Hooked on Books discussion

Members Starting the BR: Ashley and Cindy
Challenge: Book Quest Adventures
Book: The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater

Anyone is free to join in this Buddy Read! Happy Reading!

Starting this today!

Hmmm, this is an interesting format for a True Crime, Non-Fic genre book. I'm not sure what I think yet, I'm just letting it happen!

I am starting this book today too!

I agree with the format so far

I'm well into Part 3 now, and so far, and this is just my initial feeling, but I am just finding this entire event sad.

Part 3: Direct Files

This chapter (and the beginning of the book also) is really reminding me of 2 books I've read previously:
The End of Policing and How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them

The inflammatory words being used to describe not just this perpetrator of this crime, but of all (black) teens. Ugh. It makes me feel sick.

Yes, I finished listening to the audiobook and I think the entire event was sad too. I haven’t really read many books like this, so it’s just sad to think about it all. How they classify it all, and just assume the worst. How they changed the charges and changing the plea deal at the very end. How they didn’t listen to Sasha’s parents on how they thought the charges should go

Here's by review, although it's pretty much the same vibe as the BR...

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

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I found this to be an unusual, yet compelling and interesting format for a True Crime/Non-Fiction book. The author's choice to give equal personhood to both perpetrator and victim was critical, and it seemed to be handled with care and nuance.

I did not know about this event, and while it is deeply unsettling and exceptionally sad, the book doesn't feel heavy. In fact, it almost feels hopeful. If a story like this can be uplifting, this one is, in the way it encourages empathy, complexity, and the possibility of growth.



View all my reviews

***This thread has been archived! If you would like to have this thread re-opened for use, please let a mod know by commenting below!***