The 57 Bus

D. (2017).The 57 Bus. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux Books.
The 57 Bus is a gripping non-fiction story written about an "agender" named Sasha also previously known as "Luke".  Sasha lived in an upper neighborhood and attended a private school.  This book tells how Sasha was a casualty of a violent act on a bus. This book also feature a boy from an intercity school named Richard who committed the crime.  Sasha was asleep on a bus and Richard and some friends thought it would be funny to light Sasha's skirt on fire with a lighter.  Cameras caught the act and Richard was arrested and ended up spending 5 years in a detention center.  Sasha's needed extensive medical treatments.  The court wanted to convict Richard at 17 as an "adult" and for a "hate crime" but the most thought this was not. The story focuses on gender, race, criminal acts, recovery, trial proceedings, justice system, families and restorative discipline.   Sasha and her family forgive Richard for the act after receiving letters he had written 17 months prior but it is too late to help reduce his sentence.  Richard did a stupid thing and was punished to the extent for it, but most did not want him to become a criminal statistic.  This was a quick read of non-fiction.  It will make you look at the perspective of both sides of the case.  It is an extremely well written piece that will show you how acceptance and forgiveness can be achieved.  Other book from this author are The Wishing Box and children's books such as, Antlered and The Sea Serpent and Me.