The 57 Bus

Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with the complexities of justice, the impact of snap decisions, or the nuances of gender identity. It is an essential tool for parents who want to move beyond headlines to discuss how race, class, and bias intersect in the real world. Dashka Slater provides a compassionate, multi-perspective look at a true event where a nonbinary teen was harmed by a Black teenager on an Oakland bus. The narrative explores restorative justice and accountability through the lens of two very different lives. It tackles heavy themes like systemic racism and transphobia with clinical precision and deep empathy. While the subject matter is intense, it offers a vital framework for understanding that people are more than the worst thing they have ever done, making it ideal for mature middle and high schoolers.