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Quotes
Sasha
The protagonist of The 57 Bus, and Debbie and Karl’s only child. Sasha is agender, meaning they don’t identify as either male or female, and they prefer the nongendered pronouns they/them/their instead…
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Richard
The antagonist of The 57 Bus and Jasmine’s son. As a prank, Richard lights Sasha’s skirt on fire aboard the 57 bus and is subsequently arrested and charged with two hate-crimes, but his…
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Debbie
Sasha’s mother and Karl’s wife. Like her husband, Debbie is accepting and supportive of Sasha’s genderqueer identity, but she has a difficult time understanding what that is exactly. She can understand being gay…
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Karl
Sasha’s father and Debbie’s husband. Karl is a kindergarten teacher at one of the local schools in Oakland, and he is an exceedingly kind and accepting man. He is understanding and supportive of…
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Jasmine
Richard and Derriyon’s mother, Savannah’s sister, and Derick’s wife. Jasmine gives birth to Richard when she is just fifteen years old, but she is a dedicated and attentive mother. She doesn’t meet…
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Get the entire The 57 Bus LitChart as a printable PDF.
Kaprice Wilson
The truancy coordinator at Oakland High School. Kaprice is from the streets of Oakland, and after her first love, Lil’ Jerry, an active member in one of the city’s gangs, is killed in a…
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Andrew / Samantha
Sasha’s close childhood friend. Andrew is biologically born as Samantha, but he never feels comfortable inside a female body. Sasha helps to validate Andrew’s transgender identity after his therapist dismisses him, and Sasha gives…
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Nemo
Sasha’s “soul mate, but not in the romantic sense.” Nemo is gender fluid, and like Sasha, they prefer gender neutral pronouns. Nemo’s gender fluid identity means that they “have the potential to be…
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Jamal
One of Richard’s friends. Jamal is on the 57 bus the day Richard sets fire to Sasha’s skirt, and he even gives Richard the cigarette lighter and encourages him to light the…
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Bill Du Bois
Richard’s lawyer after his attack on Sasha. Du Bois is an experienced attorney of forty years. He is knowledgeable and competent, and he seems to have Richard’s best interests at heart, but he…
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The Man with a Mustache / Dan Gale
The “Good Samaritan” who puts out Sasha’s flaming skirt on the 57 bus. Dan Gale is just a regular guy, but he is the only one who actively tries to help Sasha after Richard…
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Jeff
A student at Oakland High School. Jeff is punished at school using restorative justice after he slaps both TC and Pancha on their backsides. With restorative justice, Jeff, TC, and Pancha are able to resolve…
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TC
Pancha
A student at Oakland High School. Jeff grabs Pancha’s backside and is punished by the school using restorative justice. Because of restorative justice, Pancha and Jeff are able to resolve their conflict, and they even…
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Nancy O’Malley
The district attorney of Alameda County. O’Malley has no problem trying Richard as an adult for his assault on Sasha, and she condemns the attack as a hate crime, which she considers a form…
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Sujatha Baliga
The “foremost expert on restorative justice” in the United States. Sujatha refuses to “peddle” restorative justice, and she is never formally called to weigh in on Richard’s case, but she believes Sasha and Richard…
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Healy
Sasha’s close friend. Healy has a difficult time coping with Sasha’s attack and can’t image what it must have been like for Sasha to wake up on fire. He loves his friend and supports…
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Cherie
Richard’s oldest friend. Richard and Cherie grow up in the same neighborhood and have known each other all their lives. Cherie supports Richard, even after he is arrested for Sasha’s assault, and she…
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Lil’ Jerry
Kaprice Wilson’s boyfriend in the 1980s. Lil’ Jerry is an active member of one of Oakland’s gangs. Although she wants to get pregnant and go on welfare (something all the women around her do)…
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Minor Characters
Lloyd
Richard’s cousin. Lloyd is two years older than Richard and just as “goofy.” He is aboard the 57 bus the day Richard lights fire to Sasha’s skirt. Lloyd influences Richard’s bad behavior, but like Jamal, he is never questioned by police after Richard is arrested.
Michael
Sasha’s best friend. Like Healy, Michael also supports Sasha and wears a skirt during the Skirts for Sasha event at Maybeck.
Carrie
Sasha’s friend. Carrie first lends Sasha a skirt in the tenth grade during a gag dress up day at Maybeck, and she again gives them an entire bag of skirts the following year.
Derick
Jasmine’s husband, Richard’s stepfather, and Derriyon’s father.
Savannah
Jasmine’s sister and Richard’s aunt. Savannah is killed in a drive-by shooting in Oakland, leaving Jasmine the guardian of her two daughters.
Derriyon
Richard’s little brother, Jasmine and Derick’s son.
Dr. Grossman
Sasha’s surgeon at the San Francisco burn unit.
Shyam Sundar
One of Sasha’s teachers at Maybeck. Sasha is Shyam’s favorite student, and he finds it difficult to teach after Sasha’s attack.
Regis
Richard’s cousin. Regis is openly gay and androgynous, and he goes to all of Richard’s court appearances as a show of support.
Darris Young
An organizer from Oakland’s social justice advocacy group. Darris follows Richard’s case as it unfolds on television, and he contacts Jasmine and gets her interested in restorative justice.
Ian
Sasha’s close friend and Teah’s boyfriend.
Teah
Sasha’s close friend and Ian’s girlfriend.
