Day 1 (Jan. 6th)

(Written by John B, photo credit John B)

The first day of the True Crime J-Term set the tone right away. We started in the classroom, diving into real court cases and learning how they actually unfold. Instead of focusing on the shocking parts, we looked at evidence, timelines, and how lawyers and judges made the decisions. It was interesting to see how messy real cases can be and how much depends on details that are easy to miss at first.

After that, we headed to Murder by the Book, where we got to pick out each of our own books to make reports on later in the J-Term. Being surrounded by shelves full of true crime and murder titles felt like stepping into the heart of the genre. We talked about how authors research cases, tell victims’ stories responsibly, and balance facts with narrative. It made the cases we studied earlier feel more real, especially knowing how much work goes into telling those stories the right way.








To end the day, we stopped by milk + sugar for a sweet treat. It was a nice break after a heavy but fascinating morning, and it gave everyone a chance to relax and reflect on the day that we had.



Overall, the first day was a great mix of learning and exploring. It showed that true crime is not just about the mystery, but also about understanding the justice system, the people involved, and the responsibility that comes with studying real events. A strong start to what looks like a memorable J-Term.

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