Friday, 28 September 2012
Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
Published September 18, 2012 by Simon and Schuster
Source: the publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 3 paws
From the blurb: BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...THEY GET EVEN.Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.Burn for Burn is the first book in a new series by contemporary YA authors Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian. In Burn for Burn they've given us another contemporary YA novel with an added dash of paranormal mystery. The story focuses on three teenage girls and is set on Jar Island, which is a fictional island off the coast of the USA and not the actual island off the west coast of Australia. Seventeen year old Mary Zane has returned to the island to live with her aunt in their family home and go back to her old high school. She and her parents left the island after an incident with a boy at her school. Lillia Cho and her family moved to the island when she was fifteen, before that it had been their holiday destination. She's been friends with her group since then. Her best friend is Rennie and she's also close to one of the boys, Alex. Kat Del Brassio used to be bet friends with Rennie and Lillia until they had a falling out. Now she's a bit of a loner, she works at the local marina and over the summer she and Alex have been hanging out and fooling around.
Kat brings the three of them together to exact revenge on three different people. They all promise to help each other and decide that no one can back out, they all have to stick with it until all three of them are satisfied.
As soon as I heard about Burn for Burn I knew it was a book I wanted to read as I love both Jenny and Siobhan's books. The cover is gorgeous and the publisher has tried to accurately represent the main characters. I thought the plot sounded a bit like the movie Heathers, with teens taking out revenge on their popular classmates. I'd heard whisperings of the paranormal aspect but I didn't let that put me off. From the first page I was intrigued, we have Mary returning home via ferry and I liked the setting of a small community, living on an island.
The girls were all quite different and each had issues they were trying to deal with. My heart went out to Mary and I was intrigued by her back story, needing to know more each time she revealed a little of her past. Lillia came across as angry and bossy but really she was quite worried and unhappy. Kat was the feisty one of the group and also the instigator. While I admired the girls for taking control and I empathised with their situations, I didn't feel that connected to them and it left me feeling a little detached once I'd finished. I did like that these three girls became friends and supported each other.
Two other factors that had me perplexed were the paranormal aspect and the ending. This really is more of a contemporary books with a small addition of a mysterious element. We don't find out what the paranormal thing is but it seems to be a power of sorts and I am interested to find out how it fits in with this story. The ending came about quite quickly and it's a bit of a cliffhanger in that it leaves the reader with so many questions. When I read Burn for Burn I'd forgotten all about this being the first book in a series and I was shocked and annoyed by the ending until I remembered about an hour later that this was part of a series so the ending was to be expected and it means I am really looking forward to the second book.
Burn for Burn is an intriguing blend of contemporary and paranormal fiction that touches on serious topics such as revenge, bullying, suicide and sexual assault. Fans of Jenny's and Siobhan's books will enjoy this a lot.
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32 comments:
There's a paranormal aspect to this book? I had no idea. I'm a fan of Siobhan's books, so I'm thinking about giving this book a try.
I can't wait to read this book! I've been dying for something new from Jenny for a while. I love love loved her Summer Series and middle grade book Shug so I can't wait to start this one. I'd heard that there was a bit of a paranormal aspect. I've only read on book by Siobhan but I loved it so I have a feeling I'm going to really like this book! Great review!
Yeah I heard there was a paranormal aspect and I find that strange and not really fitting. I thought it would be all about these three girls revenge plans which I was into as I love some revenge!!! LOL Mystery is always good but I hate cliffhangers. Would like to know how the paranormal fits in.
I love the cover! Paranormal you say?? Colour me intrigued :-)
Great review. I haven't read anything by these authors but I'm glad you liked it so much!
Shaheen @ Speculating on SpecFic.
We seem to have the same thoughts about the book! I think the paranormal aspect was totally random and it should have been explained a little better, but I guess there IS the other books for that. I also really liked Mary's character, as well as her background. I'm glad you enjoyed the book! Fabulous review. :)
Ooh, thanks for the warning that this is the start of a series, I actually hadn't realized that. It DOES sound kind of like Heathers though, which totally attracts me to it. It sounds messed up in a fun sort of way, and I really want to try it...but I might wait til the next book is out. :P
Also, I think the paranormal addition makes it more interesting to me than it was when I thought it was a strait contemp.
Okay, so you sort of liked this one. I really want to read it and I still will, but now I don't know what to expect. My friends are all very ho hum about it. Oh well. I'll give it a shot anyway. The blurb just really intrigues me. *walks off even more confused* ;)
I've never read anything by these authors, but I'm a bit curious. I hate not realizing books are part of a series. LOL I'm glad you want to read the rest of the books though...and I have to admit I like that it deals with some serious topics.
