Customer Reviews

Burned

5 star:		(64)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I received a copy of BURNED in the mail from my cousin yesterday & couldn't put it down. I finished it all last night & was completely smitten! My cousin & I were both reared Mormon, & thus identified intensely with the story. We both come from dysfunctional families, which often made me feel like Hopkins had been peeking through my curtains to obtain her material for BURNED. I am now almost 30 & think this book is long overdue. Hopkins portrayal of a battered young girl in a devoutly religious (& more specifically, Mormon) family is dead on the mark. If only I had the clarity of Pattyn when I was a teen. (As conflicted & confused as Pattyn often is, she is wise beyond her years. My adolescence was marked with a blur of foggy madness...a fury of anger, loneliness, & confusion.) I have since made peace with my past & have left the Mormon church. Yet all the years and miles later, reading BURNED was like going home.

To start off, I think Ellen Hopkins has a wonderful style. I like what she does with words, her concretes, her descriptions. She has flare. And this is one of the edgiest and most original of the verse novels I have thus far read. On the downside this story is making me literally sick to my stomach.

Please understand that I don't have a problem with the theme of struggling with ones faith. When I first read the blurb about the main character going through a crisis of faith, I was more intent on reading this, not less. Then, as I began reading, I realized there was no crisis of faith, no case where the main character has to struggle with pros and cons, goods and bads, or sacrifice one thing for another. Instead the whole thing is very cut and dry. The protagonist's family is brainwashed by a religion that:

1. Believes a woman's whole purpose in life is to pop out babies.
2. Discourages their believers from reading J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolken.
3. Discourages women from learning or getting any kind of education beyond high school.
4. Uses the term "Love and obey" as instruction for how wives view their husbands.
5. Teaches its youth that it's better for a girl to die than lose her virginity in a rape.
6. Tolerates men in leadership positions who look the other way when they know a husband is beating a wife and encourages the parents to use a belt when their kids misbehave.
7. Has no program to help women and children in abusive homes, but prefers to call victims liars rather than deal with any real problems.
8. Instills in their youth such a rigorous guilt complex that girls feel guilty just for dreaming about boys kissing them.
9. Seems to perpetuate the kind of beliefs that allow the parents of this protagonist to not let her drive when she turns 16 because they think it will be better if she waits until her husband can teach her.

Um, does this sound ludicrous to you? Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are religions like that. Okay fine, there are cults like that. But dude, what's there to struggle against here? What benefit could there possibly be for the protagonist to stay in this oppressive, brain washing, abusive religion? Are they giving her security, love, a warm home?

No, nothing. The protagonist doesn't believe a bit of it from the get go. So where is the struggle? And you can just imagine what a shock it is for me every time Ms. Hopkins calls this evil, oppressive, judgmental, emotionally abusive religion Mormonism, the religion I've grown up with my entire life. A religion which:

1. Tells couples that how many children they have is a personal decision.
2. Has Stephenie Meyer, Allie Condie, and Becca Fitzpatrick among their ranks.
3. Encourages women to continually learn and in particular to get college educations.
4. Has yet to use the term "love and obey" for a husband/wife relationship in any ceremonies or religious services I've attended.
5. Teaches young women that they are daughters of God, and that God loves them no matter what happens to them.
6. Preaches against violence and excommunicates those involved in abusive behaviors.
7. Takes abuse so seriously that you can download a 70 page 12 step program book from the LDS church's family services page for free. Never mind that they employ social workers and psychologists to deal with the kinds of family problems in this book.
8. Teaches that sex is ordained of God, beautiful, something to be celebrated after marriage. I didn't have any LDS friends growing up who felt having a "sex" dream broke the law of chastity.
9. The last one is just too ludicrous to even try and counter. Having your husband teach you to drive. Are you flippin' kidding me?

Growing up in the east coast with a lot of non-Mormons, I can tell you that most people are very respectful of religions not their own, and that I too was reared to be respectful.

But even in my very diverse high school, there were those who went out of their way to dismiss anything I had to say due to misrepresentations they had read, anti-Mormon movies their pastors had shown them, or sermons they'd heard decrying Mormonism as a cult.

People were taught to fear us.

I had "friends" who would not respect my beliefs, who continually attacked my religion while refusing to learn anything about it. Their reason for this was that I had been brainwashed. They knew because their pastors told them. Please tell me you see the irony here. Then put yourself in my shoes for a moment and try to imagine what it's like to have everything you say arbitrarily dismissed by certain people because they'd rather believe half-truths and misrepresentations than to go to the actual religion and find out for themselves.

I think it's really short sighted for Ellen Hopkins to dismiss every positive message in the Mormon religion by calling it "Mormon Propaganda," then turn around and misrepresent things until it can rightly be called Anti-Mormon propaganda.

If this book had been written about a Jewish or Catholic girl escaping her brainwashing cult religion, most people would be appalled by the blatant religious bigotry. But because it focuses on Mormons, who most people already think are a bit odd, no one blinks an eye.

News flash: I don't care if it's supposed to be edgy. Prejudice is just not cool.

I chanced upon this book, and raced through it. Surprisingly, I found the poetry format easy to read, though I would normally avoid this style. The author's talent was undeniable, in the terse, honest, sometimes rhyming verse. The emotions, dramas, and joys of late teen-age years were viscerally accurate and real. I would rate the book a 4 if it ended on a more optimistic note, as it is skillfully written, and the story engaging and worthwhile. In today's world, I simply cannot condone the ending, and found it not only disappointing but deeply disturbing. Pattyn Van Stratten is a high school junior, from a Mormon family. Her father, an alcoholic, abuses his wife and tyrannizes his 7 daughters. Pattyn struggles to find answers to her questions about faith and redemption; she wants to reconcile the violence and tyranny of her home life with her religious faith, but finds only complicity there. After her own small transgressions, she is shipped off to an Aunt in Nevada, where she is surprised to discover acceptance, friendship, freedom, love, and honesty. Unfortunately, this state of grace can't last, and ultimately it was the end of this book that I could not reconcile: it utterly lacked hope, and also seemed to justify the "Columbine" mentality, which repelled me. Although some reviewers were concerned about innacurate portrayal of Mormans in the book, that issue seemed minor to me: religion is often (always?) used as a tool of domination, one need look no further than Jimmy Jones and his kool-aid brew, or David Koresh, or Osama Bin Laden, or the Catholics and Protestants in Ireland, or even the born-again revival fueled by W's presidency to see this as a sadly repetitive pattern in human history. On the greater issue of abuse and its inevitable isolation, the book is both accurate, and despairing. Certainly there are enough newspaper articles to prove this tragic fact, though there are also some bright examples of overcoming the odds. I prefer to think of literature as escape, a way out, maybe even a real lifeline for those in need of rescue. In that light, I cannot accept the proffered solution for Pattyn's difficulty; too tragic for my taste.

I really enjoyed the style of this book, it was easy to read it in it's entirety, in one sitting. I think that the first two thirds of the book were great, a nice flow to the story, good development of the characters. Then the end arc of the book started, and this is where I start to have problems with the book. I'm confused why would a woman who has no children, who loves this beautiful niece of hers even consider letting her go back to a man that would obviously kill her? It seems so contradictory to the rough and tumble, heart of gold, character of Aunt J. As an Aunt myself, if my brother was beating his wife or child, I wouldn't just send that child back, with a cell phone and some new clothes. It's not just that either, I'm a woman, and I know that in the last 14 years of having sex, I have never seen a condom tear, never. Now putting that aside, since it's a plot device, wouldn't Pattyn be on pins and needles waiting and watching for her period? Hell I'm 30 and I still worry if I'm even 1 day late. I have a problem with Trevor getting the license plate of the truck that Ethan and Pattyn escaped in, really was he just waiting out there with a pen and pencil? I don't know I just found the entire ending totally unbelievable and really disappointing. I don't need a shiny happy ending but what I do need is for it to be logical in some way. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, the end is just to ridiculous to waste time reading the whole book.

I really enjoyed the first 478 pages of this book. For me though the ending just didn't do the story justice.

. . . it proved to be the best laugh I've had in a while. I nearly peed myself while reading about the inaccuracies. First, let me make you a list:

1)Yes, I am Mormon.
2)Yes, I acknowledge that abuse happens in every religion and that there are also extremists in every religion.
3)This book had EXTRAORDINARY potential.

That being said, let me continue. I myself came from an abusive Mormon family. It was awful. Plain and simple. Imagine my excitement when I picked up this book at Borders and read the description. "Finally!" I thought. "A story just for me." Similar to Pattyn, I am the oldest of six girls. This book seemed like a dream come true, and I was ready to dive in.

The giggles began on the page referencing Harry Potter, as a world where "no upstanding Mormon should go." Oh man, I nearly lost it. I believe that I am an upstanding Mormon, and yet I do read Harry Potter. My sisters listen to the tapes every night before they go to bed. I also think that Ron Weasley is hot as heck.

Next was the quote about how Mormons don't really place much emphasis on Jesus Christ. Well, actually, he's the center of our religion! Not wanting to make people think I'm trying to convert them, I'll stop there. ;) Because everyone knows we just want to convert people.

Next was the complete ignoral of the abuse happening in Pattyn's family. I'm sorry, but at church, everyone knows everything about everyone. Sad to say this, but Mormons gossip a lot. A lot a lot. Growing up, I couldn't even ditch a class without someone seeing me at the mall and calling my mom. Quite annoying, but it is what it is. So Pattyn's mom going to church with sunglasses and her father's constant drinking? Nope. Not believable. Somebody would have said something.

And then there's the mean ole' bishop. When the abuse was going in my house, my bishop was nothing but supportive and he NEVER excused my father's behavior. He knew it was wrong, and he was on my side completely. I do understand that bishops vary, but a good one would never tell parents "to use the belt on their kids." That's just plain crazy.

Last is the misconception of the inferiority of women. Um, my mom is lawyer for crying out lot, a size 0, and has the best style I know. She's freaking hot. As for abuse, she never put up with that crap. She stood up to my dad, and I've always admired her for that. All the Mormon women in my life have careers. Her best friend is a photgrapher, my aunt is a principal, my other aunt a school teacher, and then a cousin who is a personal trainer. My friend is going to med school, another has her own store and business, and I hope to be a writer. We are not just farm animals who are supposed to breed.

But then again, I do understand that every situation varies. I was able to come out of my abuse with a clear mind and a strong testimony and a sense of humor on the side. Life's too short to be sad. Nonetheless I was so disappointed with this story. I was hoping to relate to it. I wasn't shocked by the tragic content; I could deal with that. The real sad thing here is the laziness of the author. She took no time to research the religion and find out the truth about it, and for a writer, that's UNACCEPTABLE.

Wow, Ellen Hopkins...you got me with this one! I am someone who did not really enjoy Crank but decided to give Burned a chance anyway. I am so glad I did! This book was thoughtful, insightful, compelling, tragic, endearing... Tears still brim at the corners of my eyes. The verse style of writing is becoming something I enjoy - at least in the case of author Ellen Hopkins. It just works for her (better here than with Crank), and some passages are so much more powerful than if they had been fully formed with sentences. Pattyn is an innocent teenager, longing for teenage things - independance, understanding, love, acceptance ... something real. But Pattyn's world is not one of the "norm". She is forced to live in fear most of the time. Her "little box of sadness" grows smaller by the day and quickly fills with hopelessness. I still long to free her; wrap my arms around her and protect her, give her a new life. This was truly a wonderful book.

I didn't know when I finished the book, but I see now that this is part of a trilogy and I'm so glad! Pattyn is on a desperate and rocky road, and I can only hope she finds love and understanding ahead.

"Dad staggered in, eyes eerily lit.
The corners of his mouth foaming spit.
His demons planned an overnight stay.
Mom motioned to take the girls away,

hide them in their rooms, safe in their beds.
We closed the doors, covered our heads,
as if blankets could mute the sounds of his blows
or we could silence her screams beneath our pillows.

I hugged the littlest ones close to my chest,
till the beat of my heart lulled them to rest.
Only then did I let myself cry.
Only then did I let myself wonder why

Mom didn't fight back, didn't defend,
didn't confess to family or friend.
Had Dad's demons claimed her soul?
or was this, as well, a woman's role?"

this book was so good and i flew through it in one day but i have never been more pissed off by an ending of a book like this book. i understand not all books have good and happy endings but i have never been so let down by a book ending. not nessecary at all and i feel like i wasted my time reading the book.

Surprisingly I read this book all in one day. I felt that I went through so many emotions from disgust and frustration to content and enjoyment just to end it all with anger and sadness.

The main character Pattyn is raised in a Mormon household. She's a well mannered girl who obeys her parents and takes care of all her younger siblings. Until she begins questioning her beliefs and trust in the people she's meant to look up to, everything turns from bad to worse.

Her father is an abusive alcoholic and her mother doesn't do anything other than having more kids for Pattyn to take care of. She is sent to live with her Aunt by her dad who can't put up with her anymore. There she discovers love, freedom, and happiness. Pattyn falls in love with Ethan who is a caring and loving guy. Meanwhile at home things aren't so great for her sister Jackie. Her father takes out his anger and frustration on her, and Pattyn is conflicted on what she should do to help out her family.

I was left feeling really upset at the way the story ended though. It was really unexpected and depressing. This is the first time I felt like throwing a book across the room because of how mad the ending made me. Any book that makes me feel so emotional is amazing! Pattyn's story is one I'll never forget.

I love this author and most of her books. But honestly, I feel she would have done better with this book if she didn't focus on an actual religion.
I'm mormon and i don't have any desire to read this book now because first off while she isn't attacking the church I guess, i feel like she is. From the reviews I've read, there are obviously many false things in the book about our religion.
I grew up in the church(my dads a bishop) and I've had so much freedom. My parents don't care who i date...luckily because the boys have all been nonmormon. As long as i don't get into drugs or anything like that its whatever. Which should be with any normal family anyways. Oh and yeah we CAN read harry Potter. And no women only purpose in the church is not to be in the kitchen and have babies because then i would really fail at that part considering i stay clear of the kitchen and won't be having many children.
I know her main point is too write a story and that alot of her books have false things in them but i feel like some things you should make sure are true before publishing a book on it.
This book will probably just piss me off while reading it, so this is one i will stay clear of.
Oh noes did i just say piss? oh my gosh. Guess i'm going to hell for that, right? because thats what mormons supposedly believe right.......