Burned by Ellen Hopkins

Pattyn is the oldest of too many siblings, and has always been the workhorse for her apathetic, lazy mother. She hated the dirty diapers, the sticky messes, the sporadic puke. But she couldn’t bring herself to complain. She didn’t wake up with bloody noses and puffy eyes and bruises on her neck like her mother. She wasn’t married to a raging alcoholic. She wasn’t abused. Yet.

She wasn’t her mother. She didn’t have to be her mother. But she did. Her church told her so. Her church seemed to know the question to everything, except for the questions she is asking.

Is it okay for a man to beat his wife?

Is it okay for the man to sin horribly if he asks for forgiveness, even if he doesn’t mean it?

“Burned,” by Ellen Hopkins receives three and a half stars due to it’s originality and expression of raw emotion. While it was more relatable (for me personally) than “Crank,” the characters were not quite as developed as I would have liked. Excellent novel.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Kristina Georgia Snow is a bright-eyed straight-A student and an obedient daughter. She is quiet. She is smart. She is shy.

Kristina Georgia Snow is perfect.

Bree is a free-spirited party-goer and boy-crazy player. She is popular. She is sexy. She is wild.

Bree is free.