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A New York Times Bestseller
Stonewall Book Award Winner―Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist One teenager in a skirt. One teenager with a lighter. One moment that changes both of their lives forever. If it weren’t 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 case garnered international attention, thrusting both teenagers into the spotlight. BL 6.5/8 |
CHANCE:
Activity 1: One of the things that makes this book so impactful is because it is a true story. Sasha and Richard are real people. Watch the video above and share your thoughts with us on a few things in writing:
Activity 1: One of the things that makes this book so impactful is because it is a true story. Sasha and Richard are real people. Watch the video above and share your thoughts with us on a few things in writing:
- Why do you think Richard lit Sasha's skirt on fire?
- What was different about the way Richard was raised compared to the way Sasha was raised/where they were raised?
- Do you think the fact that Richard was once robbed at gunpoint made a difference in his actions?
- How did Sasha's support system help them throughout the course of the book?
COMMUNITY CHALLENGE:
Activity 2: Research public transportation in Oakland, California. Is public transportation a good thing? Is it a bad thing? Write an argument essay on the topic of public transportation.
Activity 2: Research public transportation in Oakland, California. Is public transportation a good thing? Is it a bad thing? Write an argument essay on the topic of public transportation.
Activity 3:
Download the worksheet on Digging into Data: Hate Crimes in the United States by clicking on the red words. There are some things about hate crimes that might surprise you. I hope that none of you are ever a part of this horrible action. Don't promote it, and always fight it!
Download the worksheet on Digging into Data: Hate Crimes in the United States by clicking on the red words. There are some things about hate crimes that might surprise you. I hope that none of you are ever a part of this horrible action. Don't promote it, and always fight it!