Burn

by Alma Fullerton

Whenever Casey's famous mom went on tour, she took her daughter along. But since settling down with a new husband and baby, things have changed. After years of domestic life, Casey's mom is anxious to go back to her old life--without Casey. Devastated, Casey is left to keep the house running and care for Ginny, her autistic sister, while her step dad withdraws into his own private grief. Who is there to notice when Casey needs attention? To find comfort, Casey begins building fires to send smoke signals to her mother, hoping her mother will see her message. Casey has been hiding her anger behind a wall of house chores and the impossible job of keeping her sister calm. Soon the ritual fires won't be able to relieve her growing resentment. One day she won't be able to build a fire big enough to contain it all. A powerful free verse novel by the author of Libertad, Burn explores a girl's desperate attempt to keep her family together, even as her own growing obsessions threaten to destroy them.

Genres: Canada, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Poetry, Young Adult

180 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Alma Fullerton was first known for her award-winning free-verse novels for juvenile and young-adult readers, including the Governor General's Award-nominated Libertad. Alma's picture book A Good Trade was a White Ravens Choice, a Bank Street Best Book, and a nominee for a number of awards. In a Cloud of Dust won the Rainforest of Reading Award and was a finalist for the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award. When the Rain Comes was a 2018 USBBY Outstanding International Book, among other honors, and Community Soup was a CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens Starred Selection. Alma lives in Midland, Ontario

Reviews

[Leslie Basky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story... done in prose.

[Ishta Mercurio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It is a very real portrayal of both the good and bad sides of living with an autistic individual, and I found something to identify with in each character. This is a book that will both illuminate and give hope to young readers, especially those with broken homes or special-needs siblings.

[Halli Lilburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. The characters were so well defined and the wording so perfect. Alma Fullerton displayed a world where responsibility, blame and accountability get twisted and ripped away from traditional definitions.
Blunt. To the point. Insightful.

I read this in one sitting, I couldn't put it down.

[Leanne Hooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful, evocative book in verse covering a range of subjects including autism, bullying, separation, identity formation, guilt, and shame as Casey juggles her roles as teenager and caretaker to her sister.

[Amberlea Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. J-Fic is not just for young people! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and was fully drawn in to these characters lives. A heartbreaking story of abandonment, and navigating life... A great book.

[Qt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard pyro fire starter I light the fires while the city sleeps, well off girl struggles with rock star mom abandonment lyric form for april :)

[Yolanda Ridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am both happy and sad that I finished this book in one day.