Framed in Fire

by David Patneaude

Peter's been sent to Resthaven Hospital because his stepfather thinks Peter is emotionally disturbed and wants to harm his younger half-brother, Lincoln. But Peter loves Lincoln, and Peter is the only one who knows about Lincoln's unusual dreams.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

David Patneaude began writing seriously (more or less) in the 1980s. His first novel, SOMEONE WAS WATCHING, was published in 1993. His books have been named to dozens of state young readers' lists and honored by the New York Public Library, the Society of School Librarians International, the Winnetka (Illinois) Public Library's "One Book, Two Villages" program, and the Washington State Public Library. His latest was EPITAPH ROAD, a recent nominee for the Nebraska Golden Sower Book Award. But on June 1, 2018, his newest YA novel, FAST BACKWARD, launches. Check it out! When he's not in a coffee shop writing, or at a school or library or conference discussing writing, or out on the trail thinking about writing, he's home in Woodinville, Washington, with his wife Judy, a middle school librarian.

Reviews

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in 5th grade(I think). Several people read it and did book reports on it. So, I read it. It was a great book.

[Elijah L · Rating 5 out of 5]

My book is called ¨ Framed in Fire¨, the author is David Patneaude. The lexile is 530L. Alittle about this book is how the main character Peter Nordquist believed that his dad was dead because his mom lied to him and said he died in a fishing wreck, but it was all a lie because she didn't want Peter to see his dad and the mom didn't let peter know he was alive until Peter found and and traveled 11 years, and 1,000 miles to find his dad.

A major theme in this book is ¨Never lie to someone because in the end it wont turn out good for you.¨This theme develops over the course of the book because, everytime Peter asks how his dad died and asks all the questions about his dad she always lies and doesn't say the truth and how his dad is still alive.

I recommend this book because it's very interesting and how the books author developed the setting and how it all starts out. Another good think about the book is the characters. Some Dislikes and likes about the book, The likes about the book is how the book ended and how he finds his dad and meets his dad new family. Some dislikes about the book is how i think they should've made it longer because i feel like their could've been more. I think it was pretty understandable and wasn't too hard to read.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird book, pretty good. I have no idea at all what the title and cover have to do with any aspect of the story. Huh?!

I don't know how realistic it is for the protagonist's wealthy step-father to so easily find a doctor willing to "diagnose" Peter as mentally disturbed and dangerous and then have him committed to a lock-down institution for youth. But it made a good hook of injustice toward the main character.

I'm not sure how realistic Peter's roommate or the girl are, but they're good foils. I'm not sure how realistic the sympathetic employee is, but he is crucial to the plot.

It's a fairly fast read with sympathetic characters that distract from how truly sad the boy's relationship with his mother truly ends up. I actually think a lot of jr. high readers will like this as long as the cover doesn't make them expect a fantasy novel or an action story about firefighters in training.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young fifth grade boy told me to read this book. He loved it so gave it to me to read. As an adult I liked the book, but had alot of questions. But looking at it like a 9 or 10 year old would reminded me how good it was. Peter is a young boy trying to find his place in his new family. His mom has remarried and recently had another son. And while Peter loves the little boy, things are tense between him and his new stepdad. His stepdad convinces the mom to send him to a hospital for troubled kids. He ends up making friends, finding himself, and figuring out what happened to his birth father.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. When I opened the pages, I assumed it wouldn’t be that good simply because the font is big and I thought the level might be low. This was a good book and the plot made sense all around. It actually was not difficult to follow along with at all!

[Kristian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, I loved how much I could relate to the main character & the ending was very wholesome, it was a very good ending.

[Angela Rynders · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is basically all fiction every character in this book is fiction. There is enough tension and suspense to keep the pages turning, kept me up at night reading, fast-paced action, psychological drama and family conflict, all spiced with a pinch of the paranormal." It is an Albert Whitman Prairie Paperback book.
The Summary: When his stepfather conspires to keep thirteen-year-old Peter at a mental institution, Peter begins to piece together secrets about his past with the help of his younger brother's strangely prophetic dreams.

Peter's trapped, an inmate in a place for mixed-up kids. There's Eugene, who thinks he's a famous poet, and Sarah, who'd starve herself if she got the chance. But Peter doesn't know if he should be there. Peter doesn't know where he belongs at all.
Only his little brother's strange dreams-"real dreams," he calls them-give him some kind of hope. But then again, what's real? One day everything changes, and Peter finds himself racing through darkness and fire, fear and friendship, to a place he knows only in his own dreams....

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just read this one today. Peter is not having any fun with his new stepfather. He likes his new half-brother, but the situation at home is pretty tense. Then his stepdad decides that Peter has ADHD and needs medical treatment. But Peter knows there's nothing wrong with him. So what is everyone else trying to hide?

This wasn't really anything super special, but it was a fast read and I liked some of the characters, like Eugene/John.

[Madison P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book but was wierd at times. Actually the entire book was pretty wierd. It was about a boy that was just fine but his step-dad was a jerk to him and him sent to a place that was for "different" people. On his journey he met these WEIRD kids that tried to help.

[Kali · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Story is about a Boy names Peter and his step dad and mom think that he is very sick and he is now in a mental place but he thinks theres nothing wrong with him...So thats all im gonna tell you right now cause i really don't wanna tell you the whole book so :) its good so far:P

[Kristen Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up again after 10 years, and it was like I was transported back to childhood. I loved this story as a kid which is why I say 4 stars. I still enjoyed it as an adult, but having read many children/young adult books, some of the events seemed unbelievable, and a bit predictable.

[Tylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ok book but I would not recomend this book to very many people.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very engaging young adult read. Highly recommend for middle schoolers.

[Preciousdentis]

httyty6ryrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggg

[Paddy Furlong · Rating 4 out of 5]

It had a good plot but was a bad story one of my favorite books.

[Ms. Graves · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although it was a good book, some of the events seemed a little unbelievable to me.