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Burnout
A teen wakes up to find her nightmare is real in a novel Kirkus Reviews calls “stark, compelling, a winner” (starred review). On the day after Halloween, Nan wakes up in a subway car. She is not dreaming. She doesn’t know where she’s been or what she’s done. She’s missing a whole day from her life. And she’s wearing skeleton makeup and a too-small Halloween costume that she doesn’t remember putting on. Nan is not supposed to wake up in places like this anymore. She’s different now, so far from that dangerously drunk girl who hit bottom in the Nanapocalypse. She needs to find out what happened to her, and fast. As she tries to put together the pieces of the last twenty-four hours, she flashes back to memories of her previous life. But she would never go back to her old friends and her old ways. Would she? The deeper Nan digs, the more disturbing things get. This time, she may have gone one step too far. This time, she may be a walking ghost.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2011
About the author
Adrienne Maria Vrettos
7 books126 followersHELLOOOOOOOOO THERE!!
Sorry for shouting, I'm just really excited to see you! I'm still figuring my place in the Goodreads community out, so please be patient with me and feel free to reach out - I am ALWAYS happy to talk about books!
My very first middle-grade novel Best Friends for Never just came out with Scholastic, and I am just beyond excited. I have always wanted to write middle-grade, as it is middle-grade books that made me fall head over heals in love with reading, and with writing.
I've also written books for teens, including Skin, Sight, The Exile of Gigi Lane, and Burnout. I'm working on a new book for teens now, but it's top secret so I probably shouldn't tell you about it. But once I know it's coming out, I'll be shouting it from the rooftops :)
Now I'm off to add more books to my bookshelf!
Sorry for shouting, I'm just really excited to see you! I'm still figuring my place in the Goodreads community out, so please be patient with me and feel free to reach out - I am ALWAYS happy to talk about books!
My very first middle-grade novel Best Friends for Never just came out with Scholastic, and I am just beyond excited. I have always wanted to write middle-grade, as it is middle-grade books that made me fall head over heals in love with reading, and with writing.
I've also written books for teens, including Skin, Sight, The Exile of Gigi Lane, and Burnout. I'm working on a new book for teens now, but it's top secret so I probably shouldn't tell you about it. But once I know it's coming out, I'll be shouting it from the rooftops :)
Now I'm off to add more books to my bookshelf!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
November 3, 2018
I really wanted to like this book. But the story dragged a lot and the characters were mostly insufferable. I did like the ending and I’m giving it a 3 stars but I do think that’s being generous.
November 26, 2011
This book is odd, we start out with a girl waking up on a subway with no idea how she got there or how she ended up in a costume and make-up. But slowly she starts to retrace her steps trying to figure out what happened to her, and where is her friend?
First let me say that this book is rather small and a quick read. Which can be a good thing depending on the book but this book felt too fast, like we where rushed through it. It's told in a series of flash-backs mixed with present day trying to figuring out what happened. For the first half the story is very believable and okay, but the second half is much less believable but much more exciting. So a descent read, I wouldn't buy it (at least for the price their currently asking), but if your library has it check it out.
I received this book through the Goodreads.com's Firstreads Program.
First let me say that this book is rather small and a quick read. Which can be a good thing depending on the book but this book felt too fast, like we where rushed through it. It's told in a series of flash-backs mixed with present day trying to figuring out what happened. For the first half the story is very believable and okay, but the second half is much less believable but much more exciting. So a descent read, I wouldn't buy it (at least for the price their currently asking), but if your library has it check it out.
I received this book through the Goodreads.com's Firstreads Program.
December 18, 2016
Dollar Tree find.
Better than I thought it would be, though the ending fell a bit flat, I wanted more from it.
Better than I thought it would be, though the ending fell a bit flat, I wanted more from it.
August 13, 2016
حوادث زیادی کش دار و طولانی است و در نتیجه کتاب خسته کننده شده
September 16, 2011
First impressions: Oh, Nan. Poor, poor Nan. Twice in the opening chapters we see her waking up from being blackout drunk - once as a memory, and once to set the plot in motion in real time. Adrienne Maria Vrettos writes these so picture perfectly that I actually winced. Nan's predicament is unsettling and upsetting, which sets up nicely the tone for the entire book.
Lasting impressions: Although this was an interesting book, I'm not sure it has the punch to make this one everlasting for me.
Conflicting impressions: While some aspects were extremely true to life, other parts had me shaking my head in disbelief.
Overall impressions: In general, Nan's story is not a happy one. This is no feel-good tale. I think the summary is a pretty big clue, but the opening chapters are certainly going to weed out the ones who want to read this and the ones who should probably close it up quickly and back away. Either you want to experience life through a teen's blackout drunk phase or you don't.
I hesitate to use the term "alcoholic" only because Adrienne Maria Vrettos dodges the term herself. Nan is an abuser, but mostly at the whims of her best friend, Seemy. She goes to sort of "rehab lite" and acknowledges that it wasn't the most hardcore of programs. Nan seemed more like a lost girl caught up in the peer pressure of Seemy's crazy existence rather than a bona fide alcoholic.
The book is told in alternating chapters of Nan in the present, slowly piecing together the last 24 hours that she can't remember, and vignettes from the past. We see how she met her friends Toad and Seemy, how she handles waking up in strange places, how she relates to her mother and little brother. Nan is insecure, and drawn to the vivacious Seemy like a moth to a flame. Based on the few interactions we see with her, it's not hard to follow how Nan could end up where this story begins.
Although it was interesting finding out how Nan woke up on the subway in a tiny Halloween costume, I didn't connect to the bigger life lessons here. Beyond the obvious - don't drink so much and don't be friends with people who suck - there isn't a lot of meat to this story. Vrettos hints at growth in Nan's relationship with her mother, and even at growth in her own self-confidence, but at under 200 pages, this quick read didn't quite nail the heart of these issues.
I felt the friendship with Seemy was well-executed, and I found their exploits to be quite imaginative, if a little over-dramatic. When Nan realizes who or what is responsible for her blackout, the plot veers into a scenario I found a little hard to believe. Was it exciting to read? Yes. Did I think that's what would have really happened? No effing way. Part of my disappointment with the book is that I felt it would have more impact if it had a more realistic ending. It was like I was watching the made-for-TV version of real events, when the actual story is more compelling than the media hyped version.
Bottom line is that this is a good mystery set around the bitter effects of drinking too much. Nan is a sympathetic character that finds herself in the most awful of circumstances, but ultimately rises to face the challenges of her day head-on.
Lasting impressions: Although this was an interesting book, I'm not sure it has the punch to make this one everlasting for me.
Conflicting impressions: While some aspects were extremely true to life, other parts had me shaking my head in disbelief.
Overall impressions: In general, Nan's story is not a happy one. This is no feel-good tale. I think the summary is a pretty big clue, but the opening chapters are certainly going to weed out the ones who want to read this and the ones who should probably close it up quickly and back away. Either you want to experience life through a teen's blackout drunk phase or you don't.
I hesitate to use the term "alcoholic" only because Adrienne Maria Vrettos dodges the term herself. Nan is an abuser, but mostly at the whims of her best friend, Seemy. She goes to sort of "rehab lite" and acknowledges that it wasn't the most hardcore of programs. Nan seemed more like a lost girl caught up in the peer pressure of Seemy's crazy existence rather than a bona fide alcoholic.
The book is told in alternating chapters of Nan in the present, slowly piecing together the last 24 hours that she can't remember, and vignettes from the past. We see how she met her friends Toad and Seemy, how she handles waking up in strange places, how she relates to her mother and little brother. Nan is insecure, and drawn to the vivacious Seemy like a moth to a flame. Based on the few interactions we see with her, it's not hard to follow how Nan could end up where this story begins.
Although it was interesting finding out how Nan woke up on the subway in a tiny Halloween costume, I didn't connect to the bigger life lessons here. Beyond the obvious - don't drink so much and don't be friends with people who suck - there isn't a lot of meat to this story. Vrettos hints at growth in Nan's relationship with her mother, and even at growth in her own self-confidence, but at under 200 pages, this quick read didn't quite nail the heart of these issues.
I felt the friendship with Seemy was well-executed, and I found their exploits to be quite imaginative, if a little over-dramatic. When Nan realizes who or what is responsible for her blackout, the plot veers into a scenario I found a little hard to believe. Was it exciting to read? Yes. Did I think that's what would have really happened? No effing way. Part of my disappointment with the book is that I felt it would have more impact if it had a more realistic ending. It was like I was watching the made-for-TV version of real events, when the actual story is more compelling than the media hyped version.
Bottom line is that this is a good mystery set around the bitter effects of drinking too much. Nan is a sympathetic character that finds herself in the most awful of circumstances, but ultimately rises to face the challenges of her day head-on.
December 17, 2018
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Honest depiction of an imbalanced friendship. Realistic main character.
Cons: Lacks a strong emotional punch. Some events are a bit far-fetched.
WARNING! Alcohol abuse, rape intent, self-image problems.
Will appeal to: Those who have had at least a toxic friend in their life, or one who didn't love them as much as they did.
Before I bought this one, going by the last line of the blurb above and the two-line prologue on Amazon, I inferred it told the story of a dead character recalling/investigating her demise, so I was excited. It turned out that it wasn't the case, so I don't really get what the whole "ghost" reference was about (OK, I sort of understand the metaphor, but it sounded much more like a literal description to me). Then again, I don't regret reading this book, even if under false pretenses. I just meant to tell you - don't get fooled like I did...read this for the right reasons.
THE WRONG SIDE OF UNREQUITED
I shelved this book as Mystery/Thriller, and a mystery it is - with the main lead Nan desperate to uncover what she did the previous night, and more than anything, what happened to her best friend Seemy. But at its core, Burnout is a contemporary of the dark variety (albeit not at all as dark as it might have been) - a story of bad choices and the places they take you, and even more than that, a story about the length we go for a friend even when they don't love us as much as we do (or precisely because they don't). This was the aspect that resonated with me the most: while I've never been in a toxic friendship of the "bad influence" variety (and I wouldn't, because I'm one of the less influenceable people I know), I have been in a sort of unrequited friendship for a long while - until the friend in question set to size me down once and for all, and since I couldn't cope with that, we ultimately split. If you've ever loved a friend more than they did, and you've ever been aware of it (and hurt because of it), Vrettos captures this feeling perfectly. Then again, in a short book like this (less than 200 pages), emotions gets somehow constricted and lose some of the impact they could make...more of this in the next paragraphs. [...]
Whole review here.
Pros: Honest depiction of an imbalanced friendship. Realistic main character.
Cons: Lacks a strong emotional punch. Some events are a bit far-fetched.
WARNING! Alcohol abuse, rape intent, self-image problems.
Will appeal to: Those who have had at least a toxic friend in their life, or one who didn't love them as much as they did.
Before I bought this one, going by the last line of the blurb above and the two-line prologue on Amazon, I inferred it told the story of a dead character recalling/investigating her demise, so I was excited. It turned out that it wasn't the case, so I don't really get what the whole "ghost" reference was about (OK, I sort of understand the metaphor, but it sounded much more like a literal description to me). Then again, I don't regret reading this book, even if under false pretenses. I just meant to tell you - don't get fooled like I did...read this for the right reasons.
THE WRONG SIDE OF UNREQUITED
I shelved this book as Mystery/Thriller, and a mystery it is - with the main lead Nan desperate to uncover what she did the previous night, and more than anything, what happened to her best friend Seemy. But at its core, Burnout is a contemporary of the dark variety (albeit not at all as dark as it might have been) - a story of bad choices and the places they take you, and even more than that, a story about the length we go for a friend even when they don't love us as much as we do (or precisely because they don't). This was the aspect that resonated with me the most: while I've never been in a toxic friendship of the "bad influence" variety (and I wouldn't, because I'm one of the less influenceable people I know), I have been in a sort of unrequited friendship for a long while - until the friend in question set to size me down once and for all, and since I couldn't cope with that, we ultimately split. If you've ever loved a friend more than they did, and you've ever been aware of it (and hurt because of it), Vrettos captures this feeling perfectly. Then again, in a short book like this (less than 200 pages), emotions gets somehow constricted and lose some of the impact they could make...more of this in the next paragraphs. [...]
Whole review here.
December 16, 2011
Original Post: http://thereadersbookblog.blogspot.co...
Burnout is the story of Nan, a teenage girl who wakes up the morning after Halloween with no recollection of the night before. She wakes up on subway train wearing make up and a costume she doesn't remember. The problem is, while this would not have been unusual for Nan six months ago, she has since been through rehab, confronting her demons and leaving blackouts in the past. I was instantly intrigued by the idea of this mystery, so I was very excited when I won this book from GoodReads FirstReads.
At the heart of this novel is a girl who, I think, just wants to be good. Her home life is kind of a mess, so when she meets outrageous Seemy, Nan desparately wants to be her friend. Where Nan is big boned and amazon-esque, Seemy is petite and lithe. Nan is grounded and steady; Seemy is flighty and spontaneous. Nan falls in love with Seemy who prefers to avoid complex emotions in favor of one-night-stands with losers. Friendship with Seemy means skipping school to get drunk in the movie theater, or stand guard while she hooks up with a random guy in their sacred Carriage House. Despite it being a damaging friendship, Nan hangs on tightly to the lively girl who makes her feel special. Nan is a relatable character--most people, at one time or another, have been willing to forego rationality for the sake of affection from someone they love. For this reason, I care about Nan and how she came to wake up from a blackout after so many months in recovery.
I don't want to ruin the mystery, but I will say that not every question is answered...much like real life. There is some real terror in this story, inducing a heartwrenching kind of ache for these girls who are making choices that will impact their lives in significant ways. It's a fast read with memorable characters. Vrettos deserves the many accolades she has received this year for her stellar writing.
Rating: $$.5
Received courtesy of GoodReads FirstReads.
Burnout is the story of Nan, a teenage girl who wakes up the morning after Halloween with no recollection of the night before. She wakes up on subway train wearing make up and a costume she doesn't remember. The problem is, while this would not have been unusual for Nan six months ago, she has since been through rehab, confronting her demons and leaving blackouts in the past. I was instantly intrigued by the idea of this mystery, so I was very excited when I won this book from GoodReads FirstReads.
At the heart of this novel is a girl who, I think, just wants to be good. Her home life is kind of a mess, so when she meets outrageous Seemy, Nan desparately wants to be her friend. Where Nan is big boned and amazon-esque, Seemy is petite and lithe. Nan is grounded and steady; Seemy is flighty and spontaneous. Nan falls in love with Seemy who prefers to avoid complex emotions in favor of one-night-stands with losers. Friendship with Seemy means skipping school to get drunk in the movie theater, or stand guard while she hooks up with a random guy in their sacred Carriage House. Despite it being a damaging friendship, Nan hangs on tightly to the lively girl who makes her feel special. Nan is a relatable character--most people, at one time or another, have been willing to forego rationality for the sake of affection from someone they love. For this reason, I care about Nan and how she came to wake up from a blackout after so many months in recovery.
I don't want to ruin the mystery, but I will say that not every question is answered...much like real life. There is some real terror in this story, inducing a heartwrenching kind of ache for these girls who are making choices that will impact their lives in significant ways. It's a fast read with memorable characters. Vrettos deserves the many accolades she has received this year for her stellar writing.
Rating: $$.5
Received courtesy of GoodReads FirstReads.
September 19, 2011
Nan wakes up disoriented in a subway car, completely clueless as to what happened the night before or how she ended up where she is, in her current state. While she's been this confused and disoriented before, it's never been quite this bad. Slowly, as she goes about her day, trying to get to school, and then trying to get back in her family's New York City apartment, she starts piecing everything back together. It seems that everything can be traced to her friend Seemy. As she starts remembering bits and pieces of what happened last night, she realizes that Seemy is in trouble.
Parts of this story are frightening and so accurate as to make readers feel as though they are inside Nan's confused brain as she tries to solve the mystery of what happened last night. Since the story moves from present day to events that happened in the past, it is easy to trace the changes in Nan that occurred once she and Seemy became friends. But what isn't so clear is what makes Seemy so self-destructive or what would cause her to hang out with the seedy characters she seems drawn to in the park. Hooch and Turner are too over the top to be believable, and I couldn't see why they put so much effort into finding Seemy. She seemed to be skidding out of control at that point, wasting away from alcohol or drugs. What great plans could they have had for her that they couldn't have used with some other desperate teen or runaway? I liked Nan a lot; she seemed real in her desperation for a friend and someone to love, but parts of her story seemed stilted, and I never really understood Seemy at all.
Parts of this story are frightening and so accurate as to make readers feel as though they are inside Nan's confused brain as she tries to solve the mystery of what happened last night. Since the story moves from present day to events that happened in the past, it is easy to trace the changes in Nan that occurred once she and Seemy became friends. But what isn't so clear is what makes Seemy so self-destructive or what would cause her to hang out with the seedy characters she seems drawn to in the park. Hooch and Turner are too over the top to be believable, and I couldn't see why they put so much effort into finding Seemy. She seemed to be skidding out of control at that point, wasting away from alcohol or drugs. What great plans could they have had for her that they couldn't have used with some other desperate teen or runaway? I liked Nan a lot; she seemed real in her desperation for a friend and someone to love, but parts of her story seemed stilted, and I never really understood Seemy at all.
September 14, 2013
I am going to admit something kind of embarrassing to you. Sometimes I pick books to read off of my TBR pile based on their length. I get legitimately excited about very short books because I know they will help me beef up my goodreads reading challenge numbers. I know, I know, I should not be reading to boost a number but you know, I get competitive with myself. Maybe it’s reading for the wrong reasons, but I’ve come across some pretty decent reads that way. I’ve also picked up books that would have just languished forever on my pile. Friends, I picked up Burnout by Adrienne Maria Vrettos, a book that is two years, or ancient in certain reader circles, just because my copy was only 190 pages with super short chapters. I journeyed into the dangerous world of drugs and alcohol and came out of the book slightly confused, unsure as to what to rate the book.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
January 7, 2018
A thriller. Right near the end, pages started turning turning turning, but before that... so the characters felt a bit underdeveloped. I've realized I'm not a fan of stories that use the past to develop characters and to develop those relationships between the characters. Flashbacks are good and important, but when they are most of the story, I cant. It's just a personal distaste. The past is boring. The present is what keeps my interest. Anyhow, good poignant story, well written, didn't find myself rolling my eyes constantly. It was just... a book though.
October 11, 2019
Nan thinks she might be a ghost. She wakes up in a subway train with no memory of how she got there. It is the day after Halloween and she's wearing a bizarre dress and skeleton make-up she can't remove. The books chapters are divided between today and remembering as Nan begins to piece together the events that led her to the subway. This is a great character study.
June 7, 2018
Honestly this book was kinda confusing and just plain boring. The main characters are drunks and they have no great outcome, honestly I did not gain any knowledge from reading this book. But again it was a short book and only took up one day to read. Not impressed.
December 28, 2018
Fantastic story about one night, but it's just so much more!
July 7, 2019
If you like quick, young adult cautionary tale type thrillers, you already know that it's a genre typically filled with mediocre or amusingly bad books. This honestly wasn't as bad as others I've read, but the disjointed way the story is told (the narrator spends 90% of the book trying to remember what happened to her the night before while talking about past memories) got annoying pretty quickly. Also it's losing a full star for giving every single character a weird nickname.
January 12, 2022
Just read this entire book in like three or four hours or something and I’m supposed to be sleeping. What an emotional ride. I couldn’t put this down. I love Nan’s character so much, I just want to hold her and let her know she’s loved, that she has a friend in me. I don’t even really know what to say other than I absolutely loved every minute of this.
May 8, 2020
Nan remembers nothing of the last 24 hours of her life. While she's frantically piecing together hints and fragmented memories, readers get a glimpse of her past through flashbacks and the picture that's forming doesn't look good. A riveting page-turner!
August 20, 2017
It wasn't what I originally thought it would be about. I thought she time traveled or something. It was an okay book.
