Title: 57 Bus
Author: Dashka Slater
Genre: Nonfiction, written like a Y.A.
Publish Date: October 17, 2017
Number of Pages: 320
Review: This novel is a true story about an agender teen named Sasha who was set on fire by a young boy named Richard. The quotes are verbatim and all of the information has been pulled from security cameras, journals, or interviews with those involved. The novel began as a longform article but eventually became a published book which has won the Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award. In the first part of the novel, we learn all about Sasha and they're backstory. There are chapters detailing their gender and chapters about genders in general. In the second part of the novel, we learn about Richard and his backstory. We learn about how he's grown up and how life has been for him. In the third part of the novel, we learn what happened with Sasha's skirt being set on fire. In the final part, we see how the justice system dealt with the case and all of the hardships caused by it. One day, while riding the bus, Sasha fell asleep. Richard, his cousin, and his friend were on the bus too and saw them sleeping. They didn't understand why "a man" would wear a skirt and not expect anything to happen. They joked about lighting Sasha's skirt on fire, before egging Richard on to do it. When Richard lit the skirt on fire, he expected Sasha to awake right away and put out the fire, annoyed. Instead, Sasha remained asleep until they were on fire resulting in them getting third-degree burns over 22 percent of their body. This was one of the two choices for our school-wide summer read. I think that this novel was extremely important to read because it brings up issues of class, race, gender, and sexuality. It includes definitions on a few sexualities and genders in one of the chapters as a way to educate those who may not know or understand what different things mean while reading the novel. Towards the end, it also includes a list of achievements for the non-binary gender that have come about or in some cases, been repealed. I highly recommend it. I could not bring myself to put it down as I read it. You also don't find very many non-binary or gender-nonconforming characters in novels. In general I don't tend to like Non-fiction books because they lack a plot or they end up boring me, but the way this was written was far from boring. To all of you who have been victims of hate crimes, who have been victims of bullying, or anything else related to how you do not fit in with Society's norms, remember that you are loved by all those around you. You are supported by them and they stand by you. Things will get better and I'm proud of you for surviving this long.
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-Éden
