Burn (by Suzanne Phillips)

common sense media says

Disturbing novel explores the aftermath of bullying.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know this is a compelling story about bullying, fear, and violence. Written from the perspective of a victim of domestic violence and school bullying, the novel walks a thin line between creating a sympathetic character and condoning his resulting act of aggression. The narrative is nearly relentless in portraying Cameron's sense of helplessness (adult intervention just makes the situation worse; when the bully is expelled, Cameron still insists, "He runs the school") to the point where teens in similar situations may wonder if there really is any hope. The idea of being gay -- or "acting the fag" -- is portrayed in a negative way. Cameron feels powerful and even joyful when lighting fire. The character's desperation and lack of remorse make this a choice for older teens, and one that's worth discussing.

Positive messages: After bullies write that "Cameron Diaz loves" Cameron's best friend on the bathroom wall, his friend won't talk to him anymore and says "I'm no fag. Stay away from me." When another boy who is bullied talks to him, Cameron "digs around inside himself for a little compassion and comes up empty." A disturbed boy in Cameron's class digs a paperclip into his own palm until blood drips onto his desk. Cameron's grades drop because he can't concentrate at school because of the bullying. Cameron tells a teacher, "You're an ass." Cameron feels empowered by setting fires, which he believes proves "he has bigger balls." After killing a boy, Cameron goes to PE class. Cameron dismisses any feelings of remorse: "I killed someone. But it was only Pinon. The kid was a pervert." He insists "he did the only thing he could do." Cameron's mother burns his clothes, which are evidence in the case. He questions her ability to protect him or fix things.
Violence:

Cameron is emotionally and physically bullied at school by football players who call him "Cameron Diaz" and say he is gay. He is always fearful at school and the bullies roam in packs, taunting and beating kids. A friend of Cameron's is beaten so badly he ends up in the hospital. Bullies hold Cameron and take pictures of him naked in the locker room that they post on the Internet; there is the suggestion of sexual assault but no graphic description. Cameron likes to play with fire, throws a lit match on his brother's shirt, starts a fire in a school trash can, and lights an abandoned car on fire and burns part of a city park. Cameron carries a knife to school so he can cut the bully's throat. He kills another boy by smashing a metal lock into his skull.

Sex: Cameron hears stories about a boy "making it with two girls at the same time ... girls giving head in the boys' bathroom." Cameron wants to write "Rich Patterson sucks dick" on an overpass.
Language: "Fag," "piss off," "s--t," "dick," "asshole," "peckerhead," "hell," "f--king," "damn."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Cameron hangs out in front of the liquor store, hoping someone will "toss him a can of beer from his six-pack." Cameron drinks so much "he couldn't feel the ground under his feet the whole way home." Cameron's dad was a violent drunk who hit the boys and their mother.

More on Burn

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about bullying at school and possible ways students can protect themselves. Cameron says there are no second chances in high school -- do teens believe this is true? Should Cameron have asked to change high schools? An adult insists that "it is humanly impossible, at the age of 14, to know the complete ramifications of an act that was spontaneous and defensive in nature." What do teens think? Do teens agree with the sentence the judge gives Cameron?

What's the story?

What's the story?

High school is a dangerous place for 14-year-old Cameron, a slightly built freshman who is emotionally and physically tormented by a bigger, older football player and his cronies. Cameron, already a child of a dysfunctional family, copes with his anger by burning himself with matches. A final assault by the bullies pushes Cameron to the point where his own actions blur with the violence against him.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

In BURN, Phillips adeptly gets into Cameron's head, effectively conveying the "can't-do-anything-about-it hopelessness building inside him" as school bullies step up their assaults. Adult readers will certainly hope no school allows this sort of violence, but Phillips doesn't offer many solutions to her grim situation. Teachers, parents, and counselors are ineffectual, if not dismissive of the gravity of the abuse.

It's a morally troubling book; readers want to sympathize with Cameron even as he becomes more and more emotionally disturbed. Secondary characters aren't well developed; perhaps this is intentional to emphasize Cameron's isolated perspective. When Cameron physically lashes out at another teen, the author seems inclined to forgive Cameron, with questionably little account for his victim. His guilt, in the eyes of the court, lies in his intention. Readers will have to decide if they agree that is justice or not.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Suzanne Phillips
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: November 1, 2008
Number of pages: 288
Hardcover price: $16.99
Read Aloud: 14
Read Alone: 14

This review was written by Stephanie Dunnewind
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

htswimmer
teen, 16 years old
 
Great.
This book is one of the best I've read. It really shapes the reality of bullying. I just kept turning the pages to find out what happened next. I really liked the plot; it intrigued me. Very good story :). But I would only recommend to those in high school and age 14+.

Chubbu
teen, 14 years old
 
Loved it
Omg, I read this book when I was thirteen going on fourteen. Yeah, it had a lot of raw content but that's what made it near impossible for me to put the book down. I could relate to Cameron because he was an average teen and he wasn't sugar coating what bullying is really like.

luckyman4327
teen, 15 years old
 
this is a book good for all ages in the high school grades from 9-12
i like the book i thought that the book is really good i like it i really recoend the book to all the people that like the really good mysterys and thing s like hat i liked the book have a good time reading it

alexismarieasciaan
teen, 16 years old
 
Amazingly haunting
Coming from someone who understands, this book potrays bullying in schools excatly how it really is. The book had a haunting feeling, something that effects you and makes you wonder what to think. In the end, I loved Cameron's character. Some other books to read like this would be Shattering Glass by Gail Giles and Shooter.

walkingtalking ...
teen, 16 years old
 
Okay
It was okay. If you like books about bullying, this would be one of the best ones out there, but sometimes I feel they are redundant. It is an interesting look into a seemingly new type of self-destruction and rehabilitation.

pinkpixi
teen, 14 years old
 
Very Realistic
This book gives the reader a good idea of how it really is like to be bullied. The author shows the way the bullying affects people emotionally and physically in a way that makes the book hard to put down. The only thing I would consider is the fact that the way the high school boys bully the main character is very different from the usual name calling and fights. The scene is not described in too much detail, but it does get the message across. All in all, this is a fantastic book that really expands one's knowledge. Please give it a try!

texanbookworm11
teen, 15 years old
 
liove it though it has unappropriate words in it it is good!!! :)))

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