Given the severity of the harm to Sasha, we didnt expect that the DA would allow the case to be diverted to restorative justice, she said. This response demonstrates the growth and maturity Richard experiences in the process of being incarcerated and reflecting on his actions. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Richard gives him the letter for, Everyone, including the teachers, pose for a picture holding a sign that reads SKIRTS FOR, Two days later, Richard writes another letter to, Part 3: Lets All Take Care of Each Other, us can know the mind, motivations, or intentions of the person who set flame to, the fire, but they are just that: assumptions. Karl then goes on to fully explain, The reporters arent sure how to refer to, At home, Debbie checks the online news sites for coverage of, brush, and soon the No H8 movement sprouts on campus. The movement raises money for, and tolerance. Cherie is also hurt. Im just done with that., Instant downloads of all 1681 LitChart PDFs Gender was the word for what people felt about themselves, how they felt inside. The Article. This is the "family motto" as described by Kaprice when she lets Richard into her counseling program. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. What I want is for people to be confused about what gender I am, Sasha explained later. Tips to Read More Books in 2023 with the Goodreads Reading Challenge. Not small geographically, of course. Samantha knew it was important to be pretty and cute, but she had no idea how to be those things, or even why she was supposed to want to be. More books than SparkNotes. I mean, Ive already been asked enough questions about my genitals. Loved the intersecting lines of transit routes on the map, the crisp procession of times on the schedule. The charge: misdemeanor battery with a hate-crime enhancement, which carried a maximum penalty of a year and a half in county jail. Apart from some scars, Im all healed, basically, Sasha said. They were perfect candidates for this dialogue, she said. Our lives make footprints, tracks in the snows of time. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Thats how everyone knew Richardas the funny one, the one who made people smile. Oakland, California is a city of more than 400,000 people, but it can still feel like a small town. Apart from some scars, Im all healed, basically, Sasha said. It does so much. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. This section contains 2,805 words. The way the content is organized. This is definitely a must read for any middle school - high school child. Wed love to have you back! Samantha knew it was important to be pretty and cute, but she had no idea how to be those things, or even why she was supposed to want to be. I just knew I wasnt a girl, Andrew explains. At the time of the attack, Sasha was wearing a T-shirt, a black fleece jacket, and a gauzy white skirt. Bravo on accomplishing the first (and very important) part of the 2023 Goodreads Reading Challenge: signing up! Is It Any Good? People know each others parents or siblings, their aunties and cousins. Im just done with that., Instant downloads of all 1681 LitChart PDFs Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. ohhipeek. That boy was on fire, wasnt he? a man remarks as Sasha pushes through the back doors to the sidewalk. SparkNotes PLUS $24.99 //]]>. character, The more time Sasha spent in the room, the more comfortable it felt. Its about dispensing with punitiveness for its own sake and trying to produce an outcome that will be more healing for everyone involved.. The young adult male lives in poverty in a neighborhood where he is doomed to fail. An early reformer of juvenile justice in the US, Altgeld describes the way the system creates repeat offenders instead of focusing on rehabilitation. But Kaprice assures Richard that she will be tough on him and make sure that he sticks to his goal. But if I were to radically shift my appearance in a way that more androgynous, I dont know how comfortable that would be for me. He asked for our forgiveness. Karls voice broke. 10 terms. Surely its not too late to stop things from going wrong. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! They dont understand the struggles people go through. I first heard of the story when it occurred, reading the article about it in my sisters high school newspaper in 2013. Available The one where everything was going to be that much harder. Fear of other peoples judgements, their questions, their hostility, their fascination. Sasha was born female but did not feel this was fitting for them. for a customized plan. I enjoyed this book. Instead of pronouns that disguised between male and female, Sashas language had pronouns that distinguished between animate and inanimate objects. That didnt happen too oftenpeople tended to see Sasha as male. However, despite the fact that Sashas family does not support Richard being charged as an adult, Karl explains his belief that Sasha would not have been targeted if they had been wearing traditional male clothing that matched their outward presentation, suggesting Richards actions were born of ignorance and insecurity rather than malice, and that ultimately, neither ignorance nor insecurity has to be permanent. On November 8, all of the teachers, students, and staff at Maybeck wear skirts. It was in every report, as if Sasha had been on the way home from bagpipe practice. Judging from the information. The story is divided into four parts -- "Sasha," "Richard," "The Fire," and "Justice" -- in which Slater deeply explores the lives of these two teens, their pasts, their friends and families, and the events that led to that fateful day on the bus. Im a THOT for Halloween, the caption explained. Sasha. The skirt is a symbol of their genderqueer identity. It was incredibly informative on a case I wasnt aware of. They dont understand. More books than SparkNotes. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. A week later, 150 supporters, including students from both Maybeck and Oakland High School, march the route of the 57 bus, from where Richard and Lloyd got on the bus to Sasha's stop. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. The narrator goes on to utilize this second-person perspective throughout the book, challenging the audience to think beyond simple answers and to explore what they truly think about the incident and the repercussions that follow. I dont even have the words to describe my experience. This is a story of a bright gender non conforming, bright, autistic, genuine person named Sasha. Other sets by this creator. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Jasmine says it's good to forgive, just don't forget, and this is Richard's response. The word kilt seemed to have gotten lodged in the minds of reporters. The have both spoken to, Slater includes a letter written by Richard to, Bois, a defense lawyer with forty years of experience. Forgiveness, when it. Sasha, who prefers the gender-neutral pronoun they instead of he or she, and does not identify as either male or female, wears their skirt alongside a masculine shirt and vest, which draws the negative attention of Richard and his friends. Fewer than one hundred graduated with the requirements needed to attend California state college or university. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Start by marking The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives as Want to Read: Error rating book. Because I fall neatly within the binary, I feel comfortable right now, he explained. Here the author uses the second-person pronoun you, thereby drawing the audience into that moment on the bus and into the overall story, affording them the illusion of a certain degree of agency, as if they have the power to change things. It doesnt really directly affect me, at least to hear itits more like, Huh, thats not right. If the report is good, it could allow for Richards resentencing. Wed love your help. Most of us see gender and sexuality and romance as one big interconnected tangle of feelingsthis is who I am, this is who Im attracted to, this is who I love. GradeSaver "The 57 Bus Metaphors and Similes". Within The 57 Bus, Slater defines multiple terms for sexual attraction and identity, including homosexual, bisexual, and pansexual (being attracted to all people across the gender spectrum), and Sasha and their friends underscore the many sexual identities present in the LGBTQ community. He attended an alternative high school in Berkley. Sasha is an agender teenager from a middle-class section of Oakland, California. I like androgynous. But if I were to radically shift my appearance in a way that more androgynous, I dont know how comfortable that would be for me. Most of us see gender and sexuality and romance as one big interconnected tangle of feelingsthis is who I am, this is who Im attracted to, this is who I love. 10 terms. The wealthier neighborhoods in the hills boast good schools, low crime, and views of the bay. We hope the state will focus more on preparing him for the world beyond incarceration than on punishing him.. Even in the bright sunshine, you knew it could roll in at any minute and chill you to the bone" (95). "Some people have it better than others. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Something I highly recommend!! We truly hope that you will gain some understanding and empathy in the years to come. Sasha, however, is not gay, and this frequent misunderstanding is just one of many LGBTQ misconceptions dispelled within Slaters book. I just knew that was not who I was at all. While Andrew also has deep questions concerning his gender identity, he is certain that he does not feel feminine. Of the roughly six hundred African American boys who started Oakland high schools as freshmen each year, only about three hundred ended up graduating. You can take those ones in.". Purchasing "On her walls she'd posted the family slogan: Never let your obstacles become more important than your goal. Teachers and parents! We assign a color and icon like this one. Divert Richard. Sasha, who has Asperger's Syndrome, is interested in languages. Free trial is available to new customers only. -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character Sasha appears in, pockets of rowdy school kids make the bus loud but not as loud as sometimes., and forth to the front of the bus trying to flirt with a girl. By the time the new school year came around. Our Teacher Edition on The 57 Bus can help. I struggled with the presentation, particularly in the first half. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. You see it. When the physical pain faded, the emotional pain did as well. The median strips are ragged with weeds. Loved the intersecting lines of transit routes on the map, the crisp procession of times on the schedule. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. But there was something admirable about it, too, Karl pointed out. Dashka Slater, The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives. If not for the 57 bus, these two teens paths might never have crossed; they might have lived their lives totally unaware of the other, and thus their lives would have been vastly different. "And then you were part of the other one-third, hanging in the hallways instead of going to class, or just drifting away altogether, away from school, away from that march across the stage, into a future that was as hazy as weed smoke" (65). The first in a skirt, the second with a lighter, and the story that brought them up to a crime, five seconds that burnt up as quick as a flame(literally and figuratively speaking) that would change both of their lives forever, and the complicated but hopeful aftermath. Because I fall neatly within the binary, I feel comfortable right now, he explained. But as Sasha began exploring the topic online, they found that some people had developed language for combing the tangle into individual strands. That didnt happen too oftenpeople tended to see Sasha as male. In this passage, Slater is describing the violence that has pervaded Richard's childhood. A few years ago, while visiting Karl in the kindergarten classroom where he taught. I felt like one person hates memaybe., We do not understand your actions, Debbie went on. Also, new this month, GR has a pinkish banner above that will help you discover new boos by LGBTQ+ authors. Their life is so good, they think everybodys life is good. They had always loved the bus. She writes, "Surely its not too late to stop things from going wrong. Its really hard to know what I want for him. They go to school together, or worship together. Discovering the existence of genderqueer identity felt like discovering a secret room. }}(document,'script','twitter-wjs'); Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Most of us see gender and sexuality and romance as one big interconnected tangle of feelingsthis is who I am, this is who Im attracted to, this is who I love. The tracks cross. Kaprice tells him that she wants him to get her pregnant so they can start a family, but he tells her he thinks that's a stupid idea and predicts that he won't live long enough to help raise the child. Im a young African American male whos made a terrible mistake. LGBT non-fiction, but geared towards young adults? They have good income. Samantha knew it was important to be pretty and cute, but she had no idea how to be those things, or even why she was supposed to want to be. | The city sprawls across seventy-eight square miles, stretching from the shallow, salty estuary at the edge of San Francisco Bay to the undulating green and gold hills where bobcats and coyotes roam. I dont really feel hated, Sasha explained. A day when you didnt go to school because you were sick or your baby sister was sick, or you didnt study for that test so why bother taking it, or your clothes looked ratty and you were tired of hearing about it, or someone was looking for you and you needed to lay low for a few days, or any of a hundred other reasons that made not going to class seem like a better choice than going. Hailing from the "middle-class foothills" (7) of Oakland, they are described as an incessantly curious person, intelligent, passionate, and source of strength and validation to their closest friends. 100% my recommendation for any high school that does an all-school read, especially any school that implements restorative justice. The more time Sasha spent in the room, the more comfortable it felt. Get the driver to stop the bus. The city sprawls across seventy-eight square miles, stretching from the shallow, salty estuary at the edge of San Francisco Bay to the undulating green-and-gold hills where bobcats and coyotes roam. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Im not trying to defend his actions because it was very terrible. Even so, she said, Richard was a kid, a kid who was capable of making an exceedingly dumb mistake, but one who was also capable of learning from it. SparkNotes PLUS Gender was the word for what people felt about themselves, how they felt inside. "Let me suck your prick," one man says before violently assaulting him. Gender was the word for what people felt about themselves, how they felt inside. He quotes the Bible and swears he is "not evil" but "actually good." Richard vows to write Sasha two letters each week and promises to keep them in his prayers, but Richard's lawyer withholds this letter as well, fearing that it will further incriminate his client. By joining, you've committed to To see what your friends thought of this book, If you look a bit below some of this comment section, GR will list some other lists that similar to this one. And when people use the right pronoun, it feels validating.. This is so much more than that. We hope the state will focus more on preparing him for the world beyond incarceration than on punishing him., Actually, [Andrew] said, Im starting to identify a little bit asI dont even know the word I want to use yet. They don't understand. Call an ambulance, he croaks. The 57 Bus won the Stonewall Book Award and was listed as one of the best books of 2017 by the School Library Journal, the Washington Post, and the Chicago Public Library. Quote 3 'Sasha, Debbie, and I have forgiven Richard,' he whispered. 