The 57 bus
Dashka Slater
The 57 bus
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives
by Dashka Slater
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
Here’s a secret: two teens from the same bus never meant to meet like this. One wore a skirt, the other held a lighter, and a single moment turned everything upside down. But that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This novel explores the complex real-life consequences of a hate crime involving two teenagers from very different backgrounds. It thoughtfully addresses themes of identity, justice, and the impact of violence, including sensitive content such as homophobic language, misgendering, and physical injury. Recommended for mature middle-grade readers (ages 9-12) with guidance, as it contains intense scenes and challenging topics.
Why we rated The 57 bus 12IE
The 57 bus is written at a Level 7 reading level across 379 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The 57 bus works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The 57 bus as 12IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: someone dies, deadnaming or birthnaming, hospital scene, body dysmorphia, homophobic slurs, misgendering, "Man in a dress" jokes, hate speech, car crash, blood/gore.
Thematically, The 57 bus explores juvenile literature, violence against, hate crimes, and asexual people — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about juvenile literature, violence against, hate crimes.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781432849269
- Pages
- 379
- Publisher
- Thorndike Press Large Print
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction