A review by bookobsessedmommy
The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
This book had an almost light tone, which sounds off putting, but it's really what allowed me to finish it. I read primarily to escape, so I struggle to read books that depict the hard and ugly parts of real life. The tragic events of what happened on the 57 bus are told in balance way that humanizes both Richard and Sasha, without excusing Richards actions. There fact that this book is YA explains the basic levels of education the author tries to provide around the gender spectrum, sexuality, mass incarceration, gun violence, and alternative rehabilitation options for juvenile offenders. Slater gives a general idea of how things were at the time of the incident, how certain ideas and legislation effect individuals, and a few glimpses at how things have changed since then. At times, the story seemed to grow arms and legs, delving into the back stories of parents and counselors, but the of life has dealt so many young people a garbage hand and they're doing the best they can to deal with it came through.  
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