Review: The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater (Spoiler-Free)

"The proponents of hate-crime laws are liberals, and yet they are the ones who are the biggest critics of mass incarceration," observes James B. Jacobs, director of New York University's Center for Research in Crime and Justice, and an expert on hate-crime laws. I admire the author of this book for so gallantly weaving two sides of a controversial issue together. From an enjoyment perspective, I would give this book 3 stars, nothing great, but nothing horrible. However, because of the controversy surrounding the topic that it deals with, I have to add an extra star to commend the author for not simply writing the book to cater to snowflakes, and to avoid ignorant attacks. Slater provides evidence behind each aspect that should be brought into consideration when discussing juvenile crimes, and does not let the nature of the victim cloud her judgement of just punishment. She brings law and reasoning into account and does not simply preach "justice" for the obvious victim while simultaneously promoting the demise of the perpetrator like many would. I am seriously impressed with the author's commentary on this case and would definitely be interested in reading some of her future works.