Review: Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Title: Burn for Burn

Author: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date:  September 18th 2012

Pages: 368
Genre:  YA Realistic Fiction/Chic Lit

Series: Burn for Burn #1
Source: Audio

  

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 rumors, 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...

Another book I was really excited to read. I really didn’t know what to expect except for what the synopsis gives away. It was very interesting read that really had me hooked from the beginning. It moved with a pretty steady pace, taking time for build up without ever getting slow. The story was good, lots of hurt, betrayal, revenge, and letting go. The tone of the story was just right, setting the mood perfect for the hurt felt among the three teens. I really enjoyed it.

Three teens who have been burned in past and current relationships, hurt beyond healing, they find each other to get revenge on those that hurt them most. The three girls get together to plan the ultimate burn on the three that burned them. One has been burned by a boy, one burned by a an ex best friend, and the last burned by who she thought was a friend. That’s pretty much it.

I really enjoyed listening to this on audio. What I enjoyed is the way the book was written, the style and the the tone really brought the girls lives’ into reality for me. I loved the alternating view points and the way that the mystery of what really happened to the girls was woven into the story with scattered memories. Not only the mystery of what happened to them but friendships, family issues, and other pains that fueled them to the final straw and to revenge. I don’t believe seeking revenge is the answer, but in this story… I felt the desire for revenge strongly and waited anxiously to see what the girls would come up with. At first the revenge wasn’t all out evil or life changing, just a bit of fun at someone else’s expense. Still not the best decision ever but it was good to read about. As the book went on the revenge plots became more dangerous, more evil, and more life changing… to the point of no return. I was still enjoying the book at this point. It was great to read what they were doing and hoping they would be stopped and they would have to deal with their choices eventually. The end kind of left it open ended, no resolution, no real ending, kind of just stops. At the point I listened to the book I was unaware there would be a second book. I was a little perturbed in the end and wanted resolution, now that I know there is a second book, I am a little less angry and can breathe a little bit better. The hurt and the anger of the girls bring the story to life. I liked the characters and I didn’t like the characters. They had their “good for you” moments and their “need to be slapped” moments . I think that this was crucial for the story to thrive, it brought in the moral dilemma of does the hurt and anguish of wrong doings make revenge acceptable and how far is too far.

All three girls are very different but have all suffered because of someone else’s choices and all three have handled the hurt and rejection differently the only thing they share is the need to make someone else hurt. I think the different personalities really complicated each other , we have the quite one, the popular one, and the rebellious one. They work well together and because of their different backgrounds they each bring something different.

The book was paced well for me. I wouldn’t call it a fast read but it was never slow. I found myself excited to start the next chapter every time one ended.  It was an enjoyable read and I will read the next two books when they are released. 

I liked it, I enjoyed it, it made me think and it made me feel through many emotions. It’s a great realistic fiction if you are in for some fun edged with anger and revenge.