The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir

by John Busby and Cylin Busby

Book Overview

The extraordinary true crime story of a family, a brutal shooting, and the year that would change their lives forever.

When Cylin Busby was nine years old, she was obsessed with Izod clothing, the Muppets, and a box turtle she kept in a shoebox. Then everything changed overnight. Her police officer father, John, was driving to his shift when someone leveled a shotgun at his window. The blasts that followed left John's jaw on the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1599904543
• ISBN13: 9781599904542
• Release Date: April 2010
• Publisher: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

The real story of strength and love

I was aware, as were others living on the Cape, what had happened by newspaper reports. This was a quick page turner, the family is strong and each one has helped to support the other. Everything fell into place with clarity from Mr. Busbys' book. This is a true story that should be made into a movie, people will see how quickly a good persons life can turn upside down. Police Officers tried there best to help this family along with their friends and neighbors. You finish the book feeling bad that they had to leave the area that they had loved so much. I could say we all lost!

Former Falmouth Resident

This book was incredible. I could not put it down! When I finally finished it on one Sunday, my husband asked me "Are you finished? You haven't talked to me all weekend!" It captured my interest as my family lived near, Reine's corner, the trash truck depot, the junk yard and the Busy's. I knew the selectmen and some of the officers mentioned. This should become a movie! It reminded me of the type of story as "The Client". The Busby's were so brave, I didn't realize what they were living through as my school bus drove passed their house each afternoon. I remember all of a sudden a tall stockade fence appearing around the house. I am still amazed at how Polly continued school through all of this! Great reading!!

The healing power of love.

loved this book. I found it fascinating and a wonderful read. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day. When I did take breaks, I came out and told my family what I had read. I usually do that, and they're usually not interested. They found my reports on this story as engaging as I did. What struck me most about this book was the love. I think Polly's strength, and John's strength, too, were probably the source of this love, and the children responded to it. They couldn't have survived without that love.

Appalling miscarriage of justice....amazing family.

I preordered this book back in June and had forgotten about it until it arrived in my mailbox. I started reading it last night and am almost halfway through it. I grew up on Cape Cod, and never heard of this until a few years ago when the suspected shooter's wife was murdered. This story hits really close to home, because my father was a police officer, and my worst fear was that he would get hurt/killed at his job. This family is amazing. The hell that they went through, and the complete miscarriage of justice is appalling. There is no question that this case was completely bungled/covered up. John Busby is an advocate for extending the statute of limitations on crimes against police officers. A few years ago, the brother of the suspected shooter admitted he was the driver while his brother shot Officer Busby, but because the statute of limitations had run out, he could not be charged. Ironically, the suspected shooter has been in a mental institution because he suffers from dementia since 2001. Some call it poetic justice. Amazing and haunting, don't miss this book.