TARGET AUDIENCE: Young Adult (but, really, everyone should read it)

QUEER CONTENT/IDENTITY? Non-Binary (agender) & Aromantic main character

GENRE: Contemporary Fiction. Based on true events.

​BLURB: 

One teenager in a skirt.
One teenager with a lighter.
One moment that changes both of their lives forever.

If it weren't for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But one afternoon on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned, and Richard charged with two hate crimes and facing life imprisonment. The case garnered international attention, thrusting both teenagers into the spotlight.

REVIEW:

Dashka Slater's "The 57 Bus" is a riveting and essential read that explores themes of race, class, gender identity, and justice through the lens of a real-life incident. The narrative revolves around two high school students from Oakland, California—Sasha and Richard—whose lives intersect for a mere eight minutes each day on the 57 bus. Sasha, a white teen from a middle-class neighbourhood, and Richard, a black teen from a crime-ridden area, exist in vastly different worlds. A single reckless act on the bus one afternoon results in Sasha being severely burned and Richard facing charges of two hate crimes, thrusting both teenagers into the spotlight.
Slater's journalistic approach to the story provides a masterful examination of the complex issues at play. She deftly debunks stereotypes, challenging the notion of the hate-crime monster and the African-American thug. Through meticulous detail and compassionate storytelling, Slater probes the fine line between adolescent stupidity and irredeemable depravity, making readers question their assumptions about justice and morality.

The book excels in its exploration of gender identity, adolescent crime, and penal racism. Slater's nuanced portrayal of both Sasha and Richard offers no easy answers but instead encourages readers to engage in deep contemplation. Her ability to present the perspectives of both teenagers with empathy and complexity ensures that the narrative remains balanced and thought-provoking. The detailed recounting of their lives and the circumstances that led to the tragic event on the bus highlights the systemic issues that contribute to such incidents.
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One of the most compelling aspects of "The 57 Bus" is its impact on readers. The book is likely to spark conversations and debates about justice, forgiveness, and the societal factors that influence behavior. Slater's compassionate writing underscores that there is often more to the story than what appears on the surface. The exploration of class, race, and gender identity is handled with sensitivity, making it a powerful and enlightening read.

​ "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater is an outstanding work that delves into the complexities of contemporary issues with grace and insight. The book's thoughtful examination of the diversity of creed and the consequences of impulsive actions leaves a lasting impression. It challenges readers to redefine justice for themselves and fosters a greater understanding of tolerance and forgiveness. For anyone seeking a profound and thought-provoking read, "The 57 Bus" is an invaluable addition to their bookshelf.

GENRE: Fantasy
MAIN PAIRING: Nil. Very light on romance - subtle undertones of a M(trans)/F relationship and brief mention of M/M relationships
REP: Trans main character 

After four successful sci-fi novels, The Raven Tower constitutes Ann Leckie’s first foray into the fantasy genre.

The story begins with the disappearance of the Lease of Iraden, a ruler who owes the Raven a debt of blood that must be paid lest Iraden lose its divine protection. The Lease’s tempestuous heir, Mawat, refuses to believe his father has shirked responsibility, and begins a gentle unfolding of machinations that lead Iraden to political and spiritual crossroads.

The narrator, like most aspects of The Raven Tower, is not what you’d expect. This ageless, rock-bound deity has a story to share with a human named Eolo. The Strength and Patience of the Hill does not meddle in the lives of humans as other gods do, but rather stares at the stars, contemplating what it means to possess power, and what limits power may have. We discover the deity’s fate is strangely entwined with Iraden’s.

Intelligent, compassionate and diplomatic, Eolo is a fabulous protagonist. He is the humble son of a farmer who has become a trusted aide to the Lord Mawat. Eolo’s transgender identity is a passing mention in a world where diversity is a natural occurrence of the cultural landscape. Eolo’s penetrating dialogue and complex characterisation are the strongest aspects of the story.

It is complex to discuss the magnificent revelations of this novel without giving the ending away. Unconventional in its low action—there’s barely a sword or sorcerer in sight—the book establishes and maintains a taut sense of intrigue.

The Raven Tower is an ambitious novel that explores new territory and that in itself warrants praise.

GENRE: Fantasy
MAIN PAIRINGS: M/F
QUEER CONTENT: Very little, but the general universe includes accepting references to diversity of sexuality. This review is more focused on this book as an exquisite piece of feminist fiction.

Madeline Miller’s debut novel, The Song of Achilles, won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2012. She has not left her fans disappointed with her new foray into the world of Greek mythology, Circe.

Drawing on the rich characters, worlds and didactic stories that underpin Homer’s The Odyssey, as well as a variety of other Greek poems and plays, Miller offers a fresh version of events told from the perspective of Circe, the witch of Aiaia. This feminist adaptation delivers all that it promises: a masterfully woven tale of life as a woman in a world obsessed with the achievements of masculine heroes and unassailable monsters.

A lesser goddess born of Helios and one of the many nymphs he beds, Circe is scorned by gods and men alike throughout her seemingly endless life. Crossing the centuries, Circe becomes embroiled in the turmoils of Prometheus, King Minos, Daedalus and his hapless son, Icarus, the adventurer Jason and his ill-fated wife, Medea, and of course, Odysseus himself.

Where Circe’s father dismisses his supposedly unimpressive daughter as being ‘dull as a rock’, Miller’s masterful first-person narration unveils to readers that Circe is so much more. She faces the intrigues and tribulations that come her way with a growing finesse and strength.

Circe is an insightful exploration into an array of timeless themes and experiences. These range from abject jealousy, unrequited love and familial discord to the challenges of being a single mother (none of which are dulled by divinity) and the trauma of loss.

Some readers may find Miller’s prose too poetic at times—there are sea metaphors aplenty and her landscapes are ornate and almost utopian. Given the life experiences of our narrator, these descriptions and their artistry are fitting and ensure consistent characterisation.

Both satisfying and infuriating, the indeterminate closing lines of the final chapter will stay with a reader long after they close the book, as will Circe’s evolution from a lonely, naïve child to a talented enchantress and matriarch.