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The 57 Bus
The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives | Dashka Slater
One teenager in a skirt. One teenager with a lighter. One moment that changes both of their lives forever. If it werent for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But one afternoon on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned, and Richard charged with two hate crimes and facing life imprisonment. The 57 Bus is Dashka Slater's true account of the case that garnered international attention and thrust both teenagers into the spotlight.
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Rachiiebookdragon
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A interesting non fiction book, I recommend to all.

Read for reading prompts.

Library book 📖

5/5

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Jas16
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Pickpick

Two teens on the opposite side of a horrific event, Sasha is asleep on the bus when Richard sets their skirt on fire. Was this a teenage prank gone awry? A serious hate crime? Somewhere in between? This book delved in both of their lives before and after the incident in a way that is both balanced and compassionate.

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mom_of_4
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Sitting outside for a little before it gets dark.

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mom_of_4
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Sitting out in the sun reading. Its good for the soul.

RaeLovesToRead It's so cold outside here 🥶 6mo
mom_of_4 @RaeLovesToRead when the sun is beaming in you its hot but when the clouds in front if the sub its nice. 6mo
Gissy Happy photo🤗🍁💛🤎🧡🍂 6mo
27 likes3 comments
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mom_of_4
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Currently reading this banned books. I hate that they ban books. I think its so stupid to ban them. If you dont like a book then dont read them and dont buy them. Simple solution.

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mom_of_4
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Thank you so much @catiewithac I actually wanted to get some banned books. I will dive into this one as soon as I can. I have some library and an ARC that I have to read first then I will read it. But Im very excited.

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GondorGirl
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In Ann Arbor for an author event that's part of the #BigGayRead this cycle!

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mrp27
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#savvysettings #bus

Once again I wish there was better sticker placement.

rockpools Oh dear! 2y
wanderinglynn That is one of my major book pet peeves! 😤 2y
See All 7 Comments
DogMomIrene 😳 2y
Eggs I agree as well! 2y
UwannaPublishme Whoever oversees the stickers dept obviously isn‘t an avid reader. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y
mrp27 @rockpools @DogMomIrene @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @wanderinglynn @UwannaPublishme 🙈🙈 A huge pet peeve! I don‘t mind the stickers but I just wish they were smaller or not over the title! 2y
29 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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mgschu
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Pickpick

Abolition is the only way forward.

4 likes1 stack add
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rsteve388
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Pickpick

Wow what a heartbreaking and beautiful story about the harm done to a young trans teenager and how this one decision changed two young people's lives. I felt really bad for both students. Really well done story. I learned a lot about juvenile youth in the corrections system. This was a very informative story that I didn't know about. Well done.. #NFNov #NFN21 #NFN

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Soubhiville
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Your box came today Holly, thank you! This sounds really sad but also interesting.

I‘m saving the birthday goodies for at least a week... they will taunt me from the mantle until then.

I sent off Opioid, Indiana for you this morning. 📚❤️

Leftcoastzen 😻 3y
Prairiegirl_reading That book is so interesting. Lovely gift. 3y
Hooked_on_books Woo-hoo! It arrived right when they said it would! The 57 Bus is such a good book. It is terribly sad, but it‘s humanizing, which is so good. I‘m excited for when you open your gifts! I didn‘t realize I had basically run out of wrapping paper, so I know those two papers don‘t make any sense together. 😆 3y
Soubhiville @Hooked_on_books they‘re both really fun papers though. 🌺👑 3y
53 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

Agender Sasha falls asleep on a bus, then Richard‘s friend goad him into lighting their skirt on fire. This horrific situation is beautifully rendered by Slater, who first humanizes both teens as whole people. It‘s a powerful exploration of the consequences of actions and the basic humanity of people. All people. It‘s simply a marvelous book. (YA nonfiction)

Prairiegirl_reading I think about this book so often. It‘s outstanding! 3y
Hooked_on_books @Prairiegirl_reading I had high expectations and this book exceeded them. It really blew me away! 3y
squirrelbrain This has been on my TBR for ages.... it sounds so good and your review makes me want to read it even more. 3y
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TrishB I loved this too 👍🏻 3y
Librariana I love how your reviews really encourage many of us to finally get books off our TBRs and just read them already! In my case, it makes me excitedly want to add new things to mine! 🥰 3y
Hooked_on_books @Librariana Aw, thank you! I‘m not sure my reach is terribly wide, but hopefully I can encourage people to read good books. I know I‘ve been encouraged to read books by so many people on Litsy. I‘m so glad I found this place! 3y
51 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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TheReadingRaccoon
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Pickpick

The Bus 57 is well written, researched piece of non-fiction that covers a lot of important topics such as gender norms, identity, racial inequality, criminal justice and forgiveness but still keeps the reader interested. I highly recommend it to both parents and teens. 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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wideeyedreader
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘ve never heard of this story before reading this book, and I have to say—I‘m glad I read this! Also, my cat is being social today and decided to sit with us

35 likes2 stack adds
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Sweettartlaura
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Pickpick

This started out slow for me, and I didn‘t know if I would finish it. But I‘m glad I did. It‘s a reminder that what is recorded in court is not always the real crux of an issue.

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paulareadsallthetime
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Pickpick

Any book that came make me rethink my stance on something is a really good book!! The book begins with Sasha having they skirt set on fire on the 57 bus. We are educated about the difference pronouns and terms that people use to self identify. Then we follow Richard and Sasha as a trial takes place. Your thoughts about juveniles being sentenced as adults may change. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Octoberwoman This book was pretty fascinating! 3y
9 likes1 comment
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Samary
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Pickpick

There are a lot of definitions in the beginning, I think this may be a good intro to gender IDs and their differences. Good information and opens the convos to complex issues.

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Chittavrtti
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Books I read in June. The cat just decided to take a seat 🤷🏻‍♀️.

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Marni
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This deep dive into the lives of both teens involved in the situation really shows how much more there is to a story than what is on the surface.
#OBMBookClub
#diversereads
#read2020
#VirtualMountTBR
32/36

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mnjacques
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Pickpick

I absolutely loved this book. Though its a sad story, its beautifully written. I ended up finishing it in one day

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WriterAtHeart
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"The 57 Bus" is about a real life incident when an agender teen had their skirt set on fire by another teenager. This book also questions our police system and what restorative justice may do for us as a country.

This is also a great read if you are looking for books specifically for Pride month!

32 likes2 stack adds
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Chittavrtti
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I was living in the Bay Area at the time of these events. I rode this bus daily to and from the Dimond district. I am both horrified and sad and yet I was a high schooler too in my lifetime. So the question I reflect on is: When does the voice in us develop that has the ability to rein us in when we have a choice presented to us to act or not act? To do or not do? To speak for what is right not just in the moment but for a future that is not now?

5 likes1 stack add
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natalieebloom
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#CoronaBreak Book 13. In a dream world, I would love to teach this book. I find the blurred lines between “good” and “evil” so fascinating (hence my love for true crime), and I think this book really clearly emphasizes how unclear that dichotomy can truly be (and in a way that young people can understand it). The ending was satisfying, and you really felt so many emotions for all of the people involved.

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UnabridgedPod
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Pickpick

Dashka Slater's The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime that Changed Their Lives is a heart-breaking and nuanced nonfiction book about a single incident on a city bus and the implications of its consequences. (I downloaded this book as part of the @audiobooksync program, which offers two free audiobook downloads per week all through summer!)⠀⬇️

UnabridgedPod Sasha, an agender white teen, is asleep on the bus, on their way home, when Richard, a black teen who attends a neighboring school, sets their skirt on fire. It's a decision that happened in a moment but whose implications were far reaching. Sasha had to undergo multiple surgeries for the burn; Richard was arrested and put on trial for a hate crime. Slater's book covers this story from all angles: ⬇️ 4y
UnabridgedPod with facts about gender, with empathetic insights into each teen's past, with details about Sasha's recovery and Richard's trial. The author takes on the media's portrayal of the incident, the schools' handling of the aftermath, and--above all--the people involved. This includes not only Sasha and Richard, but their friends, families, and communities, ⬇️ 4y
UnabridgedPod all of whom must examine their assumptions and prejudices when considering what happens to the two kids at the center.

Has anyone else read this book? What other books (fiction or nonfiction) illuminate important issues in a nuanced way?
4y
24 likes3 comments
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Daisey
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Pickpick

This nonfiction YA does a great job of telling all sides of an event involving one teenager lighting the clothes of another teenager on fire while on a bus in 2013. I didn‘t know the details of the event before starting the book, so it packed quite a punch. It details a crime, but the more important message is about developing understanding and accepting others different from yourself.

#nonfiction #audiobook #AudiobookSync #YA

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Addison_Reads
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I listened to this audiobook today and it broke my heart. 💔

I will never understand the hatred people have for someone else simply because they are different. I am thankful for people like Sasha who share their stories so that other's can learn and hopefully grow from such tragedy.

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Savannahmrose13
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123

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tjwill
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2 free audiobooks weekly starting April 30—I‘ve been getting these for a few summers now, and they always have many great picks. Edit: they now use the Sora app for the downloads. #audiobooksync

https://www.audiobooksync.com/2020-sync-titles/

JoScho I love this program. 4y
LibrarianRyan Love this program. Don‘t love the new app 4y
tjwill @LibrarianRyan I didn‘t even see before how they said they are using a new app for it. Thanks for mentioning it. I‘ve never used Sora before. 4y
LibrarianRyan @tjwill earlier it wouldn‘t let me in and if you read the app ratings that is apparently a common thing. 4y
tjwill @LibrarianRyan Bummer. ☹️ 4y
33 likes5 comments
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MidnightBookGirl
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Pickpick

This was our true crime book club pick for March (don't worry, we discussed it online) and one we all liked. Technically it's a YA true crime book, and Slater does a very good job of detailing the lives of the two teenagers at the center of the story. It's really easy to read a snippet of a story, especially a crime, and make assumptions, but there's usually more going on.

PaperbackPrincess19 Added to my stack, you don‘t read many YA crime, do you only do true crime books for your book club? If so, what‘s April‘s book? I‘d love to join an online book club 4y
MidnightBookGirl @Paperback.princess19 I work for Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA (part time, I'm full time as an Activities Coordinator for an Assisted Living facility). Usually our book clubs meet in person, but we're using Slack in order to meet during social distancing. We have 5 book clubs (Ya for adults, regular, true crime, science fiction/ horror and diverse romance). Fountain of Evidence will be reading Vulgar Favors for April. 4y
63 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Octoberwoman
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Pickpick

Very interesting, especially the parts about Sasha and gender identity which were kind of fascinating. The parts about Richard and the court system were also pretty interesting. The writing is a little simplistic, but I think it was meant for young adult/teens, and frankly, if I had kids still in school I would have liked to see this on the reading lists.

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cewilf
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Finally got around to starting this for school (in the last two days of vacation) but it‘s really interesting. I‘m not a big nonfiction fan, but this is very engaging.

34 likes1 stack add
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Andra_library
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A must read for everyone!

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cosmicv1bes
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Pickpick

woah. this book...really moved me. as you can see by the cover, this is a true story. i‘m both heartbroken and relieved by this story. this was able to be turned into a situation where the “criminal” learned a lesson and understands the reality of transgender people. i really enjoyed reading about it though - i always love books where i learn a lot. if you are interested in the lgbtq+ community, this is a book for you.

TrishB I really enjoyed this one 👍🏻 4y
5 likes1 comment
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S3V3N
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Pickpick

I hadn't heard anything about this incident prior to picking up this book. All I can say is WOW.

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vivastory
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Pickpick

I was not familiar with this case prior to reading this. This is an important story, unfortunately it jumps around a bit too much & I feel it would have made a stronger impact had it been edited a bit more. Still, a quick read.

Butterfinger My book club read this and it was one of our best meetings. My group has ultraconservatives and ultraliberals. We respect each other and embrace our differences. It was just impactful. 4y
82 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Matilda
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Amandajoy I‘ve been waiting for this. I‘m liking the challenges for next year! 4y
34 likes1 comment
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Booksnob
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This book is amazing. A page turning true story which should be required reading. Go Read It. Seriously!

15 likes1 stack add
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the_next_chapter101
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ It was a heartbreaking story. I don't fully agree or disagree with being gay, trans, or queer. All I believe and agree upon is that it isn't right to judge someone, make fun of, or assault anyone who you perceive as different than you. No matter your beliefs, I highly recommend reading this one. (Listened via Scribd)

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TheBookAddict
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Pickpick

A #mustread for everyone, whatever your thoughts or views on the lgbtq+ community. A heartbreaking retelling of what happened on bus 57 in Oakland, what led to those events, and what preceded them. The author does a great job at sharing both sides of the story and the flaws in our “justice” system.

#diversebooks #lgbtq #truecrime

39 likes1 comment
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TheBookAddict
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“Many hate crimes, according to Phillis B. Gerstenfield, a criminal-justice professor at California State University, Stanislaw, `don‘t have as much to do with the victim as they do with the offender and their own insecurity — which of course is a lot of what‘s going on with adolescents in general.‘”

41 likes1 stack add
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TheBookAddict
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😔 our “justice” system... 💔

Butterfinger My book club had many discussions on this book and I remember this page opened a lot of our eyes. 5y
TheBookAddict @Butterfinger right! I knew it was bad, but I didn‘t know it was that bad. 😔 5y
31 likes2 comments
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TheBookAddict
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I‘m back!!! I‘ve been MIA for a while, not by choice but because of life. Towards the end of August Kenny was at the ER due to mold poisoning. We then had to try to find a new home ASAP due to the mold. This all happened while I was beginning work again. We still have boxes everywhere, but we are slowly but surely getting situated. I‘ll be happy when my books are all up on the shelves. 🤓 📚💕

This book reads like a documentary.

AmyG Hope he is well soon...and you are all settled in soon! (edited) 5y
TheBookAddict @AmyG thank you. He‘s feeling better. 😊 5y
MeganAnn Welcome back! Glad he‘s feeling better ❤️ 5y
See All 6 Comments
TheBookAddict @MeganAnn thank you! 😊💕 5y
Sleepswithbooks Happy you‘re back! Great book 📖 5y
TheBookAddict @Stacypatrice thank you! I‘m happy to be back as well. It is definitely a must read. I‘m not done reading it yet, but I will be recommending it. 🙂 5y
52 likes6 comments
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TheBookAddict

“One of every four trans people has experienced a bias-driven assault, and the numbers are higher for trans women, trans people of color, and people who identify as neither female or male.”

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NovelNancyM
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Pickpick

This is an incredible, unfortunate, yet hopeful true story of a person whose clothing is set on fire on Bus 57 in Oakland, CA and the ramifications of that act both for the victim and the doer. The author clearly explains technical information such as the legal system and laws. She humanizes the people involved enough to create empathy in the reader. This book includes important issues on race and sexual identity without passing judgment.

7 likes1 stack add
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HeatherBookNerd
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Pickpick

Excellent book. I remember hearing about this incident on the news and it was interesting, and moving, to hear how these teens and their parents‘ lives were changed as a result. Valuable insights into nonbinary/gender fluid identities and the juvenile criminal justice system. Also provides a fascinating look at how race, childhood trauma, and privilege all play into the opportunities and pitfalls facing the kids involved.

42 likes3 stack adds
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DebbieGrillo
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Pickpick

I was in search of a book to replace To Kill a Mockingbird as a class novel for my 11th graders and I think this is it. I love Mockingbird but most students don't. This is just as important and deals with the important current issues of bullying, harassment, gender discrimination, gender identity, young offenders, restorative justice, racial discrimination, poverty. There's so much to discuss.

TrishB I enjoyed this one and you‘re right- plenty for teenagers to discuss! 5y
101 likes7 stack adds1 comment
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bookseller_cate
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Mehso-so

I somehow missed this story when it made the news. An interesting look at a headline from the perspective of both victim and perpetrator. The author succeeded in balancing empathy for both of the teens involved.

It did feel a little dry, and you could tell the author was padding things to make a book-length manuscript.

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msmckinney
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Thankful for breaks during teaching 3rd graders at summer school to read books that don‘t have pictures 😂