I have been interested in True Crime stories since I was a child. My first interests were more historical, most particularly the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy. I remember poring over the articles in the World Book Encyclopedia as a little girl. When I was privileged to get to go to Ford's Theater in 2000, it was fascinating to see the artifacts I'd long read about in person. My mother is a true crime buff, too, so I've watched all the shows...Unsolved Mysteries, 48 Hours, Forensic Files, Cold Case Files, The New Detectives, Joe Kenda: Homicide Hunter (Mama's personal favorite), Dateline...you name it. My dad and I had several "discussions" over the Jeffrey MacDonald case (I say "guilty." Daddy never thought he did it.).
Despite all this, when I saw the "True Crime" square on my Book Bingo card, I was a little apprehensive. With the Netflix movie on Ted Bundy, true crime books have seen a resurgence at the Library. I cannot count how many times in the last year I've seen The Stranger Beside Me or an assortment of books by Ann Rule circulate. Still, I knew I wasn't in the mood for serial killers, cults, sex trafficking, or mass murders. So, I did a Google search for "Young Adult True Crime" books. I came across the article "5 True Crime YAs We Love" (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/teen/5-true-crime-yas-we-love/). The Year We Disappeared was the second title on the list. It immediately caught my interest.
The Year We Disappeared is a father-daughter memoir by Cylin and John Busby. Cylin was 9 years old when her father was shot on his way to work as a policeman in the Cape Cod town of Falmouth, Massachusetts. She and John alternate chapters as they tell the story of how the family (including mom Polly and brothers Eric & Shawn) coped with the shooting and its aftermath. Together, they weave a tale of love, courage, and learning to deal with tragedy filled with good guys, bad guys, and dirty cops.
As I read this book, it started to sound familiar. When I searched for the book on Amazon, I saw a copy that said "As featured on CBS's 48 Hours." However, the story in the book is different than the one I'd seen on television. I liked the different viewpoints. It added so much depth to the book. I got the feeling while reading that I was getting the picture from all sides. Kid see events differently from adults and, even when you're grown, there is a different aspect from the vantage point of parents as apposed to their children. I watched my dad suffer a lot over the course of 2+ years. I cannot fathom being 9 years old and facing a situation where one incident happening to someone else changed your life forever. Despite everything the went through, neither of the Busbys presents a "woe-is-me" story or beg for pity. It's the opposite. Just by being honest and forthright, they show a strength they don't have to mention. You see it.
I'm glad I chose The Year We Disappeared as my "True Crime" book. As a reader, it was one time where taking a leap and choosing something you'd never heard of before paid off. I was rewarded with an interesting read that sucked me in from the beginning. I would definitely recommend this book. Despite being over 300 pages, it reads rather quickly and if it has the same effect it does on you that it did on me, you will remember to appreciate those you have and love.
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