Burned (novel)
Encyclopedia
Burned is a young adult novel written by American
author Ellen Hopkins
and published in April 2006
. Like all of Ellen Hopkin's works, the novel is unusual for its free verse
format.
household. Her father is an alcoholic who beats her mother, believing a wife must succumb to his husband's actions. Her mother believes her duty is to make as many children as possible, especially a boy to carry on the family name, just as her husband wishes. But Pattyn's mother only conceived seven girls, named after famous generals: (youngest to oldest) Georgia (George Patton), Roberta (Robert E. Lee
), Davie (Jefferson Davis
), Teddie (Theodore Roosevelt
), Ulyssa (Ulysses S. Grant
), Jackie (Jack Pershing), and Pattyn (George Patton).
Pattyn is unable to take the stress going on in her home, and begins to question her role in life, especially through her father's eyes. Eventually, she starts to experiment with dating Derek behind her parents' backs, then leading to her getting caught drinking with her boyfriend in the desert, by her drunken father. Derek, her boyfriend, leaves her for another girl who is more experienced, whom Pattyn later on punches in the face in rage. As a punishment, she is sent away to live with her Aunt Jeanette in eastern Nevada
, for her mother is finally expecting a son and does not need to handle the stress Pattyn creates.
As Pattyn stays with her aunt, Aunt Jeanette—who tells Pattyn to call her "Aunt J", continues, she finds love from her aunt and a boy named Ethan, who studies at UC Davis and is described by Pattyn as "beautiful". Ethan's father, Kevin, was once Aunt J's high school sweetheart, but after he received a threat with a gun and a beating from Aunt J's brother (Pattyn's father) for not being Mormon, they were forced to separate.
During the time Pattyn lives with her aunt, she learns how to love and how to be self-confident, and finds out that there is more to life than just religion, as she thought before. Pattyn is led to believe in God
the way her aunt believes in him. Aunt J explains that one does not need "a Mormon husband to meet you at heaven's gates and pull you in", and believes that with love—true and forever love—heaven's gates will open wide. Ethan becomes a dream come true to Pattyn, loving her even though she does not believe that she's beautiful. He teaches her the true meaning of love:
At the end of the summer, Pattyn returns to her family only to learn that her father is now beating her next-oldest sister, Jackie, as a stand-in for their pregnant mother. Later, she also discovers that she is pregnant with Ethan's baby. When she calls Ethan to tell him the news, she is overheard by two jealous girls, one of them Derek's new girlfriend. They proceed to tell everyone and the word gets back to Pattyn's mother, though Pattyn denies it.
Attempting to escape her father's wrath, Pattyn and Ethan take off for California, unaware that Trevor, a "perfect Mormon child" who loved Pattyn, has written down the car's license plate number. When her father finds out, he calls his "Highway patrolman friend" to track them down, to find them on an icy road. Ethan speeds up in attempt to lose the patrolman, but loses control of his car and crashes. Pattyn wakes up in the hospital, to find out that both Ethan and their baby are dead. Her father disowns her, unable to bear the recent events. Pattyn is left with a life-changing decision in the end: shoot and kill all those who caused her pain and Ethan and their baby's deaths, or move on? Pattyn states that if her father would just say he loved her she would spare him - but he will not.
she learns the ture meening of love .
, a Jewish novelist for teens and stage/film/television writer, characterized the book in an op-ed piece as "literary group character assassination" of Mormonism, and that the church is "unrelentingly bashed" in the novel.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author Ellen Hopkins
Ellen Hopkins
Ellen Hopkins is a novelist who has published several New York Times bestselling novels that are popular among the teenage and young adult audience.-Career:...
and published in April 2006
2006 in literature
The year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings...
. Like all of Ellen Hopkin's works, the novel is unusual for its free verse
Free verse
Free verse is a form of poetry that refrains from consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern.Poets have explained that free verse, despite its freedom, is not free. Free Verse displays some elements of form...
format.
Plot
Seventeen-year-old Pattyn, the eldest daughter, of seven girls, in a patriarchal MormonMormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
household. Her father is an alcoholic who beats her mother, believing a wife must succumb to his husband's actions. Her mother believes her duty is to make as many children as possible, especially a boy to carry on the family name, just as her husband wishes. But Pattyn's mother only conceived seven girls, named after famous generals: (youngest to oldest) Georgia (George Patton), Roberta (Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
), Davie (Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
), Teddie (Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
), Ulyssa (Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
), Jackie (Jack Pershing), and Pattyn (George Patton).
Pattyn is unable to take the stress going on in her home, and begins to question her role in life, especially through her father's eyes. Eventually, she starts to experiment with dating Derek behind her parents' backs, then leading to her getting caught drinking with her boyfriend in the desert, by her drunken father. Derek, her boyfriend, leaves her for another girl who is more experienced, whom Pattyn later on punches in the face in rage. As a punishment, she is sent away to live with her Aunt Jeanette in eastern Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, for her mother is finally expecting a son and does not need to handle the stress Pattyn creates.
As Pattyn stays with her aunt, Aunt Jeanette—who tells Pattyn to call her "Aunt J", continues, she finds love from her aunt and a boy named Ethan, who studies at UC Davis and is described by Pattyn as "beautiful". Ethan's father, Kevin, was once Aunt J's high school sweetheart, but after he received a threat with a gun and a beating from Aunt J's brother (Pattyn's father) for not being Mormon, they were forced to separate.
During the time Pattyn lives with her aunt, she learns how to love and how to be self-confident, and finds out that there is more to life than just religion, as she thought before. Pattyn is led to believe in God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
the way her aunt believes in him. Aunt J explains that one does not need "a Mormon husband to meet you at heaven's gates and pull you in", and believes that with love—true and forever love—heaven's gates will open wide. Ethan becomes a dream come true to Pattyn, loving her even though she does not believe that she's beautiful. He teaches her the true meaning of love:
At the end of the summer, Pattyn returns to her family only to learn that her father is now beating her next-oldest sister, Jackie, as a stand-in for their pregnant mother. Later, she also discovers that she is pregnant with Ethan's baby. When she calls Ethan to tell him the news, she is overheard by two jealous girls, one of them Derek's new girlfriend. They proceed to tell everyone and the word gets back to Pattyn's mother, though Pattyn denies it.
Attempting to escape her father's wrath, Pattyn and Ethan take off for California, unaware that Trevor, a "perfect Mormon child" who loved Pattyn, has written down the car's license plate number. When her father finds out, he calls his "Highway patrolman friend" to track them down, to find them on an icy road. Ethan speeds up in attempt to lose the patrolman, but loses control of his car and crashes. Pattyn wakes up in the hospital, to find out that both Ethan and their baby are dead. Her father disowns her, unable to bear the recent events. Pattyn is left with a life-changing decision in the end: shoot and kill all those who caused her pain and Ethan and their baby's deaths, or move on? Pattyn states that if her father would just say he loved her she would spare him - but he will not.
she learns the ture meening of love .
Sequel
There will be a sequel titled Smoke that will be released sometime in 2013. Smoke will be told from the perspectives of both Pattyn and her younger sister, Jackie. It is unknown if there will be a third novel in the Burned series.Praise and controversy
The book was also roundly criticized for its apocalyptic finale and for its portrayal of Mormonism as a stern, abusive and misogynistic faith. Jeff GottesfeldJeff Gottesfeld
Jeff Gottesfeld is an American essayist, novelist, and screen and television writer.- Biography :Jeff Gottesfeld grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, attended Teaneck High School, Colby College, and then the University of San Francisco School of Law, where he was president of his class and a member of...
, a Jewish novelist for teens and stage/film/television writer, characterized the book in an op-ed piece as "literary group character assassination" of Mormonism, and that the church is "unrelentingly bashed" in the novel.