BURNED
by: Ellen Hopkins
First Impression
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When I first started reading the novel "Burned" by Ellen Hopkins I thought this would be a book about drugs, alcohol, and abuse, turns out I was right, for the most part at least. This book is about a young, Mormon girl named Pattyn who starts dreaming about boys and veturing outside of her religion. The paragraphs in the book are laid out a lot different that most books, instead of the original center-cut, paragraph-after-paragraph short of lay out its in a more verbal lay out. Paragraphs could take up a whole page but the sentences in it are never one under another. Instead they are spread out all over the page, it gives you the feeling that you are actually in the story because when you read sentence after sentence in another spot your actually putting your mind at work to put them together and it creates a sort of scense that your with the characters and it makes it easier to infer what is going to happen next, although I haven't guess correctly yet. After the first few pages of this book, I knew I was going to really enjoy reading it because of the way the characters were described in the beginning. The author made me feel like each and every one of them had an exciting and important role which it made mw want to keep reading to figure out what those roles were. After reading further into the book I began to think "this is definetly going to be another story about a socially inept girl who gains new found confidence and become popular," but then the author turned everything around and it really suprised me. I love books that have twists and turns throughout it, especially when you don't notice them coming, and this is definetly one of them, if not the best one. Usually when I begin to read books I set a page number for myself to stop at and then I pick up from there another day, but with this book I read way past the stop mark and keep going till either the bell rings or I fall asleep. This book relates to teenagers in a way no book has been able to accomplish before, the author definetly did her homework before she began writing this because it implements the correct amount of confusion, drama, alcohol, peer-pressure, and family problems that a teenager has to deal with. I also feel like I can relate to this book in a moral sort of ground. When Pattyn makes up her mind, she doesn't change it no matter what anyone says, but she can also be easily influenced if her mind isn't. Also Pattyn doesn't take 'shit' from anyone, not her friends, not her siblings, and not even her parents, she just stands strong, and never lets people know when she is sad or when she feels weak. She always has a mask on, a mask of strength, responsibility, and kindness and she never lets anyone forget it. This story reminds me of the movie Cinderella because of the whole good girl turn bad persona, and also because once her parents decide they cant handle her anymore they send her off to live with her aunt. I still have no idea what the end of the book will be, but I'm hoping to find out soon.
Number TWO
The title of the book "Burned" by Ellen Hopkins plays a significant part in the foreshadowing of the novel. When I first saw the title I thought two things, either this book is going to be about humiliation and struggle because of the popular phrase "you just got burned," or it would be about a life that slowly burns away to ashes. As it turns out this book is a bit of both of those. It encorperates the humiliation using her highschool 'friends' using her, then ditching her like she was last weeks newspaper. It shows struggle when she has to outcome every challenge that comes before her be it not showing emotion when the guy she likes is with another girl, or staying strong when her alcoholic, abusive father beats on her mom. Her life does also burn to ashes in the novel, well her previous one at least, the one filled with rules, responsibilities, and drama that a healthy teenager should not have to face. The title, is also used as a referance for the burning emotion a teenger feels during they're time growing up, how the littlest of things can make your eyes flare, your brain shut down, and leave your heart to make decisions. The title also foreshadows that the ending of the book will be a dreary one because of the way its laid out as well as because throughout the story I've noticed a pattern, nothing stays golden for long, so when somethings good, its only going to get worse.
Number THREE
The setting of the novel "burned" by Ellen Hopkins takes place in a ranch owned by her aunt Jeanette. The ranch is alike to every other Texas ranch you may have heard of before. It has cattle all around, a vast 6 acres of property. I takes place in about the 1990's because of the clothes described in the novel as well as the phrases used. The genre of the novel is an uplifting one, it is a troubled girl meets paradise sort of genre except that paradise doesn't turn out to be paradise after all. The ranch is next door to Ethan's ranch as well. Which is alike to Pattyn's ranch except that it is a corn ranch. It is almost always sunny there, and rarely rains. The temperature is clearly very hot because wherever Ethan goes he is always wearing a tank-top or a beater. There isn't much to do where they are except for go horse riding, or occasionaly watching the sunset. There is a city near-by where they go to watch movies, or go shopping on big occasions. The only time they went though during the entire novel was on Pattyn's 18th birthday.
Number FOUR
Almost every character in the novel "Burned" by Ellen Hopkins has a very important role to play, although there are a few who's roles make-up the book for what it is. Pattyn is a troubled, Mormon teenager who lived with her parents until they decided they couldn't handle her any more and sent her to live with her aunt J. Pattyn is a strong women, and by strong I mean she doesn't break down as easily as everyone would expect her to. While she was living at home she took care of her many siblings, cleaned the house, and sometimes made food, things a 17 year old shouldn't be doing, but she never complained, she did as she was told and she kept her head strong doing so. Pattyn's biggest dream was to break out of her 'Mormon cocoon" and live life as a normal girl should, and when she got to her aunt's ranch, that dream became a reality. She didn't run into her new live fast as normal girls would though, she took her time which shows she knows how to control herself. What I liked about Pattyn was her individualism. She wasn't like any of the other girls at her school, and she was 100% fine with it. She did her own thing and turned her shoulder every time someone made a comment about it. what I disliked about her was her sense of worry, and confusion. every time something went wrong she would get rustled up and take days figuring out what to do. While at her aunt's ranch Pattyn met a boy named Ethan, Ethan was a strong, tall man, who had nothing but the best intentions for him and Pattyn. He had morals, which he lived by and never broke. Ethan was a clearly a family man, because anything his father asked him to do came first before anything. If he had plans to go to the movies, but his dad asked him to herd the cattle, he would do as his dad asked. Ethan also enjoyed the little things in life, growing up in a low populated are would do that to you, but he made the best of it, he took joy out of everything he did be it taking walks, or just sitting with Pattyn watching the sky. What I liked about Ethan was his undying devotion to Pattyn, no matter what situation she got into, he was always there right beside her to go though it with her. What I didn't like about him was that he was too perfect, everything he did was what he was supposed to do and in a book that just doesn't stand out to you. Another character in the book was Aunt J, Pattyn's aunt. Aunt Jeanette was a clever old woman, with a broken heart. Aunt J is similar to Pattyn in almost every way, she caring, kind, and takes care of her family no matter what the cost. She saw a lot of herself in Pattyn so she made sure she did everything in her power to make sure Pattyn did not make the same mistakes she did. Aunt J was also very careful, she had her feelings hurt so many times before, she did everything she could to make sure it didn't happen again. Aunt J was very protective of Pattyn and I admired that, she took her in after never meeting her before and acted like she was her own. Aunt J also had her downsides though, she was too closed with her emotions, she was like a brick wall and the only way you could get past is was by taking months to build a door through it.
Number ONE
The book "Burned" by Ellen Hopkins is about a Mormon girl named Pattyn who is troubled in more way than one and will do anything to be normal. She originally lived with her mum, dad, and five other sisters in agony. Her dad, an abusive alcoholic, would beat her mum almost every night right in front of her, and Pattyn being a responsible young woman would take responsibility in getting her sisters out of the area so they would never have to see what she sees. Pattyn took out her anger and frustration by going into the woods and firing off her fathers pistol. One day when she was out in the woods she ran into a few people from her school who had never really noticed her, but today was different. After the boys got to know Pattyn and how well her shots were they started to become interested in her, one of the boys particularly. She started going to the woods everyday after this point, but not to shoot off her fathers pistol any more, now it was to see 'the love of her life.' She began to drink constantly when she was with him, doing all kinds of stuff, but never sex, as a Mormon girl sex was a really big thing and she wasn't ready to give away her one purity just yet. One day her dad catches them in the woods and he brings her home. The next day at school her boyfriend wouldn't even glance at her once so she confronted him to ask why, and he told her, her dad threatened to kill him if he ever did anything with her ever again. She later saw him with another girl and she went right up to the girl and punched her straight in her face, then out of frustration punched a window at her school and shattered it. Her dad was more mad then he had ever been before, so for the first time ever at dinner, he began to beat her and soon after that he sent her to live at his sisters ranch, who goes by Aunt J. At first Pattyn was sceptical about the whole idea, but after she met a boy, named Ethan, at the ranch she got a whole new view of the whole situation. Pattyn and Ethan started hanging out a lot, and they're relationship started drifting places she thought relationships could never go. She started to think love was a real thing, and she was becoming protective of it. Aunt J and Pattyn became closer and closer as the days passed, and Pattyn became curious as to what happened to her first love, and when Aunt J finally cracked and told her what happened, Pattyn was shocked to find out that her dad threatened Aunt J's first love just as he did to hers.
Summer was finally coming to an end and it was time for Pattyn to return to her 'hell house' of a home, and it was time for Ethan to go to his post secondary institution. As soon as Pattyn returns home she finds out she hasn't had her period in three months, so she goes out and purchases a pregnancy test, which leads to be positive. Pattyn being back home was lonely, and had no one else to call but Ethan, so she rings him up, explains the whole situation to him and he tells her he will drive back to her, pick her up, and they will live together far away from all their worries. As soon as he gets to Pattyn's school to pick her up, a boy that had feelings for Pattyn gets jealous and calls the police, so on they're way to somewhere new they gets chased by the police, Pattyn being worried tells him to keep going and before she knows it, she wakes up in a hospital bed. The baby dead. Ethan dead. Everything she had in her pitiful life, dead.
Summer was finally coming to an end and it was time for Pattyn to return to her 'hell house' of a home, and it was time for Ethan to go to his post secondary institution. As soon as Pattyn returns home she finds out she hasn't had her period in three months, so she goes out and purchases a pregnancy test, which leads to be positive. Pattyn being back home was lonely, and had no one else to call but Ethan, so she rings him up, explains the whole situation to him and he tells her he will drive back to her, pick her up, and they will live together far away from all their worries. As soon as he gets to Pattyn's school to pick her up, a boy that had feelings for Pattyn gets jealous and calls the police, so on they're way to somewhere new they gets chased by the police, Pattyn being worried tells him to keep going and before she knows it, she wakes up in a hospital bed. The baby dead. Ethan dead. Everything she had in her pitiful life, dead.
Number FIVE
At the beginning of my novel Pattyn was a quiet, miserable, lonesome girl who did everything she was asked of and never asked for anything in return. She took care of her family, she cleaned the entire house whenever asked, she put away the dishes when her dad was too drunk and her mum was too beaten by her dad. She was the type of girl who knew she had a role to play and couldn't do anything about it. As the story progressed though, she started to become more reliant on others than she used to. She began believing in true love, and along with true love she began to think that being independent wasn't the best choice for her after all. I think what caused this change was that all her life she was brought up to be a typical Mormon girl, to get good grades, go to her church services, and to do all her womanly services that she should. But after she started experiencing what a normal girls life should be like, she loved it, she wanted to experience more and more of it everyday. It was like a drug for her, and she was addicted. If it wasn't for her lust to be the definition of normal, her boy friend wouldn't have been dead right beside her at the end of the novel.
Ethan was a farmer, he had been brought up to enjoy the little things in life, and boy did he enjoy them. Him and his dad lived alone because his mom recently passed away. Before Ethan met Pattyn he was a very hard-working man, who had values in life. He knew his family didn't have much, but he still dealt with it. He was very caring, and took care of everyone around him no matter who they were. After he met Pattyn nothing about him changed, except for who his heart belonged to, and that was what in turn got him killed. He would do anything that Pattyn asked of him, not that she ever asked anything bad of him, but when she asked him to come over, he was there. When she asked him to take her places, he was her ride. She was leeching off him without even knowing it. They were in love, but in this story love didn't end to happily ever after. When Pattyn told Ethan to keep driving when they were being pursued by the cop, Ethan did as he was told, which shortly after led to the wheels losing friction, and Pattyn ending up with three lost hearts. Ethan's. Her soon-to-be-born baby. And her's.
Aunt J had a golden heart, anyone who can take someone into their home who they've never met before must. She was a strong, old woman who wanted nothing but the best for Pattyn. She was very careful in what she said and what she did because she had been hurt so much before that she did not want to go through it ever again. She grew up on the ranch she lived on so she'd gotten used to the country life-style. Aunt J changed when she began to hangout with Ethan's dad, Kevin, more. Kevin and Aunt J were first loves so for them to be together again meant a lot to her. She changed Aunt J for the good, but since they were rarely at home any more it left a lot of time for Pattyn and Ethan to have sex, which later led to the pregnancy which in turn led to them trying to run away together. If it weren't for the pregnancy they would still be maintaining a long distance relationship with no sorrow whatsoever. The good part of Aunt J being more involved with Kevin was that she was happy again. She had something to live for, and she had to joy of her life back.
Ethan was a farmer, he had been brought up to enjoy the little things in life, and boy did he enjoy them. Him and his dad lived alone because his mom recently passed away. Before Ethan met Pattyn he was a very hard-working man, who had values in life. He knew his family didn't have much, but he still dealt with it. He was very caring, and took care of everyone around him no matter who they were. After he met Pattyn nothing about him changed, except for who his heart belonged to, and that was what in turn got him killed. He would do anything that Pattyn asked of him, not that she ever asked anything bad of him, but when she asked him to come over, he was there. When she asked him to take her places, he was her ride. She was leeching off him without even knowing it. They were in love, but in this story love didn't end to happily ever after. When Pattyn told Ethan to keep driving when they were being pursued by the cop, Ethan did as he was told, which shortly after led to the wheels losing friction, and Pattyn ending up with three lost hearts. Ethan's. Her soon-to-be-born baby. And her's.
Aunt J had a golden heart, anyone who can take someone into their home who they've never met before must. She was a strong, old woman who wanted nothing but the best for Pattyn. She was very careful in what she said and what she did because she had been hurt so much before that she did not want to go through it ever again. She grew up on the ranch she lived on so she'd gotten used to the country life-style. Aunt J changed when she began to hangout with Ethan's dad, Kevin, more. Kevin and Aunt J were first loves so for them to be together again meant a lot to her. She changed Aunt J for the good, but since they were rarely at home any more it left a lot of time for Pattyn and Ethan to have sex, which later led to the pregnancy which in turn led to them trying to run away together. If it weren't for the pregnancy they would still be maintaining a long distance relationship with no sorrow whatsoever. The good part of Aunt J being more involved with Kevin was that she was happy again. She had something to live for, and she had to joy of her life back.
Number SEVEN
Human nature comes along with many truths that relate to peoples everyday lives. In the book "Burned" by Ellen Hopkins one may observe many truths that could be pinned as one a human would naturally make. At the beginning of the book when Pattyn's father gets to drunk and is about to beat his wife, Pattyn takes responsibility in getting her younger sisters out of the area and to sleep so that they would not have to witness it themselves. That is a truth about human nature because most humans take responsibility in taking care of their family and protecting them from getting harmed, seeing disturbing thing, and getting their feelings hurt. When Pattyn escorts them out of the area it was because in her head she knew that she had to protect them from seeing something that could stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Another truth about human nature is that when one falls 'in love' they think that nothing can come between them. In there near middle of the novel Pattyn meets a boy named Derek that she thinks is the one. She begins to tell herself she's in love and thinks that nothing or no one can come between them. But when Pattyn's father comes and pays the boy a visit, after catching them together, drunk, in the forest, and tells Derek that if he ever touches his daughter again he would kill him, Derek immediately stops talking to Pattyn. Pattyn felt confused, she didn't know how to react to this because she thought that once she experienced love it would be an unbreakable bond. But actually another truth of human nature is, nothing lasts forever, and she soon figured that out as she was heartbroken heading to live with her aunt, miles, and miles away from her past.
Humans generally like to tell themselves everything is going to be all right when it isn't. For example if two people were stuck hanging off a cliff and they had barley any chance of survival they would start telling each other, as well as themselves that everything is going to be all right, when clearly they're going to die. That is another truth of human nature that partakes in this novel. At the near-end of the book when Pattyn and Ethan are racing away from a cop in close pursuit of them, Pattyn looks Ethan in the eyes and tells him "...keep going Ethan, everything is going to be alright, we're going to make it.." Shortly after she uttered those few words of hope, they become the participants in a deadly car accident which takes the life of Ethan, and Pattyn's unborn child. Humans have the will to live, so they want to protect that will and convince themselves they're going to be fine in life, but usually the truth is they're not.
Another truth about human nature is that when one falls 'in love' they think that nothing can come between them. In there near middle of the novel Pattyn meets a boy named Derek that she thinks is the one. She begins to tell herself she's in love and thinks that nothing or no one can come between them. But when Pattyn's father comes and pays the boy a visit, after catching them together, drunk, in the forest, and tells Derek that if he ever touches his daughter again he would kill him, Derek immediately stops talking to Pattyn. Pattyn felt confused, she didn't know how to react to this because she thought that once she experienced love it would be an unbreakable bond. But actually another truth of human nature is, nothing lasts forever, and she soon figured that out as she was heartbroken heading to live with her aunt, miles, and miles away from her past.
Humans generally like to tell themselves everything is going to be all right when it isn't. For example if two people were stuck hanging off a cliff and they had barley any chance of survival they would start telling each other, as well as themselves that everything is going to be all right, when clearly they're going to die. That is another truth of human nature that partakes in this novel. At the near-end of the book when Pattyn and Ethan are racing away from a cop in close pursuit of them, Pattyn looks Ethan in the eyes and tells him "...keep going Ethan, everything is going to be alright, we're going to make it.." Shortly after she uttered those few words of hope, they become the participants in a deadly car accident which takes the life of Ethan, and Pattyn's unborn child. Humans have the will to live, so they want to protect that will and convince themselves they're going to be fine in life, but usually the truth is they're not.
Number SIX
- Page 124. "I'd done it. Lied my way out of the house. Cheated certain punishment. Stolen moments with Derek....I wanted to be with him all the time." These sentences really stood out to me in the book because to me it was the point where Pattyn was finally breaking out of her cocoon. She started to become addicted to freedom, and addicted to Derek.
- Page 134. "Damn good thing I didn't catch you in the act. You'd both be dead." This sentence derives from the scene when Pattyn's dad catches her and Derek together. I chose it because it highlights the anger and frustration growing inside Mr. Von-Stratten.
- Page 162. "You're like a blue-ribbon heifer, Mom. champion breeding stock, always in heat for her bull." These two sentences were important to me because it was the first time Pattyn spoke to her mother like that. It showed me that Pattyn had began changing for the worse. She was being influenced by her 'friends' to talk to her parents the way they did and it was definitely not the kind of girl Pattyn originally was.
- Page 193. "No diapers here. No kids to tend. Dishes for two were nothing." As soon as Pattyn's dad dropped her off at her Aunt's house and motored off, Pattyn began to realize that her life here would be a lot different that it had been back home, and she was more than all right with that. I chose this part because it shows the start of her new life, and the end of her old one, for now at least.
- Page 221. "See me soon? What did he mean by that? Did I care? Considering recent events I shouldn't care.... So why despite all of the above, was I, so suddenly and completely fascinated with this man?" This was the second time that Pattyn and Ethan had seen each other. It is an important part of the book because it focuses on how interested Pattyn is with Ethan after just meeting him. It also foreshadows a blooming relationship to come later on in the book.
- Page 267. "Ethan. I smiled myself awake." Pattyn was finally in-love. This in my opinion is the most important sentence part of the book. She is head-over-heels for him at this point, and she is 100% totally and completely fine with it. I like this part because it shows the sort of love that should be seen in real life.
- Page 318. "I love you played over and over in my brain, music without melody." The words "I love you" had never been uttered from her mouth to another boy before in her life, but Ethan had changed that. She finally told him she loves him, and he said it back. This was a milestone for their relationship and it took them to new extremes.
- Page 357. "One thing you have to remember when hunting predators...It pays better to be a predator." I really like this sentence because it can be used in everyday life. It's always better the be the predator than the prey. If you are always the prey you are unlikely to go very far in life, but if your the predator, you own the horizon. There's no telling how far you can go.
- Page 421. "Only now his opponent isn't Mom. It's me." This is the reason Pattyn agreed to go back home. She knew that if she didn't go back her dad would continue to beat her sister, and her sister needed her there. Its an important part to the ending of the book. Without this powerful sentence, Pattyn would have still be with her aunt's ranch, with no worries in the world.
- Page 521. "There. I screamed at them. Where is Ethan? I'm sorry honey, said a nurse, he didn't make it." That is the most powerful sentence of the book. Those words just play around your head and Pattyn's emotions fly into you. How she might have felt is unimaginable. But it goes to show, one wrong move, could lead to one wrong result.
Number EIGHT
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LOVE
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Number TEN
In the novel I read near the end the main character, Pattyn, finds out she is pregnant. During the time it took for the pregnancy to sink into her head she had a long talk with her boyfriend about considering abortion, even though her religion is against it. Abortion is when someone is pregnant and instead of having the baby they decide to kill it while it is still in the womb. Abortion is wrong in every way and should be considered a type of murder. Why do people even get abortions? Sure if your young you can't handle the responsibility of taking care of a baby but that's what adoption was created for. Some couple try for months, some even years to conceive a baby but aren't fortunate enough to do so, then people come around getting blessed with pregnancy and decide to just kill it before it gets a chance to experience the world. You could easily give the baby up for adoption and make a couple parents, you could make a dream come true, instead of killing an innocent baby. There are also teenagers who decide to get abortions to avoid the embarrassment they would have to face if any of they're friends figured out they were pregnant. That is the weakest excuse out there. If your friends would make fun of you, or judge you for being pregnant, then they're not really your friends. You should be grateful you got pregnant so now you know not to trust or hang out with those people any more, its actually doing you a favour. There are actually places where they let pregnant teens continue school while carrying the baby privately so that no one knows about it but you, and the baby gets to have a safe birth. By having a baby you could also contribute to stem cell research that in return could cure many diseases and disfigurement, so by having a baby you could be helping the sick, those unfortunate enough to have a baby themselves, as well as yourself by not having a huge secret and the guilt of killing someone who hasn't even gotten the chance to live on your hands. In just Ontario alone there are about 32, 166 abortions per year. That's over 30000 people who will never get to see the light of day. Maybe one of those kids would have grown up to cure cancer, or to become an important person in our society. Abortions take those chances away. Abortions have only one upside, no child for you, but from all the downsides it carries with it, its just not a path women should ever choose to take.
Number NINE
In the novel "Burned" by Ellen Hopkins there is one phrase that really stood out to me, and really outlined the theme of the book. It is on page 420. "Happiness, you see is just an illusion of Fate, a heavenly sleight of hand, designed to make you believe in fairy tales. But there is no happily ever after." This phrase shows you that in this book happiness is only temporary. There is no forever after. There is no forever in love. There is only happy for a little bit, then sad for the rest. The books main story line is troubled girl with troubled family meets good life with good boy meets troubled family with death on the side. Pattyn is only happy for short periods of time in this book and when she is, she realizes that its all just a mirage. Happiness knocks at your door once in a while but when you let it in, it just runs back out that door and leaves it open for sorrow, hate, torture, and death. Pattyn believed that her and Ethan would make it to California to live a happily ever after life, but when she woke up in the hospital bed a few days after she figured out it was just another wicked twist of fate. Even when she lived an amazing person, Aunt J, and everything was going picture perfect, not a cloud in the sky, she was still walking around with an umbrella waiting for the storm to come. The theme of this story is definitely to always expect the worst and to always be prepared for it. That is definitely what the quote stands for, and its definitely what Pattyn forgot at the end of the book, prior to the car accident that took everything away from her.
Number TWELVE
The book "Burned" by Ellen Hopkins author of New York Times best sellers "Crank" and "Impulse" did a yet again amazing job with the construction of the novel. This book focuses on a young girl, Pattyn, who salvages all she can in her life to get by, but sometimes that just isn't enough.
Burned is an amazingly constructed book, that encourages readers to keep going till the very last page. Ellen Hopkins did an amazing job in the layout of the sentences, because the sentences aren't always right beside each other it makes reading feel more free and not like an obligation to move your eyes back and forth in the effort to find out what happens next. The author also put a lot of effort into capturing readers into the book. After the first page of the book, you begin to feel as if your a bystander in the novel and everything is just happening before you. The characters feel real, the events feel real, and the emotions live inside you from scene to scene. I noticed at times to even get chills up my spine when the worst is bound to happen.
Pattyn Scarlet Von Stratten is an average Mormon girl, with a less than average life style. When she finally has enough of it she meets a few people who turn her in the wrong direction, a direction that leads to talking back, violence, drugs, and trouble. After her parents finally have enough of her she's set off to live at her Aunt Jeanette's ranch, just a few miles off from where she originally lived. Aunt J is an old woman who persuades Pattyn not to make the same mistakes she did. She is very kind, and takes Pattyn in as her own. After Pattyn gets settled at the ranch she meets a man named Ethan. Now Ethan is a very humble man, who puts family first and has never been seen to disrespect someone. Something about Ethan sparks Pattyn's eye and she wanted to know why. They get to know each other and soon develop a relationship. Everything they do, they do it together. They were inseparable. They have the sort-of fairy tale romance every aspiring girl dreams of. Pattyn being a Mormon girl had never experienced sexual intercourse before, but with Ethan she thought she may be able to break the rules of her religion and express her true feelings for him.
As the summer progressed Pattyn and Ethan were as happy as ever... Until it was time for Pattyn to return home, and Ethan to go to college. So Pattyn does as she's supposed to and goes back to living her everyday shitty life. Until she soon realizes she was pregnant. Pregnancy at her age in a Mormon religion was more than frowned upon, so her only chance of escape was to run away with Ethan. What happens next is only the result of true love, no planning, and dumb moves.
I liked this book because it sucked me into it shortly after I started reading. Usually I'm not one to start reading a book and finish it, but this book was something different. Everyday I woke hoping to travel farther and farther into the book. The characters were beautifully laid out, and described to the last hair, and the events were realistic. Most people who read this book will most likely be able to relate to it in one or more ways. What I disliked about the book was the at the end it doesn't tell you what happens. It leaves you at a gigantic cliff hanger, and I was dying to find out what happens next.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrilling novels, with a love story you'll never forget. It incorporates every aspect of trust, lust, love, fear, sorrow, and hate an excellent book should. Anyone over the age of 13 would love this book. I would give this book five stars.
This novel is a New York Times best seller, a prestigious title which is only given to books that breach the barriers of normal books, and get outstanding recommendations from other readers and writers. You can find this book at most novel retailers for $12.99.
Burned is an amazingly constructed book, that encourages readers to keep going till the very last page. Ellen Hopkins did an amazing job in the layout of the sentences, because the sentences aren't always right beside each other it makes reading feel more free and not like an obligation to move your eyes back and forth in the effort to find out what happens next. The author also put a lot of effort into capturing readers into the book. After the first page of the book, you begin to feel as if your a bystander in the novel and everything is just happening before you. The characters feel real, the events feel real, and the emotions live inside you from scene to scene. I noticed at times to even get chills up my spine when the worst is bound to happen.
Pattyn Scarlet Von Stratten is an average Mormon girl, with a less than average life style. When she finally has enough of it she meets a few people who turn her in the wrong direction, a direction that leads to talking back, violence, drugs, and trouble. After her parents finally have enough of her she's set off to live at her Aunt Jeanette's ranch, just a few miles off from where she originally lived. Aunt J is an old woman who persuades Pattyn not to make the same mistakes she did. She is very kind, and takes Pattyn in as her own. After Pattyn gets settled at the ranch she meets a man named Ethan. Now Ethan is a very humble man, who puts family first and has never been seen to disrespect someone. Something about Ethan sparks Pattyn's eye and she wanted to know why. They get to know each other and soon develop a relationship. Everything they do, they do it together. They were inseparable. They have the sort-of fairy tale romance every aspiring girl dreams of. Pattyn being a Mormon girl had never experienced sexual intercourse before, but with Ethan she thought she may be able to break the rules of her religion and express her true feelings for him.
As the summer progressed Pattyn and Ethan were as happy as ever... Until it was time for Pattyn to return home, and Ethan to go to college. So Pattyn does as she's supposed to and goes back to living her everyday shitty life. Until she soon realizes she was pregnant. Pregnancy at her age in a Mormon religion was more than frowned upon, so her only chance of escape was to run away with Ethan. What happens next is only the result of true love, no planning, and dumb moves.
I liked this book because it sucked me into it shortly after I started reading. Usually I'm not one to start reading a book and finish it, but this book was something different. Everyday I woke hoping to travel farther and farther into the book. The characters were beautifully laid out, and described to the last hair, and the events were realistic. Most people who read this book will most likely be able to relate to it in one or more ways. What I disliked about the book was the at the end it doesn't tell you what happens. It leaves you at a gigantic cliff hanger, and I was dying to find out what happens next.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrilling novels, with a love story you'll never forget. It incorporates every aspect of trust, lust, love, fear, sorrow, and hate an excellent book should. Anyone over the age of 13 would love this book. I would give this book five stars.
This novel is a New York Times best seller, a prestigious title which is only given to books that breach the barriers of normal books, and get outstanding recommendations from other readers and writers. You can find this book at most novel retailers for $12.99.
Number ELEVEN
True and False:
- Pattyn chose to leave her house to go live with her Aunt J
- Derek cheated on Pattyn therefore breaking them up
- Aunt Jeanette's only ever love was Ethan's father
- Ethan pressured Pattyn into having sex with him
- Pattyn get pregnant
Multiple Choice:
- Pattyn's religion was:
A) Christian
B) Muslim
C) Mormon
D) Jewish - What did Pattyn call her fathers alcohol?
A) whisker
B) Johnnie W.B.
C) Jessie C.W.
D) Death - What animal almost killed Pattyn?
A) Coyote
B) Cougar
C) Bear
D) Rattle Snake - Why did Pattyn go back home after summer?
A) Her parents made her
B) To continue her school
C) To help her sister get away from her abusive dad
D) She missed home - What causes the highway patrol officer to pursue Pattyn and Ethan?
A) The jealous guy from school
B) Her mom called him
C) They were speeding
D) Her dad called him
Matching
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Short Answer
- Why did Ethan come to pick Pattyn up from school?
- What made Pattyn anxious and nervous over her last few days at the ranch?
- What caused Derek to stop talking to Pattyn?
- Why was Pattyn so protective over her sisters?
- What happened in order to make Pattyn smash a school window?
Number THIRTEEN
The Mormon Daily
The Von Stratten family has been put to shame yet again by they're mischievous daughter Pattyn. This girl just can't seem to stay out of trouble. Being a Mormon girl, Pattyn has grown-up learning about the punishments of wrong doings and sins, as well as the humiliation put upon ones family when committing a sin yet she still acts out. This weekend her and her fiancée, a horrid Christian, got caught in a pursuit with a Mormon highway patrol officer and soon after caused a deadly crash that killed her and her soon to be son, not daughter. She could have severely injured the police officer in that crash but she doesn't care whatsoever. In a quote from her loyal father he said, "All we've been doing these past couple of month is trying to cure Pattyn of her self. She began to lie, fight, damage public property, and drink in the woods with strangers. So we sent her off to a place we thought would fix her, but she just came back worse, and soon after, well this happened. We tried our best but now she's in gods will, we've kicked her out." Members of the Mormon church believe it is not safe for the rest of us to have her on the loose with no one to control her. Pattyn is believed to have had a type of clinical depression that causes her to take things harder than most 'normal people' would, so if you see her do not approach her. Turn in the opposite direction and run as fast as you can because her sins could take hold of you.
Pattyn is apparently in possession of a firearm given to her by the deceased, Ethan. Sources say that he got the gun from his father, but it could not be confirmed. Authorities are in the process of heading to his father's, Kevin, house to question him about it. It is told to be a 9mm pistol, but it can do some serious damage. So if she is seen anywhere please call your local law enforcement agency. We will keep you posted as the case progresses on our website, www.mormonsarebetterthaneveryone.com.
Pattyn is apparently in possession of a firearm given to her by the deceased, Ethan. Sources say that he got the gun from his father, but it could not be confirmed. Authorities are in the process of heading to his father's, Kevin, house to question him about it. It is told to be a 9mm pistol, but it can do some serious damage. So if she is seen anywhere please call your local law enforcement agency. We will keep you posted as the case progresses on our website, www.mormonsarebetterthaneveryone.com.