This the true story of two teenagers, Sasha and Richard whose lives completely changed after riding the 57 bus home from school one day.  Both were students in Oakland, California but were from very different worlds.  Their paths only crossed during the 8 minutes they spent on the 57 bus together.

Sasha is a non-binary white teen who lives in a middle-class neighborhood.  Richard is an African-American male from a poor rough area of Oakland.  Taking a dare from a friend, Richard lights Sasha on fire.  Sasha is severely burned and Richard is facing two hate crime charges.

This book is a powerful read and I highly recommend it.  It is a story that needs to be read as it is more than the crime that was committed.  It is a story of forgiveness too.