Burned (Burned #1)

Ellen Hopkins has done it again! The stories that she brings to life are amazing! These are stories that we as readers can really relate to. I always find myself so engrossed in her books that I feel like I have lost a friend once they have ended. I felt that the only reason this book deserved a 4 star instead of a 5 was because of the way the book ended. I was shocked and uncertain of how to feel with this ending. I felt that Ellen gave her readers the power to imagine their own ending for this incredible book, but I felt that I understood the characters pain too much to envision a better outcome.

Pattyn is a teenage girl suffering teenage problems plus some. Her family is Mormon and her father is an alcoholic and abusive. Pattyn does not agree with her families way of life. She wants a better life for herself, but it seems that everyone has turned their backs to her suffering. It is hard to complain and speak to people who turn their heads and see no problem with what is happening at home. Pattyn begins to rebel and act out for the attention she so anxiously craves. The outcome to these rebellious acts leads to one of the best experiences in her life.

Pattyn is sent to live with her Aunt Jeanette (Aunt J) for the summer. Her Aunt J is like no one she has ever meet before. I loved her aunts character! She is strong, open minded, laid back, and understanding. Pattyn has never met anyone like her before! Although Aunt J seems so at peace, even the happiest person has some demons in their closet. Pattyn grows closer and closer to her aunt as the summer progresses. Pattyn finds herself growing as a person and experiencing things she never thought she would. The best experience she has is meeting and falling in love with Ethan.

Ethan is the kind of guy every teenage girl dreams about. He is handsome, has morals, is a good country boy, and stands by Pattyn through her hard times. He introduces her to love and a world were Pattyn realizes just how special she is. Their love was romantic and a once in a life time love. When it was time to say goodbye at the end of the summer, they were forced to go their separate ways with more holding them together than the love they shared.

Pattyn’s return home from her summer of wonder leads to pain and abuse. Her father has become more out of hand, and her fear of no help in sight keeps her complacent. When Pattyn discovers she has more than just herself to protect, she turns to Ethan for help. This is when everything spirals out of control.

OMG make sure you have your tissues at hand when you are nearing this ending. The story grips you and drags you through the emotional roller coaster until the end. I could not detach myself from the sadness I felt at the end of this book. Ellen sure knows how to write a compelling story! I fell deep for Ethan. He was such a great guy! I also felt for Pattyn and her struggles in life. I could not imagine being in her shoes. Her conflicts were really touching. I would highly recommend Ellen’s books to readers. She is an outstanding author and her stories…. they are memorizing!

Reader reviewed by Allyson

This book is one of the most powerful things I've ever written. It's inspired something inside of me to go discover myself. This book is about a girl who nobody ever really sees, not at home, not at school. Then one little dream changes her entire exsistence. She finds herself attracted to boys for the first time, a sin for a Mormon like herself. And then a fight at school gets Pattyn shipped off to live with her aunt for the summer. There she discovers love, God and her true self. Everyone has their place in the world. This is the journey one girl went through to find hers. And it makes me want to find mine. If you haven't read this book yet, go out and find it.

Reader reviewed by Tessa

amazing! i love this author so much. and i have a few Mormon friends who felt this way too so it made me think of them and how much they didnt want to be apart of their religion but they didnt have any choice about leaving otherwise they risk loosing their family. and any problems between mom and dad were kept silent. i really think the author has so much insight on the religion and the feelings that go along with it. i had to stay up till 3 to see what would happen to the girl. and at 3 in the morning...i was devastated. twist endings are fantastic. 

Reader reviewed by Violetta

Burned was such an amazing book. I've read many book through out my life just like everyone else but this one was very special. not only did i cry at the end but i could very much relate to the character emotionally. i read the book in two days and normally, it takes me about 3 weeks to finish a book the size of Burned. i recommend it to anybody. I also have friends who have read the other books from the same author and say their really good so I'm excited to read the rest of them. 

Reader reviewed by AMR

I Loved this book sooooo much......There is so much pain, and joy in every page turned. I have read this book 2 times simply, because it's wonderful. It's a story that will touch your heart and release a few tears (in my experience). I'm a fan of Ellen Hopkins' books and this is one of my favorites! Don't be intimidated by the size of the book-the pages are short and the words are beautifully arranged.

Reader reviewed by bria

if you are the type of person who's ok with a not so happy ending,,, this book is for you. burned is seriously one of my all time favorite books, it was soo suspensful and heart breaking but for some reason i couldn't put it down intell the last page.it made me want to cry, to laugh, to cheer on the main character, it was just great. if you have read any of ellens books, you know who great they are, with the poetry style writing and the powerful words spoken and of course the touchy subjects the adults don't think us teens can handle, but we can and if you want to this is definitly the book to do it with.

Reader reviewed by Chrissy Lu-Lu

I loved this awesome tale of heartbreak, temptations, and what really happens with truth. All the stories seem so real!!! I always get so caught up when reading one of mistress Ellen Hopkins books. all of her books are so powerful!

Reader reviewed by Megan

Teenager Patty begins to question the Mormon religion which she grew up with. The faith turns its back on women, and on the abuse that Patty's father brings to her and her sisters. Lashing out, Patty gets suspended and sent to her aunt's farm in Nevada. There, she learns about love. Burned, a free-verse novel, won't fail to keep you captivated.

Reader reviewed by Alexis

I loved this book. Ellen Hopkins writes in such a crative way. I love how it is in poem form. In this book the main character has a messed up family with a bajillion kids. Their religion believes that women are worthless. Her father sends her to go live with her aunt,because she has became such a hassle. I think that this book was amazing, but at the end it was so so sad. I think anyone who loved any of Ellen Hopkins other books or anyone who enjoys books that look long in length but are really quick reads would love this book. REad on

Reader reviewed by ssssss

I absolutely love this book(:
Ellen Hopkins way of writing is OUTSTANDING she can put so much feeling into her poems.
I love all of her books !
This book and Impulse are my two favorite... so far....
I definitely recommend this book!
The book is about a girl named Payton who has a bad family life at home and she starts getting into trouble so her parents send her to her aunts house where she meets her one true love Ethan. when it is time for her to go home she finds that her problems at home could only be avoided for so long and then she has to face them again. It is a story that will let you feel every emotion that goes on in the book(: