Brooklyn, Burning [Hardcover]

Steve Brezenoff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2011

When you're sixteen and no one understands who you are, sometimes the only choice left is to run. If you're lucky, you find a place that accepts you, no questions asked. And if you're really lucky, that place has a drum set, a place to practice, and a place to sleep. For Kid, the streets of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, are that place. Over the course of two scorching summers, Kid falls hopelessly in love and then loses nearly everything and everyone worth caring about. But as summer draws to a close, Kid finally finds someone who can last beyond the sunset.

Brooklyn, Burning is the story of two summers in Brooklyn, two summers of fires, music, loss, and ultimately, love.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A lyrical, understated punk-kid love song to Brooklyn and to chosen family. . . . Overall, the tone is as raw, down-to-earth and transcendent as the music Scout and Kid ultimately make together." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Brezenoff lets readers take the reins, recasting and reimagining the lead roles as often as they like. For readers with little use for labels, it's an intimate yet wonderfully open rock 'n' roll love story." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A moving, personal story of friendship, loss, and love, Brezenoff's novel is also a tender tribute to all LGBTQ youth." --The Horn Book Magazine

"With its development of a supportive ersatz family and its happy-as-it's-going-to-get ending, this will appeal to readers who enjoyed David Levithan's Love Is the Higher Law." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A lyrical, understated punk-kid love song to Brooklyn and to chosen family. . . . Overall, the tone is as raw, down-to-earth and transcendent as the music Scout and Kid ultimately make together." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Brezenoff lets readers take the reins, recasting and reimagining the lead roles as often as they like. For readers with little use for labels, it's an intimate yet wonderfully open rock 'n' roll love story." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A moving, personal story of friendship, loss, and love, Brezenoff's novel is also a tender tribute to all LGBTQ youth." --The Horn Book Magazine

"With its development of a supportive ersatz family and its happy-as-it's-going-to-get ending, this will appeal to readers who enjoyed David Levithan's Love Is the Higher Law." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Steve Brezenoff is the author of dozens of chapter books for younger readers and the young adult novel The Absolute Value of -1. Born in Queens, Steve has lived in the suburbs on Long Island, on a couch on Manhattan's Upper East Side, a few feet from the 7 train in the Sunnyside neighborhood in Queens, and across the Hudson River in Jersey City--but none of those places has stuck with him or been missed as acutely as Brooklyn, where he lived on and off for much of his twenties and early thirties. Steve now lives in St. Paul, with his wife, Beth, their son, Sam, and dog, Harry.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 202 pages
• Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (September 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761375260
• ISBN-13: 978-0761375265
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #436,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The short version: Steve Brezenoff has written dozens of chapter books for young readers, and the young adult novels The Absolute Value of -1 and Brooklyn, Burning. His third YA novel, Guy in Real Life, will be out from Balzer + Bray in 2014. He grew up on Long Island, spent his twenties in Brooklyn, and now lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Beth, who is also a writer for children, and their son Sam. Though Steve grew up in a suburb on Long Island, he now lives with his wife and their son in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best this year! August 5, 2011

By What's On the Bookshelf

Format:Hardcover

A while ago I went to a reading in Minnesota and Steve read a short excerpt from this book. Something he said about wanting to write a book that spoke to people the way music speaks to people stuck with me. If you've followed the blog you know I did a Waiting on Wednesday post for the book, then I had the pleasure of doing the cover reveal (where I also posted the first chapter) a few months ago. Needless to say, when I received the ARC from Steve I sat down and the read the book that night.

I can easily say it's one of the best books I've read this year. I love contemp, and I love it even more when an author takes a giant leap and tries something different. In Brooklyn,Burning the giant leap was the point of view. Imagine sitting down and listening to a story being told to you, that's what Kid is doing-telling the story of Scout. It's not in third person and it's not in first person. It's a mix and it works. I was immediately drawn into Kid. The life Kid lives isn't an easy one. After being kicked out of the house Kid learns the hard way what it's like to love and lose love- not mention how to live in the streets and survive.

Losing love is hard on Kid, but when Scout shows up things begin to look up. Kid finds that even though you've lost something, hurt can be healed and bonds can be forged. I love Scout. The passion you feel when reading about Kid and Scout is incredible. Seeing Scout through Kid's eyes is a different perspective, but Kid's words still allow you to paint your own picture.

