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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I wanted a quick, but interesting true crime story so I selected this young adult novel about Lizzie Borden. Actually, I have been curious about the facts of her story because, up until now, I had only heard bits of the legend.
"Lizzie Borden took an axe,
gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one."
For some reason, possibly because everyone referred to Lizzie Borden as a "girl," I thought she was in her teens when her parents were murdered. So, the first thing I learned was that Lizzie was 32 at the time of the murders; hardly a girl. I also learned that there were quite a few peculiarities about this unsolved crime: Lizzie herself, the untruths that were told even among the police officers, and the fact that a possible murder weapon was found and lost without much discussion at all.
However, if you think this book will answer the question of who the murderer or murderers were then you will be gravely (heh) disappointed.
"Lizzie Borden took an axe,
gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one."
For some reason, possibly because everyone referred to Lizzie Borden as a "girl," I thought she was in her teens when her parents were murdered. So, the first thing I learned was that Lizzie was 32 at the time of the murders; hardly a girl. I also learned that there were quite a few peculiarities about this unsolved crime: Lizzie herself, the untruths that were told even among the police officers, and the fact that a possible murder weapon was found and lost without much discussion at all.
However, if you think this book will answer the question of who the murderer or murderers were then you will be gravely (heh) disappointed.
This investigation of Lizzie Borden's case is really well-written. It's written in a way that is readable for young adults, who tend to stray from the fact-heavy stuff. While it's got tons of facts, obviously, they are blended together and told in novel form and I really like that.
I really liked the extra information contained in the boxes. It added depth to the world. I do wish there had been a chapter at the end that had laid out the evidence bit by bit so that readers could evaluate it. It would have been a good exercise in critical thinking for my kids. (Not that you can't do that with the book as a whole, just that a concise chapter would have been good.)
I really liked the extra information contained in the boxes. It added depth to the world. I do wish there had been a chapter at the end that had laid out the evidence bit by bit so that readers could evaluate it. It would have been a good exercise in critical thinking for my kids. (Not that you can't do that with the book as a whole, just that a concise chapter would have been good.)
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
I am watching the Diddy trial like a hawk at the moment and this was a fascinating parallel. Not because the cases are at all a like but because of the comparison of lawyers.
It is fascinating to see how far and simultaneously how backward the legal system still is.
Not that I am in America. BUT the absolute uselessness of almost all the lawyers from this case drives home how much of their job really is just winging it.
Something I can both respect and sort of admire and absolutely want to punch in the face.
Above all I am pleased because this is one of the most coherent and not tedious trial focused books.
It is fascinating to see how far and simultaneously how backward the legal system still is.
Not that I am in America. BUT the absolute uselessness of almost all the lawyers from this case drives home how much of their job really is just winging it.
Something I can both respect and sort of admire and absolutely want to punch in the face.
Above all I am pleased because this is one of the most coherent and not tedious trial focused books.
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
informative
medium-paced
I am a true crime lover and have always been fascinated by the Lizzie Borden case. This book brought light to a *lot* of details that I had never heard about before. The writing was also very fluid and not difficult to read or keep up with. I really, really enjoyed this book.