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lexcellent's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Addiction, Bullying, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexual violence
rpark83's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
books_nooks_spooks's review against another edition
4.0
What stood out to me the most in this story was how the children involved were disregarded and written off by the adults surrounding them. So much so that even when they openly discussed murdering one of their peers, nobody paid them any attention because they were all already labelled as lost causes and were not taken seriously. That being said, it’s does not excuse the atrocious crime that any of the perpetrators participated in but it does give us an insight into perhaps why they wandered down a path that led to such a tragic outcome.
Told in a narrative that almost makes it easy to forget this is not a work of fiction, the author has taken us deep into the lives of those involved and the subsequent trial At times it does feel a little lengthy but there is so much more than a true crime book here. It takes along hard look at societal impacts on young people who have questionable guidance, who think they are grown and at the failures of those reponsible for them and it leaves you asking how the hell was all this allowed to happen in plain sight?!
The murder itself was absolutely shocking and Reena was let down more than ANYONE else in this horrific and unnecessary crime. Justice was absolutely not served.
At 480 pages be prepared to settle down with this one but it is for the most part a well researched, thoughtful and immersive book.
Told in a narrative that almost makes it easy to forget this is not a work of fiction, the author has taken us deep into the lives of those involved and the subsequent trial At times it does feel a little lengthy but there is so much more than a true crime book here. It takes along hard look at societal impacts on young people who have questionable guidance, who think they are grown and at the failures of those reponsible for them and it leaves you asking how the hell was all this allowed to happen in plain sight?!
The murder itself was absolutely shocking and Reena was let down more than ANYONE else in this horrific and unnecessary crime. Justice was absolutely not served.
At 480 pages be prepared to settle down with this one but it is for the most part a well researched, thoughtful and immersive book.
mireyadiaz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
bibliographry's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This true crime book was a heartbreaking but thoughtfully retold story of Reena Virk. I didn't know anything about this previously as these kids were slightly older than I was at the time but saw this and became interested as I too live in the PNW. The topic was sad and disturbing-the book was filled with facts, interviews , and many points of view. I always hesitate to say a true crime book is great because these accountings are real and tragic but I'm glad I know Reena's story and I think it's important as many people see and hear it as possible. There are a lot of issues this book underlines that are still issues today. I only hope her story and the story of these children involved helps the people capable of making changes to these issues able to do so-so things like this stop happening.