The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime that Changed Their Lives (2017)

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Introduction and Part 1

Reading Check

1. As the reader learns in the Introduction, what is the actual length of time that Richard and Sasha spend together on the bus?

2. What social media site does Sasha post on to showcase their quirky and offbeat writing in long-form entries?

3. How old was Sasha when they began reading?

4. What condition has Sasha been diagnosed with that can “make them awkward socially”?

5. What does Samantha reveal to Sasha in the section called “Gran Turismo 2”?

6. What cause does Sasha petition for on Whitehouse.gov that receives over 27,000 signatures in 30 days?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does the author’s choice to use a more narrative non-fiction style affect the overall messaging of the book?

2. What is “Astrolinguish”? What does it demonstrate about Sasha’s relationship to gender and language?

3. Describe the general difference between “sexuality” and “romantic,” as defined by Sasha in the section called “Genderqueer.”

Paired Resource

“Teen Set Ablaze on AC Transit Bus Describes Ordeal to KRON 4”

• In this local news segment for a Bay Area news channel, Sasha is interviewed in the immediate aftermath of their experience being burned by a teen on a public transit bus.