There are other supporting characters that help build the world and the life of Kid. They teach Kid so much about life and living. Thanks to Fish, Kid gets to play the drums and make amends at home.

In my opinion, the best thing about this book is you get to paint the characters how you see them. It's hard for me to say who they are, because Steve has written this to be open to interpretation by the reader. I truly think he succeeded in writing a book that speaks to the reader the same way music speaks to the listener. The ending is happy. You will laugh, you may cry, I'm pretty sure you'll get mad...and maybe a little annoyed. But in the end you'll be happy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, Romantic! November 7, 2011

By Amanda Welling

Format:Hardcover

First Impressions: I think from now on I'm going to start copying and pasting this. I don't really have a first impression of Brooklyn Burning, nor any other book I read. My wife handles a lot of the review requests and such. I usually just have the books handed to me, or in most cases, sent to my Kindle. Brooklyn, Burning wasn't much of any exception.

First Fifty Pages: Brooklyn Burning didn't leave me with the best first impressions. The beginning was wrought with confusion. No back story was explained. I had no idea what was going on. I didn't even know anything about the main character. Really, I had no idea what was going on. The entire book proved this motive. In fact, as the reader, you really have very little idea what is going on up until the end of the book.

But did I ultimately like the book? Is it a worthwhile read? Does it deserve your money? Keep reading to find out.

Review: Brooklyn Burning is a story of love, loss, and loving again. The main character is a teenager caught in the middle of a summer of confusion plagued by the memories of a summer break past. This isn't a heartfelt lovey-dovie novel though. Brooklyn Burning is a very open and honest book.

The story opens with Kid and Scout. We have no idea who either of these people is. We never really know who Scout is. Scout is explained through the book from the eyes of Kid. We hear what she thinks of him, how he looks, and how he acts. But we never really learn who Scout is. Scout is invisible. Scout comes from nowhere. Scout has no life outside of what Kid sees and thinks.

Kid, on the other hand, will become very intimate with the reader. Brooklyn Burning is told through the eyes and actions of Kid. She is a confused mess. Her life went downhill the summer before. Her young heart fell in love with a broken person. She ended up torn and confused. Her new summer begins to bring her back to life.

Kid has an interesting history. There are circumstances with her family and public matters that shape her confusion and being. I won't spend too much more time on that because many portions of the book would be ruined then. There are many events to these circumstances that are left out. There are many questions that are never answered. But this story is one of love, not of relationship.

The rest of the characters are rather fleeting. Felix, Fish and Johnny all play important roles in Kid's life. But you'll understand more when you read.

I can't emphasize much on the story itself. It is very confusing, back and forth, back and forth. But explaining to much would simply ruin the book. The best I can say is stick with the first few chapters and become hooked. Get lost in Kid's life and her memory.

Brooklyn Burning is told as a memory. The story is first person. The word-smithing is perfectly chosen and the descriptions are exact. Kid is very creative and imagines the world as a teenager in turmoil does. A better way to explain Brooklyn Burning is as a memory. Brooklyn Burning is Kid's memory, both what she presently experiences but in a form of past tense remembrance, and with events past told.

Conclusion: At first I wasn't sure of this book. I was confused. Nothing was made clear. But the more I read the more I understood Kid. I read little tid-bits that made me uncover a bit of the past here and there. I found about Felix and Kid's father. The story just became more and more interesting.

I'm usually not a fan of romantic plot lines. Brooklyn Burning was a joyful exception though. This book is hard to explain. Brooklyn Burning is a book that any reader should want to read. And I suggest it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just loved Brooklyn, Burning April 10, 2012

By Anna Heer

Format:Hardcover

I totally loved "Brooklyn, Burning". Kid is the most lovely character ever and while reading you almost feel like you're wandering through Brooklyn, night or day, doesn't matter, half drunk, but mostly in love, and you want this book, this journey to never end.
But it does, unfortunately, but it's a good end. A happy end that promises love and dreams and that life goes on.

I wish there were more books like this one, because "Brooklyn, Burning" just stole my heart and will probably keep it for a while..