The 57 Bus
Sasha
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Bill Du Bois
Sasha is agender and uses they/them/their pronouns.
Sasha was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of five.
Sasha was greatly injured by the fire that Richard set on their skirt.
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Sasha tries to raise awareness of agender.
Sasha wears a skirt everyday so that people are confused about their gender.
Sasha was accepted to MIT.
Sasha is very interested in everything related to Russia.
Sasha gets a lot of support from her family and friends.
Sasha attends a private school in Oakland.
Sasha’s original name was Luke.
Kaprice
Kaprice is a truancy coordinator at Oakland High School.
She fell in love with her boyfriend, Lil’ Jerry, when she was in high school.
Many students at Oakland High call her ‘mom.’
She uses restorative justice to help students after the fire incident.
She helps students stay in school and graduate.
She was able to attend college because her brother submitted an application to Clark Atlanta University.
Going to college changed her life.
At first, she refused to go to college because she wanted to marry Lil’ Jerry.
“Never let your obstacles become more important than your goal.”
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She feels connected to the kids in Oakland High because she had a difficult teenage years like them.
Jasmine
She is Richard’s mom.
She gave birth to Richard when she was only 15 years old.
She gave birth to Richard's step brother Drriyon after she married Derick.
She works two jobs to provide a good life to her children.
She wants her children to have a career, so she encourages them to attend college.
She attends every Richard’s hearing.
She meets Sasha’s family to apologize.
She pays for Richard’s lawyer so that he can be charged as a juvenile.
She takes care of her two nieces after her sister Savannah was murdered.
She is very religious and thinks everything happened as part of God’s big plan.
He keeps the letter that Richard wrote to Sasha because it could be a sign of Richard’s guilt.
He gives Richard’s apology letter to Sasha one year after he wrote it.
He is Richard’s lawyer.
He insists at the court that Richard did not know what ‘homophobic’ meant during his interview with the police.
He helped many high-profile defendants, including a man who murdered a transgender teenager.
Donald Williams Jr.
He was a student at San Jose State University.
He was bullied by white students that he lived with in a four-bedroom dormitory suite.
He was called ‘three-fifths’ which referred to the original US Constitution that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person when population was determined.
The white students who bullied him were expelled from school.
The white students were charged with misdemeanor battery with a hate-crime enhancement.
Darris Young
He works as an organizer for an Oakland social justice advocacy group.
He was hired while he was still on probation after serving his sentence.
He is passionate about helping young people out of prison.
He thinks that prison is an ineffective method for rehabilitation for juveniles.
He hoped that Richard would be charged as a juvenile so that he is sent to prison.
Karl
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Gerald
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Sasha’s father and a kindergarten teacher, known for his kindness and supportive nature
Advocates for understanding and acceptance of nonbinary gender identities
Takes proactive steps to educate others on gender inclusivity, reflecting his commitment to positive change
His relationship with Sasha is characterized by deep respect and support for their gender exploration
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Demonstrates patience and understanding as Sasha navigates their gender identity
Has a personal understanding of the risks associated with being perceived as different
Works to correct misconceptions and educate others about gender neutrality
His actions and attitudes serve as a model for compassion and acceptance
Represents the role of allyship and advocacy within the family unit
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Dr. Richard Grossman
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Dr. Richard Grossman
Richard’s friend
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Dan Gale
Acted as a Good Samaritan, helping Sasha after the attack.
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Regis
Richard’s cousin. Regis is openly gay and androgynous, and he goes to all of Richard’s court appearances as a show of support.
The three Ladies
Three ladies, dressed in turtlenecks, blazers, and sensible shoes, arrive, expressing concern about Richard.
Judge Paul Delucchi
Almeda County Superior Court Judge, who resentenced Richard’s confinement.
Michael
He is Sasha’s best friend and he wears a skirt during the Skirts for Sasha event to support Sasha.
Healy
He is Sasha’s friend and he wears a skirt to school to show his support for Sasha.
Ian
Andrew/Samantha
He is Sasha’s close friend and Teah’s boyfriend, and he likes playing games.
Did not feel comfortable with his female body, leading to his transgender identity.
Teah
She is Sasha’s friend and Ian’s girlfriend. She helps Sasha with wearing a corset for the Gaskell Ball.
He identifies as a gay man but keeps his trans status private due to fears of discrimination.
Lil’ Jerry
He was Kaprice’s boyfriend and was in a gang.
HBK
Towards the end of the book, Andrew starts identifying as genderqueer, though he is cautious about stepping outside the gender binary due to societal pressures and invasive questions about his identity.
It stands for Heartbreak Kids. It is a play gang made of Richard and his old friends who spent time together doing fun things such as bowling and going to the beach.
Derick
Cherie
He is Richard’s stepfather and Jasmine's husband.
Skeet
She is a long-time school friend of Richard.
He is Richard’s friend and he was arrested for fighting. He was shot and killed in a shooting incident.
Part of a group called "The Heartbreak Kidz" with Richard.
Lloyd
He is Richard’s cousin. He was with Richard on the 57 bus when Richard lit a fire on Sasha’s skirt.
Cherie gains significant advantages from her close connection with Kaprice Wilson through the truancy program at Oakland High School.
Jamal
Nemo
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Sasha's close friend who is also gender fluid.
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Shares a deep, meaningful connection with Sasha.
Nemo and Sasha share a platonic friendship based on mutual respect and understanding of their nonbinary identities; despite Nemo being asexual and not pursuing sexual relationships.
Nancy O’Malley
Alameda County District Attorney who decided to try Richard as an adult.
Her decision emphasizes the legal system's approach to juvenile justice and hate crimes.
O'Malley dismisses restorative justice as a suitable method for Richard's punishment, advocating for imprisonment instead.
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Jamal
He is Richard’s friend. He was with Richard on the 57 bus when Richard lit a fire on Sasha’s skirt. He gave the lighter to Richard.
Debbie
Sasha’s mother, who initially struggled to understand Sasha's genderqueer identity but worked hard to be supportive
Her journey reflects the challenges and learning process of accepting a child's nonbinary identity.
Demonstrated a commitment to Sasha's well-being and happiness, adjusting her understanding of gender
Balances her personal struggles with a strong desire to support her child
Her evolution from confusion to acceptance illustrates the power of love and openness to change
Encountered difficulties with using the correct pronouns, showing the real-world challenges of adjusting to new concepts
Represents the perspective of a parent navigating their child's exploration of gender identity
Her character highlights the importance of support and understanding within the Debbie
Works hard to understand and support Sasha’s genderqueer identity despite initial struggles
Transitioned from confusion to acceptance and advocacy for Sasha's identity
Utilizes his role as an educator to promote a more inclusive environment
Richard
Richard’s story centers around a pivotal incident where his actions on the 57 bus lead to major legal and social repercussions
Raised in East Oakland, his background is marked by systemic and personal challenges
Described as having a lot of energy and heart, but also as a follower, which sometimes led him into trouble
Spent time in a group home due to behavioral issues and was known for being “hyphy” or hyperactive.
His actions on the bus were a prank gone wrong, not intended to harm Sasha but leading to significant consequences
Faces the justice system’s harsh realities, highlighting issues of race, youth, and punishment severity.
Demonstrates remorse for his actions, adding complexity to his portrayal as the antagonist
His case brings up discussions on restorative justice and the potential for rehabilitation versus punishment
Richard's journey through the legal system reflects broader societal debates on juvenile justice and hate crimes
The narrative explores themes of empathy, redemption, and the impact of one moment’s decision on multiple lives.
Carlita Collins
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Sasha’s surgeon at the San Francisco burn unit.
A security guard at Oakland High School.