The 57 Bus, by Dashka Slater

This riveting and extremely readable book is about a high-profile juvenile delinquency case that took place in Alameda County about 5 years ago.  Two teenagers from very different worlds – one with a challenging home life and circumstances, the other a gender non-binary child of some privilege – are on the same bus.  The first takes a lighter to the skirt worn by the second, causing significant injury.  Written by a journalist who covered the event at the time, the book follows both children before and after the incident.  Drawing a much more complex picture than we got from the clips on TV news, and featuring attorneys many ACBA members will know, the book is in many ways an indictment of the limitations of our criminal justice system, and of our tendency to reduce criminal justice issues to memes.  Highly recommended.

Every month, a group of ACBA members gathers to discuss this month’s reading selection.  We alternate between fiction and non-fiction, and try to choose books that have at least something to do with the law.  We really do talk about the books – also, of course, we drink wine, eat cookies, and get to know each other.  Do you like to read?  Come join us! RSVP to tiela@acbanet.org.