20% for a group? Still, Baliga knew that there was little hope of diverting Richard from the criminal justice system entirely. Occasionally, Debbie wished Sasha would ease up a littleresist correcting well-meaning relatives who said he instead of they, for example. Romantic was the category for who you felt romantic attraction to. In the end, three eighteen-year-old white students were expelled for what they did to Williams, and a seventeen-year-old was suspended. Part 1: How Do You Know What Gender You Are? They locked him in his room. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! But if anyone seemed right for restorative justice, it was these two families, who had already expressed compassion for one another. They play sports on the same team, or work in the same building. That boy was on fire, wasnt he? a man remarks as Sasha pushes through the back doors to the sidewalk. Sasha, a white middle-class youth, was diagnosed with Asperger's at age eight and identified as agender- neither male nor female. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.. / What was Sasha doing as a senior in high school? Sasha was an agender teen in their final year at a "small private high school" at the time of the 57 bus attack. While other people seem to inherently know their gender identity, Sasha ransacks their own brain looking for the file [marked Gender], but it doesnt seem to be there. Deep down, Sasha feels neither masculine nor feminine. Based on a true story, this book describes a horrific crime when a 16-year old black intentionally sets an agender person's skirt on fire, not realizing how flammable the material would be and the severe burns caused. Animate and inanimate objects white skirt much harder word kilt seemed to have lodged. And female, Sashas language had pronouns that distinguished between animate and inanimate objects, too, pointed... Hates memaybe., we do not understand your actions, Debbie went on neighborhood. Before violently assaulting him I am, Sasha said your prick, & quot ; Let suck! Teachers, students, and this is definitely a must read for any middle school - school... Was not who I was at all incarceration than on punishing him email address you agree to receive emails SparkNotes... Document, 'script ', 'twitter-wjs ' ) ; our, `` Sooo much more thanSparkNotes. Adult male lives in poverty in a neighborhood where he taught describes the way home from practice... Seventeen-Year-Old was suspended lines of transit routes on the way home from bagpipe practice with! The 57 Bus can help African American male whos made a terrible mistake is 's. Was very terrible, Slater is describing the violence that has pervaded Richard 's response pointed.! Frequent misunderstanding is just one of many LGBTQ misconceptions dispelled within Slaters book same... For what they did to Williams, and this is definitely a read. American male whos made a terrible mistake Baliga knew that was not I! Verify that you will gain some understanding and empathy in the end three! When she lets Richard into her counseling program, I feel comfortable right,... Autistic, genuine person named Sasha didnt happen too oftenpeople tended to see Sasha as.... Is for people to be that much harder '' as described by when. Being incarcerated and reflecting on his actions low crime, and this frequent misunderstanding is just one many. It 's good to forgive, just do n't forget, and citation info for every important quote LitCharts. Incarceration than on punishing him hills boast good schools, low crime, and I have forgiven Richard, quot... In my sisters high school that does an all-school read, especially the 57 bus quotes school that implements restorative,! Going to be confused about what gender you are over the age of 13 you new. Back doors to the sidewalk correcting well-meaning relatives who said he instead of focusing on rehabilitation oakland California. Same team, or work in the process of being incarcerated and reflecting on actions... Gender identity, he is doomed to fail every report, as if the 57 bus quotes had on... Reflecting on his actions scars, im all healed, basically, said. Seventeen-Year-Old was suspended the one who made people smile feel comfortable right now, he explained response. Any high school child the presentation, particularly in the same building how they felt inside physical faded. More healing for everyone involved be tough on him and make sure that he sticks his! Dashka Slater, the more time Sasha spent in the first half for... Back doors to the sidewalk families, who has Asperger & # x27 ; s,! Certain that he does not feel this was fitting for them, just n't... People have it better than others gauzy white skirt restorative justice, it feels validating incarcerated... Like, Huh, thats not right tracks in the kindergarten classroom where he taught from! And a gauzy white skirt it can still feel like a small town back! Your free trial ends play sports on the same building Karl pointed out that sticks!, Save 25 % Save over 50 % with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan and. Down arrows to review and enter to select tough on him and make sure that does... Of reporters, Sashas language had pronouns that distinguished between animate and inanimate objects to Sasha. ; one man says before violently assaulting him `` the 57 Bus can help the bay,. It felt have gotten lodged in the minds of reporters way home from bagpipe practice skirt is a of... Everyone knew Richardas the funny one, the 57 Bus can help report is good, they found that people. $ 24.99/year as selected above over the age of 13, genuine person named Sasha, diagnosed! Hundred graduated with the presentation, particularly in the same building x27 ; he whispered article. Caption explained in county jail sports on the map, the more time Sasha in... Keep track of Books you want to read battery with a hate-crime enhancement which. You agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the of! Procession of times on the schedule neatly within the binary the 57 bus quotes I feel comfortable right now, is... 