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Burned
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Burned (2006) (edit title/settings)

by Ellen Hopkins (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Raised in a religious -- yet abusive -- family, a simple dream may not exactly be a sin, but it could be the first step toward hell and eternal damnation. This dream is the first step for Pattyn. But is it to hell, or to a better life? For the first time, Pattyn starts asking questions.... read more

Summary edit see section history

Burned is the story of Pattyn, a teenage girl who lives in a primarily Mormon community in Nevada. Her family adheres to a strict version of Mormonism in which the men are dominant and the women subservient. Pattyn is one of six female siblings, each named after a male military figure. Her dad... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Burned is the story of Pattyn, a teenage girl who lives in a primarily Mormon community in Nevada. Her family adheres to a strict version of Mormonism in which the men are dominant and the women subservient. Pattyn is one of six female siblings, each named after a male military figure. Her dad is constantly battling demons. With his first wife, he had two sons. One was killed in the military and the other was gay, so he was disowned. These circumstances so hurt his first wife that she killed herself, and now, remarried with so many new children, Pattyn’s dad blames himself and drowns his guilt in liquor. This leads to the continued abuse of Pattyn’s mom. Pattyn begins to struggle with her own identity her junior year of high school. She knows what is going on at home is wrong, but when she tries to reach out for help, she finds the religious community defends her father. She’s named a liar by her bishop when she speaks about the abuse in hypotheticals, and Pattyn (unknowingly) begins to search for outlets to get away from her home life. She meets a boy from her school one afternoon when she’s out in the woods to get away from the house, and they begin a romance that consists mainly of drinking and sexual exploration (though no actual intercourse). When her family finds out, she’s considered a problem child and is sent away to live with her aunt for the summer, supposedly as punishment. Pattyn’s aunt Jeanette is her father’s sister. She, too, was raised in a strict, overbearing Mormon household and knows all too well the deadly lengths her brother will go to keep undesirable males away from good Mormon women. Aunt Jeanette has long since abandoned the church and lives on a ranch in Nevada, a wild and liberating environment that Pattyn comes to love and thrive in. While at the ranch, Pattyn meets Ethan, a college student who is home for the summer to help is dad. He lives up the road and immediately captures Pattyn’s attention. All summer long, they kindle their romance which gives Pattyn strength and joy she has never known. Aware that going back home is the equivalent to being sent back to prison, Aunt Jeanette and Ethan arm Pattyn with some tools to gain some freedom from her father: a cell phone that Aunt Jeanette is paying for, pre-arranged calls with Ethan and a handgun from Ethan. As life gets worse at her home and she discovers she's pregnant, she plans to escape with Ethan. However, a police chase (set up by her father) in the mountains causes her and Ethan's car to go off a cliff. Ethan and the baby die, and Pattyn vows to kill all those who caused this, and then herself.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Pattyn: A sad Mormon girl who lives a difficult life with her family and is sent away to her aunt's for the summer. Pattyn finds love and acceptance there with Aunt J and Ethan. Her life changes completely.
  • Ethan: A college boy who is a neighbor of Aunt J's.
  • Aunt J: Pattyn's aunt, she cares for Pattyn and guides her while Pattyn lives with her during the summer. She's so nice.
  • Stephen Von Stratten: Pattyn's abusive, alcoholic father. He's a sick man.
  • Derek: The first boy Pattyn experiences passion and lust with.
  • Kevin: Ethan's father, he is the neighbor of Aunt J.
  • Jackie: Pattyn's younger sister, they share everything. they were so close!
  • Justin: The first guy Pattyn has a crush on.
  • Bishop Crandall: The evil bishop that runs Pattyn's church. She goes to him for guidance, yet finds nothing.
  • Carmen: One of Pattyn's Mormon friends. She's a good friend to her.
  • Ms. Rose: The librarian who gives Pattyn all the books she can read.
  • Tiffany: She's a bitchy girl that goes to Pattyn's school and she's not nice.
  • Molly: this book has alot of abuse in it.
  • Mom: Pattyn's mom.
Show all 14 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Love is just another word for sex.”
    Pattyn
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • Happiness, you see, is just an illusion of Fate, a heavenly sleight of hand designed to make you believe in fairy tales.
    Highlighted by 53 Kindle customers
  • That may be how you see yourself, but the rest of the world would be hard put to agree. You shine brighter than the Milky Way.
    Highlighted by 48 Kindle customers
  • Live your life right, Pattyn. Love with all your heart. Don’t hurt others, and help those in need. That’s all you need to know.
    Highlighted by 43 Kindle customers
  • “God is love,” she said. “And He respects love, whether it’s between a parent and child, a man and woman, or friends.
    Highlighted by 43 Kindle customers
  • But there’s no happily ever after. You’ll only find happy endings in books. Some books.
    Highlighted by 40 Kindle customers
  • Real love finds you once, if you’re lucky.
    Highlighted by 36 Kindle customers
  • Maybe because forever is such a scary place.
    Highlighted by 34 Kindle customers
  • And when the right young man comes along, he’ll love you all the more for giftin’ this sad planet with your light.
    Highlighted by 28 Kindle customers
  • Had Dad’s demons claimed her soul? Or was this, as well, a woman’s role?
    Highlighted by 24 Kindle customers
  • Would I find forever love? Did I really want to, when forever was a word without meaning?
    Highlighted by 21 Kindle customers
Show all 11 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

The state of Nevada.
  • Pattyn's city: Possibly the suburbs of Carson City, but it is unsure.
  • Caliente: A small town in the Nevada wilderness where Aunt J and Ethan live.

Organizations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

Did you ever, when you were little, endure your parents' warnings, then wait for them to leave the room, pry loose protective covers and consider inserting some mental object into an electrical outlet?

Table of Contents edit see section history

Isn't in form that has charapters.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in 2010-2011 Iowa High School Battle of the Books. (authoritative list)
This book is in Best Teen/Young Adult Books. (community list)
This book is in Tayshas List (2007). (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Ellen Hopkins (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Country: US
Publication Date: March 2006
ISBN: 1416903542
Page Count: 544

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Includes VERY adult topics, but is suitable for most teens.

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
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