The 57 Bus tells the true story of two teenagers living in Oakland, California. The city, described as being racially and culturally diverse while also suffering from some of the highest rates of wealth inequality in the nation, is home to Sasha and Richard, two teenagers. Sasha identifies as agender, and is a white teen at Maybeck High. Richard is an African-American boy whose childhood is beset by violence. He attends Oakland High at the time of the attack. Despite their different schools and different worlds, they take the same public bus home.
While riding the bus home with his cousin Lloyd and acquaintance Jamal, Richard spots Sasha sleeping in a seat near the back. Jamal hands Richard a lighter and dares him to light Sasha's skirt on fire "as a prank." From the way the boys talk about Sasha, it's clear that Sasha's appearance has made them a target in the boys' eyes. Richard tries to light the skirt a few times to no effect. Then, as the bus pulls to a stop, Richard lights the skirt and the skirt goes up in a ball of flame. Sasha wakes up screaming but, thanks to a couple of calm samaritans, their clothes are put out and they live to tell the tale. Richard and his friends hop on another bus before the police arrive.
The next day, Richard is arrested at Oakland High. The attack throws both him and Sasha into the eyes of the nation. For over a year, Richard's trial dragged on. During the trial, it is unclear if he acted out of hatred or prejudice, if he meant real harm to befall Sasha, or if he was simply following the lead of his older friends. Sasha and their family have faith that Richard feels genuine remorse and advocates that he be tried as a juvenile, but the state charges him as an adult. Richard is ultimately sentenced to five years in a juvenile facility with time served and will be released before his twenty-first birthday.
Instead of just focusing on the crime committed, Slater explores themes of identity, race, class, and justice. Slater explores the limitations of binaries, not only in terms of identity, but also in terms of the justice system. And Slater doesn't limit her investigation to the lives of the victim and the offender, but rather endeavors to investigate the effects of this attack on whole communities in Oakland.