September 11, 2019
I hardly give 5 stars but this book was surprisingly amazing. I read it in just a few hours, I was so glued to the pages. This is the book for you if you are a fan of plot twists & suspense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2021
Terrible. So hard to follow.
October 16, 2014
Friday, 19th September, 2014
The book "Burnout" starts with the main character ,Nan, waking up in a subway car not remembering what happened to her the night after halloween in a dress that doesnt belong to her and halloween make up on her face. Then she keeps blacking out and remembering things from the summer. She remembers when she and her best friend,Seemy, where out in a place they found and how the both of them did drugs. Nan had had a Nanapocolypse, like Seemy called it, before and she went to rehab. Nan wasn't supposed to have relapse, she wasnt supposed to wake up in places like this anymore. She was clean since the doctor in rehab told her to stay away from her friends. She moved to a new school were she was a loner and stuck to herself.
Nan woke up to find the train station master looking over her. He asked her what happened and she told him she didnt know, he then gave her his jacket so she wouldnt be cold. He told her he called the police and they would take care of her. She couldnt stand but she ran because her mother was out of town and her brother was at their father's house. She ran out into the street and went into a shop to get shoes and socks. Then she went to school. At first they wouldnt let her in but then she went in. After that the book goes down memory lane and it jumps back to when Nan and Seemy first met. They met 2 summers ago and right then they became best friends.
Friday, 26th September, 2014
So far in the book "Burnout" Nan is remembering the summer she met her best friend, Seemy, well her old best friend. Since the Nanapocalypse Nan was moved to another school to be separated from Seemy. In the summer the two first met Nan woke up to find her little brother's butt in fer face. Tick, her brother, almost always comes to sleep with Nan in her bed because he finds it "warm". After the two siblings woke up they heard their mom's footsteps down the hall. She comes all happy and tells them they are going to the market today.Nan, Tick and their mother live in a "Hippie apartment" ,Nan calls it. All the other apartments are new and clean but theirs is dirty.
Once Nan is up she picks out an outfit that shocks her mother. Usually Nan doesn't wear these gothic clothes but today she decided to. Once they arrived in the market Nan and her little brother Tick went down to the skating place since Tick was out of control and he was too young to be on his own. Nan sat on the steps while Tick was on the skateboard making silly faces when the girl next to Nan started laughing and asked Nan if it was her brother. The girl introduced herself as Samantha but people call her Seemy. That day was the beggining of a long friendship since Seemy just moved to near Nan lived and they were going to school together. So they became friends instantly and exchanged phone numbers.
Friday, 10th October, 2014
So far Nan isnt remembering what happened to her last night. She lost all memory and is trying to remember. Nan and Seemy had hung out a lot that summer with Toad in an old abandoned barn. So Nan went to go see Toad and she remembered. Seemy had called Nan on the night of halloween to come to the park. At the park were two men who weren't friendly at all and when Nan tried to leave Seemy told her she can't they have to stay. After that Nan and Seemy with the two men went for a walk and the two men gave them drinks that had drugs in them which made the girls blackout a lot. The two men wanted to take them to a hotel room but the girls had other plans.They went in a store, bought halloween costumes, cut their hair, put on makeup and were ready to run but the men caught up with them. So then they went to eat and once the men sat down Nan and Seemy made a run for it.
They went to the old barn but Seemy couldnt run anymore she was blacking out more than Nan and her situation was critical. So Nan left to get help but woke up in the subway not remembering. After Nan had put the pieces of the puzzle together she went to the old barn but there was a car following her and she knew she had just led the two men to Seemy. Nan fought one of them and managed to throw him out the window when Toad came to the barn and with him the police. After that night Nan and Seemy were in the hospital for a few days but were fine. Seemy went to boarding school and Nan and Toad became better friends.
The book "Burnout" starts with the main character ,Nan, waking up in a subway car not remembering what happened to her the night after halloween in a dress that doesnt belong to her and halloween make up on her face. Then she keeps blacking out and remembering things from the summer. She remembers when she and her best friend,Seemy, where out in a place they found and how the both of them did drugs. Nan had had a Nanapocolypse, like Seemy called it, before and she went to rehab. Nan wasn't supposed to have relapse, she wasnt supposed to wake up in places like this anymore. She was clean since the doctor in rehab told her to stay away from her friends. She moved to a new school were she was a loner and stuck to herself.
Nan woke up to find the train station master looking over her. He asked her what happened and she told him she didnt know, he then gave her his jacket so she wouldnt be cold. He told her he called the police and they would take care of her. She couldnt stand but she ran because her mother was out of town and her brother was at their father's house. She ran out into the street and went into a shop to get shoes and socks. Then she went to school. At first they wouldnt let her in but then she went in. After that the book goes down memory lane and it jumps back to when Nan and Seemy first met. They met 2 summers ago and right then they became best friends.
Friday, 26th September, 2014
So far in the book "Burnout" Nan is remembering the summer she met her best friend, Seemy, well her old best friend. Since the Nanapocalypse Nan was moved to another school to be separated from Seemy. In the summer the two first met Nan woke up to find her little brother's butt in fer face. Tick, her brother, almost always comes to sleep with Nan in her bed because he finds it "warm". After the two siblings woke up they heard their mom's footsteps down the hall. She comes all happy and tells them they are going to the market today.Nan, Tick and their mother live in a "Hippie apartment" ,Nan calls it. All the other apartments are new and clean but theirs is dirty.
Once Nan is up she picks out an outfit that shocks her mother. Usually Nan doesn't wear these gothic clothes but today she decided to. Once they arrived in the market Nan and her little brother Tick went down to the skating place since Tick was out of control and he was too young to be on his own. Nan sat on the steps while Tick was on the skateboard making silly faces when the girl next to Nan started laughing and asked Nan if it was her brother. The girl introduced herself as Samantha but people call her Seemy. That day was the beggining of a long friendship since Seemy just moved to near Nan lived and they were going to school together. So they became friends instantly and exchanged phone numbers.
Friday, 10th October, 2014
So far Nan isnt remembering what happened to her last night. She lost all memory and is trying to remember. Nan and Seemy had hung out a lot that summer with Toad in an old abandoned barn. So Nan went to go see Toad and she remembered. Seemy had called Nan on the night of halloween to come to the park. At the park were two men who weren't friendly at all and when Nan tried to leave Seemy told her she can't they have to stay. After that Nan and Seemy with the two men went for a walk and the two men gave them drinks that had drugs in them which made the girls blackout a lot. The two men wanted to take them to a hotel room but the girls had other plans.They went in a store, bought halloween costumes, cut their hair, put on makeup and were ready to run but the men caught up with them. So then they went to eat and once the men sat down Nan and Seemy made a run for it.
They went to the old barn but Seemy couldnt run anymore she was blacking out more than Nan and her situation was critical. So Nan left to get help but woke up in the subway not remembering. After Nan had put the pieces of the puzzle together she went to the old barn but there was a car following her and she knew she had just led the two men to Seemy. Nan fought one of them and managed to throw him out the window when Toad came to the barn and with him the police. After that night Nan and Seemy were in the hospital for a few days but were fine. Seemy went to boarding school and Nan and Toad became better friends.
January 16, 2013
The Independent reading Book I read this quarter was called Burnout by Adrienne Maria Vrettos. I can relate this book to our book we read this year for my CE9 class called, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. These two book are similar because both the main characters are in a stage in their life that they feel lonely and don’t know how to handle themselves. Nan, the main character in Burnout has recently been having some drug and alcohol problems with her friend, Seemy. When Nan was a freshman in high school she went to a few parties where there was alcohol present. She was addicted. One night when she was out with her friends Seemy and Toad ,the cops came and she got caught. They called Nan’s parents and they took her to a counseling facility where she was monitored constantly. She was able to rid the horrible habit she had been undergoing. One of things that I like about Nan is that she is willing to let others help her overcome these circumstances.
The major conflict Nan faces in this novel is one day she wakes up from a dream, she looks around and realizes that she is definitely not in her room. She takes a closer look around her and realizes she is in some sort of subway car, but there is no one else around her. She looks at her also realizes that she isn’t wearing her own clothes either... she is wearing a little pink dress that definitely doesn’t fit her! Suddenly she is trying to figure out how she got there because she doesn’t remember anything that happened to her the day before. Throughout the book Nan is trying to fit all of the pieces together from what she remember from the night before, this is a hard journey for her and takes her awhile to figure things out.
I have to admit that this book was a little confusing and hard to follow because every other paragraph they would switch from the present day to her remembering what happened in the past. I could never remember what was happening to her currently.
The genre that I would consider this book would be part adventure and realistic fiction. I’ve read many books with these genres before but this was not one of my favorites. This book was not something that I could really relate to all that much because I have never been involved with any drugs or alcohol. It was hard sometimes to try and feel the same way Nan was feeling because I do not know what she was going through. I think in the future I will try to read more from this genre because I find it very interesting at times and some of my favorite books come from this genre. From now on I will try not to read books like Burnout because it was so difficult for me to relate to. One thing I do like about this genre is that there is always something happening in book, unlike some genres where the book get boring after you read it and it is very predictable what is going to happen but adventure has nothing of that sort. All in all I will read more kinds of book like this but make sure before I read it that I will be able to relate to the book.
What I have concluded from this book is when you have family problems and feel lonely in life, turning to drugs, alcohol, and violence is not the answer and in the end will hurt you more to become involved with those things than just overcome them and face your problems. One last thing I learned is that trusting your friends, or at least the ones that help you become a better person, will really help you in life and they could save you from problems up the road.
I give this book a 2 out of 5 star rating because it was confusing when they switched from her remembering the past to going to the present. One last thing I didn’t like about the book was that is was not relatable and was a little confusing when it came to the main character’s feelings.
The major conflict Nan faces in this novel is one day she wakes up from a dream, she looks around and realizes that she is definitely not in her room. She takes a closer look around her and realizes she is in some sort of subway car, but there is no one else around her. She looks at her also realizes that she isn’t wearing her own clothes either... she is wearing a little pink dress that definitely doesn’t fit her! Suddenly she is trying to figure out how she got there because she doesn’t remember anything that happened to her the day before. Throughout the book Nan is trying to fit all of the pieces together from what she remember from the night before, this is a hard journey for her and takes her awhile to figure things out.
I have to admit that this book was a little confusing and hard to follow because every other paragraph they would switch from the present day to her remembering what happened in the past. I could never remember what was happening to her currently.
The genre that I would consider this book would be part adventure and realistic fiction. I’ve read many books with these genres before but this was not one of my favorites. This book was not something that I could really relate to all that much because I have never been involved with any drugs or alcohol. It was hard sometimes to try and feel the same way Nan was feeling because I do not know what she was going through. I think in the future I will try to read more from this genre because I find it very interesting at times and some of my favorite books come from this genre. From now on I will try not to read books like Burnout because it was so difficult for me to relate to. One thing I do like about this genre is that there is always something happening in book, unlike some genres where the book get boring after you read it and it is very predictable what is going to happen but adventure has nothing of that sort. All in all I will read more kinds of book like this but make sure before I read it that I will be able to relate to the book.
What I have concluded from this book is when you have family problems and feel lonely in life, turning to drugs, alcohol, and violence is not the answer and in the end will hurt you more to become involved with those things than just overcome them and face your problems. One last thing I learned is that trusting your friends, or at least the ones that help you become a better person, will really help you in life and they could save you from problems up the road.
I give this book a 2 out of 5 star rating because it was confusing when they switched from her remembering the past to going to the present. One last thing I didn’t like about the book was that is was not relatable and was a little confusing when it came to the main character’s feelings.
May 2, 2012
For more reviews and some interesting features, check out my blog:
http://titletracksreviews.blogspot.com/
Advisory:
This book would probably be PG-13 by film industry standards. Possibly PG. Despite the subject matter (teenage substance abuse), there's almost nothing in this book to be concerned about. Basically a few curse words, the aforementioned underage drinking, and some allusions to sex (no actual sex scenes in the book).
Review:
I won my copy of this book through a website started by another YA author, Jessica Brody. The website is Free Book Friday and every Friday they give away one book in each of four categories: Fiction, Romance, Teen, and Indie. The first week I entered, I won the book for the teen category. Let's just say that Friday was definitely my lucky day as I was able to snag a copy of Burnout! I urge everyone to go there and sign up (even though it lowers the odds that I'll win another awesome book like Burnout.)
Before I entered the drawing on Free Book Friday, I had never heard of Burnout. I owe Jessica Brody a big thank you for enlightening me as this is one of the best books I've read in a while. It's short, but it could have been twice as long and it still wouldn't have taken me long to read it. I'm not a particularly fast reader, but Burnout is one of those can't-put-it-down kind of books. Vrettos keeps you on the edge of your seat, just itching to find out what happened to Nan the day before, why she can't remember anything about it, and why she's having blackouts.
Besides the suspense, I really liked how Vrettos developed her characters. Not only is the book short, but the primary story unfolds over the course of a single day. Not much room for character development. But the chapters alternate between the current day and memories of Nan's past. Vrettos uses those memories to paint a rich picture of a girl who faced some difficulties in life and had made some poor choices, but had taken steps to correct her life's course. But every new piece of evidence Nan uncovers about the previous day is another knife slash through her portrait of redemption. Add in growing concern for her friend's safety and you've got a recipe for a great book.
The biggest downside to Burnout is that it's so short. Don't get me wrong, Vrettos accomplishes everything she needed to in those 200 pages. But I could have easily devoured another 200! I'm giving Burnout five turntables and immediately adding all of Adrienne Maria Vrettos' other books to my reading list!
http://titletracksreviews.blogspot.com/
Advisory:
This book would probably be PG-13 by film industry standards. Possibly PG. Despite the subject matter (teenage substance abuse), there's almost nothing in this book to be concerned about. Basically a few curse words, the aforementioned underage drinking, and some allusions to sex (no actual sex scenes in the book).
Review:
I won my copy of this book through a website started by another YA author, Jessica Brody. The website is Free Book Friday and every Friday they give away one book in each of four categories: Fiction, Romance, Teen, and Indie. The first week I entered, I won the book for the teen category. Let's just say that Friday was definitely my lucky day as I was able to snag a copy of Burnout! I urge everyone to go there and sign up (even though it lowers the odds that I'll win another awesome book like Burnout.)
Before I entered the drawing on Free Book Friday, I had never heard of Burnout. I owe Jessica Brody a big thank you for enlightening me as this is one of the best books I've read in a while. It's short, but it could have been twice as long and it still wouldn't have taken me long to read it. I'm not a particularly fast reader, but Burnout is one of those can't-put-it-down kind of books. Vrettos keeps you on the edge of your seat, just itching to find out what happened to Nan the day before, why she can't remember anything about it, and why she's having blackouts.
Besides the suspense, I really liked how Vrettos developed her characters. Not only is the book short, but the primary story unfolds over the course of a single day. Not much room for character development. But the chapters alternate between the current day and memories of Nan's past. Vrettos uses those memories to paint a rich picture of a girl who faced some difficulties in life and had made some poor choices, but had taken steps to correct her life's course. But every new piece of evidence Nan uncovers about the previous day is another knife slash through her portrait of redemption. Add in growing concern for her friend's safety and you've got a recipe for a great book.
The biggest downside to Burnout is that it's so short. Don't get me wrong, Vrettos accomplishes everything she needed to in those 200 pages. But I could have easily devoured another 200! I'm giving Burnout five turntables and immediately adding all of Adrienne Maria Vrettos' other books to my reading list!
May 10, 2013
This is a ghost story. I am the ghost.
Nan is not supposed to wake up in strange places anymore, without any memory of how she could have gotten herself into this mess again. She's not supposed to be drunk and drugged and confused like this -- not since Nanapocalypse, the event that left her in therapy, struggling to get clean from what her therapist calls a problem with making bad choices. She's supposed to be sober now... so, what happened?
Everything started back when Nan met Seemy, a tough pixie girl in dainty little dresses that could party like there was no tomorrow. Nan admired Seemy in a way she couldn't describe -- in a way that left her strangely desperate for attention and affection like never before in her life. And with Seemy, Nan felt tougher and more inspired to change herself.
First came the multicolored hair, then the combat boots and the wardrobe consisting of only black --- and then came the parties, the alcohol, the drugs... all leading to Nanpocalypse. And then, Nan learned her lesson.
So, why has Nan awoken in a subway, wearing a tiny, ripped costume dress with white face paint, cuts up her arms, a partially shaven hairdo, and absolutely no memory of what events could have led to this point? As Nan blacks in and out of consciousness, running around town, desperate to regain some bit of her memory, she alternates between the current time and memories of the past that may shed some insight into today -- the day she met Seemy, the day she met Toad, the day she went to rehab, and so on...
In alternating chapters, Nan slowly comes to terms with how she woke up this way... only to realize she may be in much more danger than she previously remembered...
BURNOUT was an intense, fast paced, crazy read that could easily be digested in a single sitting. The author did a fantastic job blending the past with the future, crafting a series of intricate events that defined Nan's current identity and led her up to the frightening present where she has awakened with no memory.
I enjoyed having a limited perspective of the story, only seeing reality as it slowly unfolded from Nan's hazy viewpoint. Once you start reading, there is NO way you can stop until you reach the very last page....
I loved this book and I definitely can't WAIT to read more from this author in the future!
Nan is not supposed to wake up in strange places anymore, without any memory of how she could have gotten herself into this mess again. She's not supposed to be drunk and drugged and confused like this -- not since Nanapocalypse, the event that left her in therapy, struggling to get clean from what her therapist calls a problem with making bad choices. She's supposed to be sober now... so, what happened?
Everything started back when Nan met Seemy, a tough pixie girl in dainty little dresses that could party like there was no tomorrow. Nan admired Seemy in a way she couldn't describe -- in a way that left her strangely desperate for attention and affection like never before in her life. And with Seemy, Nan felt tougher and more inspired to change herself.
First came the multicolored hair, then the combat boots and the wardrobe consisting of only black --- and then came the parties, the alcohol, the drugs... all leading to Nanpocalypse. And then, Nan learned her lesson.
So, why has Nan awoken in a subway, wearing a tiny, ripped costume dress with white face paint, cuts up her arms, a partially shaven hairdo, and absolutely no memory of what events could have led to this point? As Nan blacks in and out of consciousness, running around town, desperate to regain some bit of her memory, she alternates between the current time and memories of the past that may shed some insight into today -- the day she met Seemy, the day she met Toad, the day she went to rehab, and so on...
In alternating chapters, Nan slowly comes to terms with how she woke up this way... only to realize she may be in much more danger than she previously remembered...
BURNOUT was an intense, fast paced, crazy read that could easily be digested in a single sitting. The author did a fantastic job blending the past with the future, crafting a series of intricate events that defined Nan's current identity and led her up to the frightening present where she has awakened with no memory.
I enjoyed having a limited perspective of the story, only seeing reality as it slowly unfolded from Nan's hazy viewpoint. Once you start reading, there is NO way you can stop until you reach the very last page....
I loved this book and I definitely can't WAIT to read more from this author in the future!
September 17, 2011
3.5 stars
I received this ARC through Around The World ARC Tours. Here is my honest review:
I wasn't sure at the beginning of this novel if I would really get into it at all. It took me a couple days, but I read the last 75% in one sitting. It's a quick, short read, so it doesn't take too long. And you would think with its lack of pages that it wouldn't get too involved, but man! There's the whole mystery of what the heck happened to her the night before. And it goes into her past: her friendships with Seemy and Toad, her quick fall into drinking, and her rehab stint.
It gets a little complicated because you're not sure if she started drinking again or if drugs came into the picture until she starts running into people who saw her the night before. Every clue she gets is totally accidental, so it's a little unbelievable and a bit over the top, but it makes it interesting I suppose. I did get sucked in and I really wanted her to remember, figure out what happened to her, because I didn't want her to go back to rehab or get in trouble (be it with her mom or just with life in general).
Also, Nan is supposed to be this tall, big-boned girl. I pictured her probably in exaggeration, but I could totally feel for her. It's hard to be a teenager and not fit in. She never seemed to have any friends, and then she found the wrong ones. It's amazing how fast things can change, and how quickly things can go wrong.
*spoilery stuff here*
I didn't like those guys, Turner and Hooch. They weren't a big part of the novel for them to turn out to be the awful assholes they were. And I had no idea what Liquid Gold was, so I didn't know what they were doing to the girls. I basically just wished Nan was stronger and that Seemy would have been a better person to leave her out of her trouble and let her get on with her healthy life. Ugh.
I received this ARC through Around The World ARC Tours. Here is my honest review:
I wasn't sure at the beginning of this novel if I would really get into it at all. It took me a couple days, but I read the last 75% in one sitting. It's a quick, short read, so it doesn't take too long. And you would think with its lack of pages that it wouldn't get too involved, but man! There's the whole mystery of what the heck happened to her the night before. And it goes into her past: her friendships with Seemy and Toad, her quick fall into drinking, and her rehab stint.
It gets a little complicated because you're not sure if she started drinking again or if drugs came into the picture until she starts running into people who saw her the night before. Every clue she gets is totally accidental, so it's a little unbelievable and a bit over the top, but it makes it interesting I suppose. I did get sucked in and I really wanted her to remember, figure out what happened to her, because I didn't want her to go back to rehab or get in trouble (be it with her mom or just with life in general).
Also, Nan is supposed to be this tall, big-boned girl. I pictured her probably in exaggeration, but I could totally feel for her. It's hard to be a teenager and not fit in. She never seemed to have any friends, and then she found the wrong ones. It's amazing how fast things can change, and how quickly things can go wrong.
*spoilery stuff here*
I didn't like those guys, Turner and Hooch. They weren't a big part of the novel for them to turn out to be the awful assholes they were. And I had no idea what Liquid Gold was, so I didn't know what they were doing to the girls. I basically just wished Nan was stronger and that Seemy would have been a better person to leave her out of her trouble and let her get on with her healthy life. Ugh.
November 2, 2012
I read Burnout during a readathon a few weeks ago and I cannot stop thinking about this book. It is terrifying. Seriously. In many ways. Nan has just woken up from a night of partying (which she doesn't do anymore or does she?) and she can't remember what happened. She's in a too small dress, her face is painted like a skeleton, which on the surface would seem humorous like a bad prank being played after passing out. But I know that's not the case. As I read I was afraid to find out what happened that led her to this situation because I just knew it wasn't going to be good. And it wasn't, it was horrible.
There is a lot packed into this compact book - it is a story about toxic friendships, obsession, peer pressure, pushing limits, and a need for acceptance. I liked how the storytelling alternated with chapters titled "Today" and "Remembering" showing how Nan's friendship with Seemy/Samantha developed. Nan's was just beginning to come into her own at the same time she met Seemy. Seemy influenced how Nan saw herself so much that Nan began to believe she was becoming who she was only because of Seemy. Without Seemy, she was less than good enough (or so she thought).
I don't think Burnout tries to teach a lesson. It's not a D.A.R.E. message - stay in school, don't do drugs. This is book that I would loved to have read as a teen but I'm not sure how I would've comprehended it during that time of my life. I was a pretty cautious teenager, but I did have my moments and found myself in some sketchy situations. I don't know if it would have scared me then as much as it does now.
This is a book that will stick with you long after reading it. It is fast-paced, eye-opening, and thought provoking. I must read for teens.
There is a lot packed into this compact book - it is a story about toxic friendships, obsession, peer pressure, pushing limits, and a need for acceptance. I liked how the storytelling alternated with chapters titled "Today" and "Remembering" showing how Nan's friendship with Seemy/Samantha developed. Nan's was just beginning to come into her own at the same time she met Seemy. Seemy influenced how Nan saw herself so much that Nan began to believe she was becoming who she was only because of Seemy. Without Seemy, she was less than good enough (or so she thought).
I don't think Burnout tries to teach a lesson. It's not a D.A.R.E. message - stay in school, don't do drugs. This is book that I would loved to have read as a teen but I'm not sure how I would've comprehended it during that time of my life. I was a pretty cautious teenager, but I did have my moments and found myself in some sketchy situations. I don't know if it would have scared me then as much as it does now.
This is a book that will stick with you long after reading it. It is fast-paced, eye-opening, and thought provoking. I must read for teens.
January 9, 2015
Title: Burnout
Author: Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Rating: 2.5 stars
Nan wakes up the day after Halloween on a subway bus seat, having no memory of the past 24 hours. Scared, confused, sick, and wearing a bad costume and face paint, she struggles to remember what went wrong. Her days of blackouts and memory loss were supposed to be over after going to rehab. So what happened?
This YA novel was a very fast read. It felt like I had only sat down reading for 30 minutes and was already halfway through the book. It's only about 200 pages, but the writing is fast, and even though some of the book seems slow-paced, it won't take you very long to read. Although a quick read, the writing isn't necessarily rushed, like some have criticized. I actually thought the writing was decent. Even through the slow, somewhat boring parts, it was well-written. The chapters alternate between present-day and flashbacks. The first three-fourths of the book is kind of slow, whereas the last fourth is fast because finally Nan is solving the mystery of what happened.
Honestly, Nan kind of irritated me. She made a lot of dumb decisions when she could have easily fixed things a lot faster had she gotten help immediately. But, of course, if she would have done that, there wouldn't have been a novel.
If you're looking for a fast YA read, this one isn't too bad. The Ohio Digital Library didn't have it, so unfortunately i had to spend 9 bucks on it, which it isn't really worth, so I recommend trying to find it at your local library. But hey, if you're really into quick reads about teenage alcoholism and blackout adventures, go ahead and buy it, because you'll probably really enjoy it.
Author: Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Rating: 2.5 stars
Nan wakes up the day after Halloween on a subway bus seat, having no memory of the past 24 hours. Scared, confused, sick, and wearing a bad costume and face paint, she struggles to remember what went wrong. Her days of blackouts and memory loss were supposed to be over after going to rehab. So what happened?
This YA novel was a very fast read. It felt like I had only sat down reading for 30 minutes and was already halfway through the book. It's only about 200 pages, but the writing is fast, and even though some of the book seems slow-paced, it won't take you very long to read. Although a quick read, the writing isn't necessarily rushed, like some have criticized. I actually thought the writing was decent. Even through the slow, somewhat boring parts, it was well-written. The chapters alternate between present-day and flashbacks. The first three-fourths of the book is kind of slow, whereas the last fourth is fast because finally Nan is solving the mystery of what happened.
Honestly, Nan kind of irritated me. She made a lot of dumb decisions when she could have easily fixed things a lot faster had she gotten help immediately. But, of course, if she would have done that, there wouldn't have been a novel.
If you're looking for a fast YA read, this one isn't too bad. The Ohio Digital Library didn't have it, so unfortunately i had to spend 9 bucks on it, which it isn't really worth, so I recommend trying to find it at your local library. But hey, if you're really into quick reads about teenage alcoholism and blackout adventures, go ahead and buy it, because you'll probably really enjoy it.
August 5, 2011
After attending rehab, Nan reunites with her best friend Seemy and they spend Halloween night getting into trouble. Even though Seemy is clearly bad news, Nan desperately wants some fun in her life and needs a best friend. Nan wakes up on a train in New York City and can't remember where she's been or what she's done. Vrettos traces the story of what Nan remembers and how she tries to piece together the events from the night.
This was a quick read that I couldn't put down until I finished. Nan and her problems are very real and I found her a sympathetic character. Vrettos describes Nan's spotty recollections and efforts to regain her memory really well -- Nan's story unfolded while driving the plot forward in an interesting way.
I usually think epilogues are kind of a lame way to wrap up a story but for Burnout, I really wanted one. Vrettos gives enough hints at what went on with Seemy and Nan but I would have liked a clearer picture of the aftermath.
I'm not sure that I would purchase this for a school collection but it definitely has a place in a public library. Vrettos vividly and effectively describes Nan's experiences with drugs and alcohol. While Nan and Seemy have problems abusing alcohol and drugs, only alcohol use is described in the story.
ARC Provided by... the publisher at ALA 2011 Annual Conference.
This was a quick read that I couldn't put down until I finished. Nan and her problems are very real and I found her a sympathetic character. Vrettos describes Nan's spotty recollections and efforts to regain her memory really well -- Nan's story unfolded while driving the plot forward in an interesting way.
I usually think epilogues are kind of a lame way to wrap up a story but for Burnout, I really wanted one. Vrettos gives enough hints at what went on with Seemy and Nan but I would have liked a clearer picture of the aftermath.
I'm not sure that I would purchase this for a school collection but it definitely has a place in a public library. Vrettos vividly and effectively describes Nan's experiences with drugs and alcohol. While Nan and Seemy have problems abusing alcohol and drugs, only alcohol use is described in the story.
ARC Provided by... the publisher at ALA 2011 Annual Conference.
September 12, 2011
I don't read much contemporary YA fiction. I'm not sure why. I guess part of me feels a story is always better with a science fiction element, or a zombie thrown in.
I wanted to read Burnout because it takes place on Halloween, or the day after- depending on whether or not you count flashbacks.
There are no supernatural elements in this story. Still, it is one of the spookiest, page turn-y novels I have read in years.
Nan wakes up on a subway car. She is covered in makeup, shoeless, and is wearing a costume that is way too tight. On top of that, Nan cannot remember the last 24 hours.
The story alternates between NOW, and what Nan is doing to figure out what has happened to her, and THEN. The flashbacks are really well done and the reader gets to know Nan, her mother, and her crazed best friend Seemy through these glimpses of the past. I was only a little disappointed in the end, which wrapped up nicely, but a little too conveniently for me. That is why I went with a four star and not five star rating.
I couldn't put it down, and at 208 pages it is a short read. The pages will not turn fast enough, and this is a perfect autumn release.
I highly recommend it for readers who loved Imaginary Girls (like me!), who read Lois Duncan, or who want a fast paced mystery. Good stuff.
I wanted to read Burnout because it takes place on Halloween, or the day after- depending on whether or not you count flashbacks.
There are no supernatural elements in this story. Still, it is one of the spookiest, page turn-y novels I have read in years.
Nan wakes up on a subway car. She is covered in makeup, shoeless, and is wearing a costume that is way too tight. On top of that, Nan cannot remember the last 24 hours.
The story alternates between NOW, and what Nan is doing to figure out what has happened to her, and THEN. The flashbacks are really well done and the reader gets to know Nan, her mother, and her crazed best friend Seemy through these glimpses of the past. I was only a little disappointed in the end, which wrapped up nicely, but a little too conveniently for me. That is why I went with a four star and not five star rating.
I couldn't put it down, and at 208 pages it is a short read. The pages will not turn fast enough, and this is a perfect autumn release.
I highly recommend it for readers who loved Imaginary Girls (like me!), who read Lois Duncan, or who want a fast paced mystery. Good stuff.
October 7, 2011
After being clean for months, Nan wakes up the day after halloween on the subway and can't remember anything. Nan knows the police will simply take her for another teen drug addict, so she decides to figure out what happened. Retracing her steps while experiening contast blackouts, she tries to put the pieces together.
This intense dark tale has a wonderful pace and is very good. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. It was such a pleasure to read a YA novel that goes for the less is more approach. Under 200 pages, the author makes every word count. Much of the stories beauty lies in the belivablity and likeibitiy of Nan.
"I'm wearing a dress. It's pink, strapless and it's cut too low in the boobs and too high in the thighs. There is a tear on the right side where it couldn't hold me in. I think it's made out of plastic. I'm not supposed to describe my body as burly because mom says that's hate speech, but that's what I am. I am a burly girl testing the seams of a too small plastic dress. I would never wear something like this on purpose. I can feel the train seat on the bare backs of my upper thighs and my skin crawls."
This intense dark tale has a wonderful pace and is very good. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. It was such a pleasure to read a YA novel that goes for the less is more approach. Under 200 pages, the author makes every word count. Much of the stories beauty lies in the belivablity and likeibitiy of Nan.
"I'm wearing a dress. It's pink, strapless and it's cut too low in the boobs and too high in the thighs. There is a tear on the right side where it couldn't hold me in. I think it's made out of plastic. I'm not supposed to describe my body as burly because mom says that's hate speech, but that's what I am. I am a burly girl testing the seams of a too small plastic dress. I would never wear something like this on purpose. I can feel the train seat on the bare backs of my upper thighs and my skin crawls."
November 2, 2013
Burnout by Adrienne Maria Vrettos was a good book. I could really connect to this book because I have a best friend too and as a highschooler we have done many of the things that Nan the main character does for Semmy. Nanja is a big awkward girl who never fit in , but she feels like she fits in with a girl that she meets at the park (Samantha. Semmy is the opposite on nan , she's small and sweet and all the boys like her, Nan doesn't feel disturbed about this. However, all they do together is drink alchahol, but after the nanapocalypse ( nans overdose),Nan decides to cut of contact with Semmy. BUT, one morning Nan wakes up in the train covered in cuts and in a drugged like symptoms. She knows that something went terribly wrong the nigh before and that she Needs to find Semmy because she might be in trouble... The book is just to good , This truly brings back memories of summer and im grateful for that. well anyways the books format is great , Nan is in the present but keeps on flashing back to her last months with Semmy, this all ties in into where Semmy is actually located at. Burnout is full of suspense that will surely have you on your feet.
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