Dickens & Rumi

book

This is a bust

Ed Lin · 2007

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for This is a bust by Ed Lin. This book is content notes include Strong language, Alcohol or drugs, Death of a character; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Strong language4/5
  • Alcohol or drugs3/5
  • Death of a character3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Creativity & curiosity3/5
  • Diverse representation3/5

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Historical references are present but no overt product placement.

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

Death and murder are central elements of the investigation.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

Crime-related injuries and violence may be described, but available evidence does not suggest graphic, sustained gore.

Strong language4/5
Why this rating?

Strong language, including profanity, common in crime fiction.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

Religious ideas or practices may appear incidentally, but religion does not appear to be a major focus.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Includes adult relationship dynamics, though not the primary focus.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

The tone is suspenseful and tense, common in police procedurals.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

Adult references or situations may occur in the gritty crime setting, without evidence that explicit sexual content is central.

Alcohol or drugs3/5
Why this rating?

References to drug use and alcohol consumption are present as part of the 1970s NYC setting.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Includes gritty depictions of police work, physical confrontations, and typical crime-noir violence.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist shows courage in navigating a corrupt system.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

A distinctive narrative voice and atmospheric crime-world setting can encourage imaginative engagement.

Diverse representation3/5
Why this rating?

Focuses specifically on the Chinese American experience in a specific historical context.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

The story may offer incidental insight into 1970s New York and Chinese American experiences, though teaching is not its main purpose.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Caring and cooperation may appear, but the harsh crime setting places greater emphasis on survival and conflict.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Explores themes of corruption, ethics, and social dynamics in law enforcement.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Characters are morally complex and fallible, rather than traditional role models.

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Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. Why do you think the characters used the language they did? Did it change how you saw them?
  3. Which choice in This is a bust would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in This is a bust, and what caused that change?
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