The 57 Bus By Dashka Slater

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The 57 Bus. A true story of two teenagers and the crime that changed their lives. Dashka Slater tells the story of a boy, Richard, towards an agender teen, Sasha. Sasha is set on fire, while riding the 57 bus. The crime is told starting with the backstories of both characters and emerges from there. It is a book that explores many themes of race, class, gender, and crime. Throughout the text, Richard’s past experiences reveal a character who is easily manipulated, and does not reflect his true self. His childhood, present life, and the people he surrounds himself with are all factors that prompted the crime Richard commits. Richard grew up in a lower class household. This childhood is what contributed to the setting on fire of Sashas skirt. …show more content…

After joining Kaprice Wilson’s program for struggling teens at Oakland High School, Richard is doing better as a student and is trying to graduate. He is determined to be. After this, Richard is robbed by a boy who has killed people. “Two tongues in their mouths, the one they use to promise, and the one they use to lie.” (101) This line is part of a poem that Richard writes, right after he is robbed, showing he feels betrayed and now has a different mindset than graduating and becoming a good student. This distraction and deterrence in his plans are what contributed to Richard committing the crime. This event in Richard's life is what caused him to change his character, not reflecting his true self, resulting in him lighting Sasha’s skirt on fire. The people Richard surrounds himself with are not a very good influence on him or others. These people are what convince him to commit the crime. “Go ahead, you do it” (112) This is said by Jamal, Richard's friend. Jamal urged and pressed Richard into lighting Sasha’s skirt on fire. This shows that Richard is very impressionable and easily influenced into doing things he may or may not already want to

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