The Burgess Boys

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use, death, racism, and pregnancy loss.

Susan has always blamed herself for Zach’s friendlessness and lack of direction in life. Before having children, she had envisioned herself first having three girls and then a son. When she lost a pregnancy, she felt her entire future unraveling. When Zach was an infant, both Jim and Susan’s mother agreed that Zach looked strange. He was bullied throughout school, and though IQ tests revealed that he was intelligent and without any learning difficulties, Zach muddled through with below-average performance.

With the loss of his job, Jim and Bob both suggest that Zach find ways to keep busy. Susan searches for volunteer opportunities, but none pan out. Jim suggests that he enroll in a college course, but Charlie Tibbetts insists that he wait until the next semester because he is sure to be recognized.

Christmas comes and goes, and Charlie is certain that the delay in developments in his case is a good sign—it will be forgotten and blow over. In January, however, the district attorney’s office files charges against Zach for a civil rights violation.