender teenager, was riding the 57 bus home from high school and was set on fire by another teenager, Richard. Sasha, a white middle class teenager, who attended private school in Oakland, identified as neither male nor female, and prefers to use the pronoun “they.” Richard, an African American teen who attended public high school in Oakland, lived with his mother in adverse conditions in the economically challenged flatlands.

Richard is considered a well-meaning teenager, but he makes the tragic mistake of holding a lighter up to Sasha’s skirt while she is sleeping, assuming he will give her a quick scare. What he does not realize, however, is that this reckless act will leave Sasha with second and third degree burns on her body, and he will be charged with two hate crimes and face life imprisonment.

"THE 57 BUS...is exceptionally well-researched and very illuminating....a captivating read for YA enthusiasts and a broader audience, as it bolsters our understanding of cultural, racial and economic differences."

On the surface, it is easy to assume this incident was a hate crime perpetrated by an African American, which is the way in which it was conveyed by the media. This is due, in part, to Richard’s own words when he states that he is homophobic, sparking a national controversy.

However, in her book THE 57 BUS: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives, Dashka Slater takes a different approach introducing the complexity of the characters and the situation, examining both Sasha’s and Richard’s lives prior to the crime taking place and sharing snippets relating to what made them the people they were at the time of the crime and today.

In addition, Slater explores the flaws in the criminal justice system that impacted the case, pointing to things like no lawyer being present in the room while Richard is interrogated, and the official charge which had Richard being tried as an adult. Slater also uses the opportunity to raise awareness for the violence inflicted upon the LGBTQ community, along with addressing race, sexuality and gender roles.

THE 57 BUS presents itself in a nonfiction format, with a narrative voice. Slater includes text messages, social media exchanges, letters and poetry in order for the reader to walk away fully understanding both of the teenager’s stories; the reader is left with empathy for both Sasha and Richard and their families.

However, while the book does not excuse Richard’s actions and clearly illustrates the reckless nature of his actions, Slater tries to examine the crime through the lens of adolescent ignorance rather than all-out criminal activity and she addresses tolerance and forgiveness. To this day, Richard remains incarcerated for the incident, while Sasha has recovered and is a senior in college.

I highly recommend THE 57 BUS, as it is exceptionally well-researched and very illuminating, with Slater challenging basic assumptions and never succumbing to straightforward interpretations. It is a captivating read for YA enthusiasts and a broader audience, as it bolsters our understanding of cultural, racial and economic differences.