Bobby’s Trials by Bobby Wilson is a powerful autobiography and true life crime which depicts Wilson’s dark past as an Oklahoma farm boy growing up with his sister and a severely depressed mother. With her fits of paranoiac rage, Bobby and his sister suffered from their mother’s cruel treatment for years. Then tragedy struck the family as Bobby woke up, lying on the grass, with his home ravaged by a fire that killed his sister and mother. He didn't remember how it happened, but he was the only survivor and a prime suspect in the murder of his family.

I found it hard to read some parts of the book, as the way Wilson’s mother treated her children should not be experienced by any kids. It is easy to despise her right away, but depression is a potent mental illness that can make someone do the unthinkable. On the other hand, I admire young Wilson’s perseverance, particularly when he had to endure two murder cases against him. I silently cheered for him until the day of his acquittal.

Bobby’s Trials is a true life crime that will stay in readers’ minds for quite some time. Bobby Wilson’s compelling story of suffering is redeemed by determination, hope and survival. Bobby’s Trials also highlights the weakness of the justice system, which is still a problem today. This experience encouraged Wilson to become a trial lawyer to prevent people from being victimized by the inefficiency of the legal system. All in all, this is a highly recommended read.

Bobby's Trials by Bobby Wilson is a true story of the life and trials of one man. Bobby Wilson was accused of and charged with the murder of his mother and sister in the '60s in Oklahoma. This autobiographical account is his own version of what truly happened that night. The book follows a sequential narrative, and one of his earliest memories is that of a 5-year-old living in California whose father walks out on him, his mother, and his sister. We then learn about the children’s constant moving with their mother, often with little money, from state to state until finally ending up in their mother’s home state of Oklahoma. The siblings are often left by themselves with no regular schooling while their mother is involved with various men that come and go in their lives. After they move to Oklahoma for good, life continues in this way on welfare checks while their mother’s relationships with men continue to fall apart - until she starts viewing her son, Bobby, as just another man who is going to leave them.

What happens on that night in 1963 when his mother and sister are found dead and their home is going up in flames remained a mystery, even for Bobby for 10 years. All he remembered was waking up in the middle of the night with a gun pointing at his head - held by his mother - and then finding himself knocked out and in police custody. This is a book about growing up as a poor white kid in the '60s, accused of murder, his trials and life in County Jail, and the truth as he knows it. I found this autobiography to be fascinating and it allowed me to get a glimpse into one person’s life growing up in an unstable home. The writing comes across as clear and straightforward with no embellishments or exaggerations. All in all, an interesting and fascinating read.