The 57 Bus

Firefly & Fern Summary

The 57 Bus is a powerful true story that explores the complexities of identity, justice, and compassion through the lens of a real incident on a public bus in Oakland, California. When a teenage boy sets fire to a sleeping passenger's skirt as a prank, the incident forces readers to grapple with difficult questions about intent, consequence, and how we understand those who are different from us. This thoughtfully told narrative encourages young readers to think critically about identity, bias, and the human capacity for both harm and understanding.