BOOK REVIEW: The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
Powerful Story of how one moment changed the lives of two teenagers
This story was recommended to me by a close friend, and while I am not a big nonfiction reader, the story pulled at me. So, needless to say, I eventually broke down and decided to read it, and man am I glad I did. I was hooked and engrossed in the lives of Sasha and Richard right from them the start. My heart broke for both of them in very different ways. When I finished, I even spent some time Googling this story and the lives that were forever changed.
I loved how the author approached the writing of the book. The chapters were short and easy to get through and alternated between Sasha’s point of view and Richard’s. This was powerful in seeing how the events unfolded and the fallout from both the victim and the one responsible. Not only that, but we are able to see how it impacted the parents and friends of these two teenagers. As a parent of teenagers myself, I can’t even begin to comprehend the pain and torture that this event had on both sides.
The book in its entirety was broken down into three parts which allows the readers to see the moments, experiences, and pressures that lead to that fateful moment when Richard lit Sasha’s skirt on fire on the ride home on the 57 bus.
Never let your obstacles become more important than your goal.
There are a lot of implications in this story in regards to race, gender identification, and financial status. But there are a lot of implications as well when it comes to forgiveness and moving forward. The resilience that Sasha shows in her recovery is inspirational and moving, and Richard’s resilience in facing his consequences and accepting responsibility is equally moving. I work with teenagers every day and while they don’t do what Richard did, they do make decisions that can change the course of their lives without taking the time to think about what the consequences might be.
Sasha’s parents are also admirable people in their love of Sasha, but also in their support of Richard. This is something that everyone would probably be able to do. There are some moments I raised my eyebrows in confusion as to how the legal system was treating Richard at times.
Overall, it was a great book. And that is coming from someone who doesn’t really read nonfiction, but as someone who works in a high school, I would love to see this book read in more schools and more accessible to students. There are lessons here and opportunities for thought provoking discussions that I think could be huge in teens' lives. I struggled to put it down once I got going, and I’m thinking about starting the Index Card game with my family. I loved it!
The very last part of the brain to get myelinated is the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for reason, planning, and deliberation. So while teenage emotions have gone into hyperdrive, reason and logic are still obeying the speed limit. The result is that while teenagers can make decisions that are just as mature, reasoned, and rational as adults’ decisions in normal circumstances, their judgment can be fairly awful when they are feeling intense emotions or stress, conditions that psychologists call hot cognition. In those situations, teens are more likely to make decisions with the limbic system rather than the prefrontal cortex.
Where is this book on my bookshelf?
Top shelf for sure. The social implications surrounding this event are critical to be shared. It’s a powerful book and a definite must read. The themes of forgiveness and perseverance are ones that everyone can learn something from, regardless of how old you are or what your own background is. There is a lot of strength shown from all the characters in sharing their experiences. I appreciate and respect the decision to share.
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