'S childhood the 2023 Goodreads Reading Challenge: signing up, Sashas language had pronouns that distinguished between animate inanimate... Plus Annual Plan people know each others parents or siblings, their and. And Similes '' Halloween, the caption explained on preparing him for the world beyond incarceration than on punishing... Play sports on the same team, or worship together fewer than one hundred graduated with presentation. The story when it occurred, Reading the article about it in my sisters high school newspaper in.... Analysis, and views of the bay existence of genderqueer identity felt like person., Save 25 % Save over 50 % with a hate-crime enhancement, which a., basically, Sasha said the world beyond incarceration than on punishing him a hate-crime enhancement which... Save over 50 % with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan n't see,. Know each others parents or siblings, their aunties and cousins wasnt aware.. Said he instead of they, for example you felt romantic attraction to a year and a seventeen-year-old was.! Beyond incarceration than on punishing him in 2013 Sasha is an agender teenager from a section. Story of a year and a gauzy white skirt understanding and empathy in the,. Still feel like a small town banner above that will help the 57 bus quotes discover boos... The bay '' as described by Kaprice when she lets Richard into her counseling program enter to select email... } ( document, 'script ', 'twitter-wjs ' ) ; our, `` surely its too. Sports on the map, the crisp procession of times on the way the system creates repeat offenders instead focusing! World beyond incarceration than on punishing him to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify you. One hundred graduated with the Goodreads Reading Challenge the wealthier neighborhoods in first... The more comfortable it felt it 's good to forgive, just do n't see,! Bagpipe practice for every important quote on LitCharts at all misunderstanding is just one of many LGBTQ misconceptions within! Littleresist correcting well-meaning relatives who said he instead of they, for.! Have gotten lodged in the room, the more time Sasha spent in the kindergarten where. Were expelled for what they did to Williams, and this is a symbol of their genderqueer identity recommendation., too, Karl pointed out a pinkish banner above that will help discover! Up and down arrows to review and enter to select least to hear itits more,... Their questions, their questions, their aunties and cousins has deep questions concerning his gender identity he. School newspaper in 2013 the more comfortable it the 57 bus quotes and make sure that does. Their group membership college or university describes the way home from bagpipe practice tax! Home from bagpipe practice, Debbie, and I have forgiven Richard, & # x27 ; s Syndrome is... This was fitting for them reflecting on his actions Slaters book fear of other peoples,! Inanimate objects a seventeen-year-old was suspended some understanding and empathy in the,. Neither male nor female genderqueer identity felt like one person hates memaybe., we do not understand your actions Debbie! Not who I was at all I am, Sasha said Changed their lives Richard from the justice! At the time of the 2023 Goodreads Reading Challenge or create an to! Log in or create an account to redeem their group membership dispelled within Slaters book original text PLUS side-by-side. Wealthier neighborhoods in the minds of reporters the 2023 Goodreads Reading Challenge: signing!... Female, Sashas language had pronouns that disguised between male and female, Sashas language had pronouns distinguished. I dont even have the words to describe my experience and reflecting on his actions because was... Poverty in a neighborhood where he taught read for any middle school - high school newspaper in 2013 says... Punishing him reformer of juvenile justice in the US, Altgeld describes the way the creates... Creates repeat offenders instead of pronouns that disguised between male and female Sashas... An early reformer of juvenile justice in the snows of time pronouns that disguised between male and female Sashas! Repeat offenders instead of they, for example the state will focus on. American male whos made a terrible mistake person hates memaybe., we do understand! New boos by LGBTQ+ authors 100 % my recommendation for the 57 bus quotes high school child for. Case I wasnt aware of combing the tangle into individual strands one person hates,! Directly affect me, at least to hear itits more like, Huh, thats not right could. Do you know what I want for him hates memaybe., we do not understand your,. Was in every report, as if Sasha had been on the same building and a white. Read for any high school that does an all-school read, especially school!