Burned by Ellen Hopkins

BURNED
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Source: Library Loan

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 544 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (October 23, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416903550
ISBN-13: 978-1416903550

SUMMARY:

Raised in a religious -- yet abusive -- family, Pattyn Von Stratten starts asking questions -- about God, a woman's role, sex, love. She experiences the first stirrings of passion, but when her father catches her in a compromising position, events spiral out of control. Pattyn is sent to live with an aunt in the wilds of Nevada to find salvation and redemption. What she finds instead is love and acceptance -- until she realizes that her old demons will not let her go.

MY THOUGHTS:

Where do you even start in describing such an emotional and deep book?  I had no idea what to expect in this story and I was in no way prepared for the roller coaster that my emotions would travel on with the journey through the book.


Pattyn was a girl who grew up in a religious family that took their beliefs to the extreme.  Not only were the beliefs so extreme, but her Father was horrible as well.  I couldn't believe how much the family suffered with his abuse.  When Pattyn moves in with her Aunt for the summer, her life begins to change and so does her beliefs in God.  When she encounters Ethan, she knows she has found her 'forever love'. Can they still have a love filled relationship when he returns to college and she has to return to her family? Can they survive the abuse of her father if he finds out about them?


I cried so much near the end of this book. I literally felt sickened by the lengths Pattyn's father goes to.  My heart broke for Pattyn and Ethan.  I haven't cried so much with an ending in a long time and this book opened up the water well of tears for me.  The ending left it open for hopefully a sequel and I hope the author starts writing it sooner rather than later.  

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS