Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with a sudden, unfair life change or a sense of powerlessness in the face of adult circumstances. It is a powerful true story about the Busby family, who were forced to vanish into protective custody after an assassination attempt on their father, a police officer. Beyond the high stakes thriller elements, this memoir explores the emotional toll of losing one's identity and the quiet resilience required to stay together when the world feels unsafe. It is most appropriate for mature middle schoolers and high schoolers who can handle themes of violence and medical trauma. Parents will find it a valuable tool for discussing family loyalty, the reality of justice, and how to find hope when your entire sense of normalcy is stripped away.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewAtmosphere of paranoia and fear throughout the family's relocation.
Some realistic profanity suitable for a teen audience.
The book deals directly with physical trauma, gunshot wounds, and the psychological weight of being hunted. The approach is realistic and gritty, rooted in a secular survival context. While the resolution is hopeful in terms of family unity, it remains realistic about the lasting scars of trauma and the imperfection of the legal system.
A mature teen who enjoys true crime or thrillers but is also looking for something emotionally substantive. It is perfect for a student dealing with a family crisis who feels like no one understands the pressure of keeping family secrets.
Parents should preview the descriptions of John's facial injuries and the initial shooting, as they are quite graphic. It can be read cold by older teens, but younger readers may need to discuss the concept of police corruption. A parent might notice their child becoming hyper-vigilant about safety or expressing frustration that adult problems are ruining their social lives.
Younger teens will focus on the 'spy' elements and the unfairness of Cylin having to leave her friends. Older teens will better grasp the father's psychological struggle and the complex moral questions regarding revenge.
Unlike many memoirs that focus on one person's trauma, this dual-narrative approach shows how a single violent act ripples through an entire family unit differently across generations.
In 1979, police officer John Busby was shot in the face while driving to work. The perpetrator was a local criminal with deep ties to the community. Because the shooter remained at large and made further threats, the Busby family had to go into deep hiding. The memoir is uniquely told through dual perspectives: John's account of his survival and grueling medical recovery, and his daughter Cylin's perspective on the sudden loss of her childhood, friends, and safety.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.