When I read the book I had no clue it was part of a series. I had read before there were reviews with warnings. And I finished and thought that maybe my ARC was missing pages because it was so abrupt. I felt pretty similar to you about it though. It was a good book but I had a few issues with it, it didn't quite wow me either.
It seems everyone seems to have this sort of opinion...all it's doing is making me more curious! The whole "it's good, but.." thing. ;)
I'm going to have to get it and see what I think!
Great review!
Fabulous review, Mandee! I'm really excited about this one and am starting it very soon. :) The paranormal aspect and cliffhanger doesn't really appeal to me, but I'm drawn to the revenge factor! Looooove revenge books. :)
I'm really not a huge fan of Jenny or Siobhan's books and despite the raving reviews for this one, I've wanted to avoid it for awhile. While I'm glad you enjoyed this book, Mandee, I just don't think it's the right one for me. If I can't connect with the characters, that's a huge downfall, and even the paranormal elements seem sketchy as I know a few other bloggers complained about that as well. Either way, thank you for the honest (and fantastic!) review, dear! :D
I'm a huge fan of Jenny Han . . . so it'll be interesting if I'll love this book too. Great review!
I can't wait to read this one. It's everywhere I look (it was even in the grocery store!) and I love Siobhan Vivian. I don't usually read series books, but I'll give this a shot.
I didn't know this thing had a paranormal element! Now I'm all bummed.
*sigh*
I still wanna read it but the book has definitely been bumped!
Anyway, thanks for the honest review :D
Great review, the idea premise sounds great, but I love to love the main characters and to have more resolution at the end of a book, even if it is part of a series.
I enjoyed this one but I didn't love it. Still, I want to know what's really going on, so I will continue with the series!
This really does sound like an interesting read, I too was super excited about getting my hands on a copy when I first heard about it, the paranormal element and ending definitely has me intrigued! Wonderful review Mandee, I really need to buy a copy soon! :)
I'm a HUGE fan of Jenny Han. As soon as I heard about this I was excited and luckily, my copy finally arrived in the mail today, meaning I can start it straight away (or at least straight after the book I'm currently reading!).
I can't wait to meet the girls, hopefully I have a better time connecting them.
Burn for Burn is the house. My house! Ohmygoodness, I can't wait. Yeah...just a tad excited. It wasn't my one and only anticipated September release or anything... ;)
As always, amazing review Mandee! I'm glad you enjoyed it and that your really looking forward to the second book - woohoo! ♥
Hmmm...well, I'm not do sure about this. But, I would probably read it just to learn about the paranormal aspect. You have me very curious!
Nice review!
I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be with this neither-here-nor-there contemporary/paranormal blend. Okay, probably more comfortable than I'd be with clean contemporary - you know how I feel about those, lol. I kept seeing this book around and I must admit I expected more.
Lovely review, darling. :)
The paranormal aspect is definitely a love or hate for readers I think. I really enjoyed it and it kind of reminded me of Carrie which is one of my fav horror movies. But it does catch you kind of off guard if you didn't know about it beforehand. I thought it would be a strictly contemp story. Glad you still enjoyed it overall! Great review! :)
I didn't realize there was any paranormal elements to this book.
I'm usually not a fan of the mean girl/revenge plots so I haven't added this one to TBR pile.
I hate it when the book ends with a cliffhanger with no warning! This book looks interesting but I've read loads of mixed reviews!
Krazyyme @ Young Readers
Well we all know how I feel about cliffhangers so I know this one would annoy me. I just don't have much patience with books like this, I don't care if it is a part of series wrap it up bit and give me some answers. I won't be reading this, thanks for the heads up!
I really want to read this one. Thanks for the great review. I had no idea there was a paranormal element!
Amazing review! Definitely sounds like one I'd like too. Glad you loved it!
I'm really curious about this one. I love Sioban's books so I really need to read this one soon. The paranormal aspect has me intrigued.
Aah!!!! Jenny Han! I love that girl :)
I love when books explore different POV's and lives. Really weird about the paranormal part... but I'm sure it will be good.
Ugh. I kind of don't want to read about sexual assault and suicide because it RIPS my heart apart but what can you do?
She's Got Books on Her Mind
Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even!! I love this!!
Thanks for a great review, I hadn't heard too much about this book before! It sounds great and I like that it handles tough topics. I am interested about the paranormal aspect! :)
yeah, i've heard the same thing about the ending multiple times! i am curious to read this one because i do like jenny han but it seems like one i feel like i should wait the next one to read it? fantastic review, m!
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