Burn [Hardcover]

Suzanne Phillips (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2008

"Are our schools safe?" It's hard to turn on the news without hearing this question, and the answer is typically "no." This novel explores what happens when bullying escalates to violence, and it challenges our definition of victimization.

With thought-provoking prose, Suzanne Phillips explores the psyche of Cameron, a bullied freshman who ultimately does the unthinkable: he kills another student. As she did with Chloe Doe, Suzanne has found a way to make this seemingly dark story ultimately redemptive. But she also dares readers to look at the behavior that provokes violence as having the potential to be as dangerous as the violence itself.

It's Suzanne's hope that Burn will inspire readers to take a precautionary stance against bullying rather than waiting to react to it.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 9 Up—Cameron, a high school freshman, becomes an easy target for the varsity bullies after a chance comment by a coach who notices his short stature and long hair from behind and directs him to the girls' gym. As the taunts of "gay" or "fag" drive most of his friends away, Cameron's anger escalates. When he is assaulted in the locker room and photos of his nude body are posted on the Internet, he begins to break down and his desire to retaliate is explosive. Only his mother's boyfriend, a police officer, is able to understand the post-traumatic stress disorder that Cam is experiencing and offer practical though unwanted support. This is an intense story with brutal descriptions of the abuse Cameron suffers. Phillips provides just enough nuanced details of sexual assault and violence yet masterfully avoids sensationalism. While Burn lacks the eloquence of Nancy Garden's Endgame (Harcourt, 2006) and the broad perspective of Walter Dean Myers's Shooter (HarperCollins, 2004), it instead approaches the inner turmoil of the victim's "real time" during the taunting, humiliation, revenge, and remorse. As Cam's emotional state deteriorates, fantasy and reality blur, effectively conveying his pain and confusion. Reluctant readers will appreciate the fast pace of the book as the disturbing plot unfolds with short day-to-day vignettes. There is understanding to be gained for everyone who reads this timely title.—Sue Lloyd, Franklin High School, Livonia, MI
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About the Author

Suzanne Phillips is a special education English teacher in San Diego, California, and her debut novel Chloe Doe, was on our Spring 2007 list. She describes BURN as "A look inside the mind of a young man who is moved to kill a classmate." She says of this project, "I believe, as someone in the trenches daily, that America needs a little shaking up."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316001651
• ISBN-13: 978-0316001656
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,322,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intense, November 6, 2008

By 

Ami Hassler "www.bookami.com" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Burn (Hardcover)

Cameron Grady is a loner, and with good reason. His freshman year has just been one misery after another ever since he went to the school's sports orientation night and the coach thought he was a girl. Now he's known as Cameron Diaz and forced to "map out his day with survival being the only objective." But there's physical and mental survival, and after an incident in the boys' locker room, Cameron's psyche doesn't survive, and he commits an unspeakable act against the boy who witnessed his shame.

This is a hard novel to write about. Not because it isn't powerful and challenging, but because it is so utterly terrifying. It's a middle of the night, one-sitting sort of book. It's completely realistic, but you wish it weren't. I want to feel great compassion for Cameron Grady, but I'm not sure he deserves my compassion. How can a character be both the hero and the villain? This is the balance beam that Suzanne Phillips has her readers walk. Burn, along with Living Dead Girl and Freeze Frame, will probably be amongst the most talked about literature of the season.

For other reviews, visit my site.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, November 13, 2008

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burn (Hardcover)

"You're ours Grady.....This is just the beginning."

The horrors of high school are real; just ask Cameron Grady.

Freshman year at Madison High School has been the most miserable experience of Cameron's life. The bullying begins the first day of class. Rich Patterson and the rest of his jock friends zero in their radar and Cameron becomes #1 on their hit list.

The "Red Coats" taunt Cameron, calling him Cameron Diaz and stalking him in the hallways. High school becomes a war zone for Grady. The lines between reality and fiction begin to blur, and Cameron finds himself "checking out" from time to time. Cameron also begins to experiment with fire; an obsession that proves to be dangerous.

Unlike most stories, Cameron's does not have a happy ending, but it's real - it's life. Life is not always full of happy endings.

Suzanne Phillips has created a gripping novel that discusses extremely tough issues. Cameron deals with both physical and sexual abuse, bullying, and post-traumatic stress. Many teenagers may be unfamiliar with post-traumatic stress disorder, and this novel does an excellent job of shedding some light on the subject.

BURN is a well-written story that may be difficult to read at times, but the message is clear. Teenagers face hardships on a daily basis. These problems can range from getting into a fight with their parents to being subjected to some kind of abuse. They all want someone they can confide in - Cameron finds that person, but it's a little too late for him.

Reviewed by: LadyJay

4.0 out of 5 stars On Fire!, December 30, 2010

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burn (Kindle Edition)

Although this story requires much imagination when it comes to the actual murder, the pliht of it is so that I was requiredto let out a few tears. This breathtaking novel will have you reeling. It is raw and completely credible in that bullying is much more present in school than some people let it be. Bravo! Also check out Suzanne's other stunning novel, Chloe Doe!