Common Sense Media Review
By Lucinda Dyer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Riveting coming-of-age tale set in dangerous summer of '77.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In BURN BABY BURN, 17-year-old Nora Lopez has the odds stacked against her. Her single mother is close to going under financially, her drug-taking younger brother is abusive to both Nora and her mother, her father has remarried and pays scant attention to her, and she doesn't see much of a future for herself after she graduates from high school. While her best friend, Kathleen, is excited about going to college, Nora continues to resist pleas from her high school guidance counselor to submit college applications for herself. The one bright spot in Nora's life is a college boy named Pablo, who works with her at a local deli. Their budding romance plays out against a background of one of the most violent summers in New York City history. A serial killer named the Son of Sam is randomly shooting young couples -- couples exactly like Nora and Pablo, buildings are being torched by arsonists, and a blackout unleashes a torrent of looting.
Is It Any Good?
A Latina teenager in New York City fights for her future in this gripping and relatable coming-of-age novel set against actual events during the summer of 1977. The characters who live in Nora's multiethnic Queens neighborhood are never stereotypical and provide readers with powerful lessons on race, cultural diversity, and the beginnings of feminism.
The iconic 1970s people, music, and movies (disco, Star Wars, and Farah Fawcett) woven into the story provide a bright and sometimes lighthearted contrast to the often dark times in Nora's life. Throughout the book, McCormick keeps the story focused on Nora and her struggles and never lets her become overshadowed by the sensational happenings of the summer.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about abusive family relationships. Do you know anyone who is being threatened or physically harmed by a sibling? If your friend is too frightened or ashamed to tell someone, should you keep their secret or ask an adult for help?
Serial killers are often the subject of movies and TV shows. Why do you think audiences are so fascinated by them?
Do you have friends whose families have immigrated to the United States? How have their experiences been different from (or similar to) the characters in the novel?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School ) , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : March 8, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 310
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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