Common Sense Media Review
By Rachel Sarah
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
True story of teens' fateful encounter and its aftermath.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 24 kid reviews
Kids say the book offers a powerful perspective on social issues, particularly the themes of acceptance and the complexities of the justice system through the stories of two teenagers. While some readers found it enlightening and engaging, others criticized its writing style and structure, feeling it lacked depth and was confusing.
- impactful themes
- mixed reviews
- engaging narrative
- confusing structure
- social commentary
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
This nonfiction account is based on the New York Times Magazine story that journalist, novelist, and children's author Dashka Slater wrote about a 2013 assault that occurred when two teens were riding home from school on THE 57 BUS in Oakland, California. While one teen, Sasha, who appeared male but was wearing a skirt, slept, 16-year-old Richard -- egged on by friends -- lit the sleeping Sasha's skirt on fire. The fire left third-degree burns over 22 percent of Sasha's body. Richard was charged as an adult with two hate crimes and faced life in prison. The story is divided into four parts -- "Sasha," "Richard," "The Fire," and "Justice" -- in which Slater deeply explores the lives of these two teens, their pasts, their friends and families, and the events that led to that fateful day on the bus.
Is It Any Good?
Heartbreaking but infused with compassion, this true story is riveting. The short, compelling chapters of The 57 Bus peel back issues of race, class, and gender in a subtle, empathic way. The writing is intense and insightful, and the reader comes away more aware and feeling more compassion for both teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The 57 Bus deals with growing up agender, which means not identifying with a specific gender. Why does society sometimes ridicule and hurt nonconforming people? Have you read any other books about someone who's gender-nonconforming? Did this story make you feel more empathy?
How do you talk about race with friends and family? How do you deal with friends who tell racist, homophobic, and otherwise offensive jokes? What about family members who say inappropriate things?
What are your thoughts about the U.S. criminal justice system after reading The 57 Bus?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : History
- Topics : Activism , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Publication date : October 17, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate