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

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What is the difference between “gender” and “biological sex”? Why is it important that we understand the distinction between the two? How would you define the terms “agender” and “transgender”? Consider the places and ways in which the gender binary affects our everyday lives.

Teaching Suggestion: New York University offers  these guidelines for trans inclusive practices in the classroom as you engage students in discussions around The Importance of Gender Identity. Some students may be unfamiliar with topics related to gender identity; meanwhile, others may be well-versed in the concepts and/or identify as transgender and/or non-binary themselves. As students embark on these important discussions concerning gender identity, maintaining an inclusive, supportive environment for all perspectives on the subject will lay effective groundwork for reading The 57 Bus.

• So that students may learn more about transgender teens’ experiences, they might watch this TODAY Show clip, “Five Transgender Teens on the GenderCool Project and How Important Support Is.”
• Additional educational resources can be found at The GenderCool Project’s website. The GenderCool Project is a youth-led movement that aims to help “replace misinformed opinions with positive experiences meeting transgender and non-binary youth who are thriving.”

2.  The figure of Lady Justice, often used to symbolize the American justice system, is typically depicted holding a scale and a sword while wearing a blindfold. What does Lady Justice’s blindfold mean specifically? Is it true that “justice is blind”? If not, how so?

Teaching Suggestion: Encourage students to consider the ways in which justice is applied to different individuals in the United States, asking them to cite recent and/or notable cases in the news where “justice” was not served equally. Guide the conversation toward racial injustice and the ways in which Racism and Bias Embedded in the American Criminal Justice System are evident. For reference, students might read this Washington Post article, “There’s Overwhelming Evidence That the Criminal Justice System is Racist. Here’s the Proof.“

• The Office of the Curator of the U.S. Supreme Court developed this information sheet on the Figures of Justice that can be found in the architecture of the Supreme Court Building in Washington D.C.
• “What Justice Really Means – Judging with a Scale, Sword, and Blindfolds” is a video that conducts a deep dive into the symbolism surrounding depictions of Lady Justice.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who are more visual learners—and/or for students who may need more background in racial injustice in the American legal system—the Learn Liberty video, “Racial Inequality in the Criminal Justice System” might be appropriate. In it, Professor Daniel D’Amico gives a brief overview of how racial bias permeates the American criminal justice system.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the book.

Think of an instance in your life when you or someone close to you changed your/their mind about a significant matter (e.g., a decision or idea once thought to be “right” that turned out to be “wrong”). What were the circumstances that led to the change of opinion? How do you feel when you reflect upon this change?

Teaching Suggestion: One of the core themes of The 57 Bus is that we live in a time with constantly Changing Social and Cultural Mores. It is possible that students may have had to rethink their beliefs around race, religion, or gender identity in recent times. Keeping this shifting landscape in mind will help students better understand the unique moment in which the book is set.

• The BBC writes about the science underlying when people change their beliefs in “The Surprising Reason People Change Their Minds.“
• A good example of how societal beliefs can change over time is with public opinion on same-sex marriage, as discussed in this Gallup article from 2021.