John Michael J. Rodrigo G12-ADAMS: The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and The Crime That Changed Their Lives

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime
That Changed Their Lives
JOHN MICHAEL J. RODRIGO
G12-ADAMS
The book started when the incident happen between Sasha
and Richard. The book explores Sasha’s non-binary gender, and
victimization, as well as the mistreatment of young, African
American Richard by police and the justice system.
Sasha is an agender teenager, who attends a private school
in Oakland and comes from an upper-middle class family. Sasha,
who also has autism, has a tight-knit group of friends; together, they
invent languages and work on computer programming. Sasha’s
parents, supportive of Sasha’s non-binary identity, encouraged
Sasha to continue wearing skirts and dresses after Sasha enjoyed the
experience during cross-dressing day at high school. Sasha started
identifying using “they/them” pronouns, preferring to live between
genders rather than subscribing to one. Richard, on the other hand,
attends a public school in Oakland. He is known as a mischievous
teenaged black boy from a poor high school where only two-thirds
of the students are expected to graduate, and where many of his
friends will find themselves pregnant, in jail, or dead before they
turn twenty-one. Living with his mother in the poor flatlands near
the city, Richard experienced a great deal of financial hardship
growing up. Despite the criminal activity with which many of his
classmates have become involved, Richard has remained clear of a
record, other than some minor issues goofing around at school. One
day, on the 57 bus, Sasha is wearing a white, gauzy skirt. Richard is

dared by his friends riding the bus with him to light the skirt on fire.
Though Richard had not meant to cause any serious damage,
Sasha’s skirt bursts into flames, causing Sasha to receive second and
third-degree burns on her legs. Sasha is deeply scarred by the
incident, which both Sasha and their parents consider a hate crime,
given the likelihood that Sasha was being targeted for wearing a skirt
because of their non-binary gender and atypical appearance.
Richard, charged with two separate hate crimes, is put on trial as an
adult, with the possibility of receiving life in prison.
. Though Slater does not condone Richard’s actions, making
it clear that his behavior was inappropriate and emotionally
damaging for innocent Sasha, the goal of the book is to see both
criminal and victim as teenagers forced to manage a justice system
that wasn’t built for them. If there are bad guys in this story, they
are the larger forces within these social structures: Prosecutors who
- locked into a rigid system of winners and losers - blithely try
juveniles in adult courts even when the victim’s family and groups
like the Transgender Law Center object. Hate crime laws that are
enforced in a racially biased manner. Social media trolls who rev up
inter-group animosities. Hack defense attorneys who blunder along
with little regard for their clients’ human sensibilities.
A very informative and interesting depiction of true events.
At times I had trouble putting it down. It taught me things as well as
enlightened me some in the areas of sexuality, gender and society. I
have no words for how amazing this was. I learned so much. It was
so heartbreaking. You should definitely pick it up.

Striving for Equality: LGBTQ Athletes Claim the Field
NEIL A. OGAY
G12- Adams
This story presents a history of the long struggles of LGBT
athletes to gain recognition and acceptance, describing some of the
famous athletes from the past who were unable to reveal their
genders and how social practices have changed and benefited
current LGBT athletes. It also focuses on homophobia and
transphobia in the sports world, early pioneers, contemporary
players who have come out, stereotypes, challenges LGBTQIA+
athletes face, and so much more.
In 2015, the world watched as soccer star Abby Wambach
kissed her wife after the US women’s World Cup victory.
Milwaukee Brewers’ minor league first baseman David Denson
came out as gay. And Caitlyn (born Bruce) Jenner, an Olympic
decathlete, came out as transgender.
It hasn’t always been this way. Many great athletes have stayed in
the closet their whole lives, or at least until retirement. Social
attitudes, institutional policies, and laws are slow to change, but they
are catching up. Together, athletes, families, educators, allies, and
fans are pushing for competitive equity so that every athlete,
regardless of identity, can have the opportunity to play at their very
best.
Reading this book all throughout was very interesting. This
is a great book about LGBTQ+ athletes. In the past athletes were
often afraid to come out because they are afraid and their fear comes
first, but these days more and more athletes are coming out. It's great
that people finally are comfortable to be exactly who they are. In

this book there are stories of athletes in nearly every sport who have
been brave enough to share their story with the world. The best part
of this book is the open letter from a gay college football player
encouraging others to be brave. I suggest that people will read this
book because it teaches a person to be brave and show who they
really are.

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The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime

That Changed Their Lives

JOHN MICHAEL J. RODRIGO

The book started when the incident happen between Sasha

and Richard. The book explores Sasha’s non-binary gender, and

victimization, as well as the mistreatment of young, African

American Richard by police and the justice system.

Sasha is an agender teenager, who attends a private school

in Oakland and comes from an upper-middle class family. Sasha,

invent languages and work on computer programming. Sasha’s

parents, supportive of Sasha’s non-binary identity, encouraged

experience during cross-dressing day at high school. Sasha started

identifying using “they/them” pronouns, preferring to live between

genders rather than subscribing to one. Richard, on the other hand,

attends a public school in Oakland. He is known as a mischievous

of the students are expected to graduate, and where many of his

friends will find themselves pregnant, in jail, or dead before they

the city, Richard experienced a great deal of financial hardship

classmates have become involved, Richard has remained clear of a

day, on the 57 bus, Sasha is wearing a white, gauzy skirt. Richard is

Though Richard had not meant to cause any serious damage,

third-degree burns on her legs. Sasha is deeply scarred by the

because of their non-binary gender and atypical appearance.

Richard, charged with two separate hate crimes, is put on trial as an

adult, with the possibility of receiving life in prison.

. Though Slater does not condone Richard’s actions, making

it clear that his behavior was inappropriate and emotionally

criminal and victim as teenagers forced to manage a justice system

- locked into a rigid system of winners and losers - blithely try

enforced in a racially biased manner. Social media trolls who rev up

inter-group animosities. Hack defense attorneys who blunder along

with little regard for their clients’ human sensibilities.

A very informative and interesting depiction of true events.

At times I had trouble putting it down. It taught me things as well as

enlightened me some in the areas of sexuality, gender and society. I

so heartbreaking. You should definitely pick it up.

This story presents a history of the long struggles of LGBT

athletes to gain recognition and acceptance, describing some of the

genders and how social practices have changed and benefited

current LGBT athletes. It also focuses on homophobia and

transphobia in the sports world, early pioneers, contemporary

players who have come out, stereotypes, challenges LGBTQIA+

athletes face, and so much more.

In 2015, the world watched as soccer star Abby Wambach

kissed her wife after the US women’s World Cup victory.

Milwaukee Brewers’ minor league first baseman David Denson

came out as gay. And Caitlyn (born Bruce) Jenner, an Olympic

decathlete, came out as transgender.

the closet their whole lives, or at least until retirement. Social

are catching up. Together, athletes, families, educators, allies, and

fans are pushing for competitive equity so that every athlete,

regardless of identity, can have the opportunity to play at their very

Reading this book all throughout was very interesting. This

is a great book about LGBTQ+ athletes. In the past athletes were

that people finally are comfortable to be exactly who they are. In

encouraging others to be brave. I suggest that people will read this

book because it teaches a person to be brave and show who they

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