Review of “Burn,” by Suzanne Phillips

“Burn,” by Suzanne Phillips is a powerful realistic fiction novel about a boy who is being bullied at school.

Cameron Grady is a high school freshman.  Once he used to get good grades, and he had friends at school.  Now he finds it hard just to work up the nerve to go to school at all.  Teachers pester him about missed assignments and failing grades, but none of these things matter to Cameron.  He is far more worried about avoiding being bullied.

It all started when Cameron began ninth grade.  One small but deadly mistake destroyed his school reputation forever. Over the summer Cameron had grown his hair longer.  When he went to the school sports orientation the coach saw him from behind and tried to direct him to the girls’ gym.  Everyone laughed, and the coach, realizing his mistake apologized, but it was too late.

The next day Rich Patterson and his football team friends sought out Cameron for the first time.  These tough jocks seem to get pleasure from tormenting and teasing Cameron.  Before long they have labeled Cameron as gay and they begin spreading rumors about him, hitting and punching him, and humiliating him before others.

Cameron’s best friend Steve stops hanging out with him for fear of ruining his own reputation and being called a fag as well.  From there it is a gradual downward spiral.  Cameron is unable to do anything about the bullying.  Instead he tries to hide it away and prevent his mother from finding out.  In Cameron’s mind his mother already has enough to deal with, and there is nothing she can do to help anyway.

Cameron tries his best to stay invisible and avoid Rich Patterson and the other football jocks, but it doesn’t work.  The pressure on Cameron increases, and Cameron begins to feel frustrated and angry.  Cameron is determined to take matters into his own hands. He begins collecting weapons: an ice pick, a razor blade.  He is thinking of defending himself, perhaps even killing Rich.

And then one day Rich goes too far and Cameron looses control.

“Burn” is a rather disturbing novel from the point of view of showing the effects of bulling.  Suzanne Phillips doesn’t sugarcoat the issue or try to make it sound like Cameron should have just stood up for himself.  Rather “Burn” shows bullying as it really is.  The cold, hard truth is that victims of bullying can usually do little to help themselves, and other adults and people in positions of responsibility often do nothing as well.

Suzanne Phillips shows Cameron’s inner anguish in vivid detail, from his own self abuse to his obsession with fire and burning things.  In the end, when Cameron has finally lashed back Suzanne also shows the consequences of his actions.

“Burn” by Suzanne Philips is a book about consequences.  Hopefully it will help teach high school age readers about bullying.  Perhaps it will motivate some to think more about the subject and help combat it in whatever way they can.

All aspects considered I feel that “Burn” is a thought provoking realistic fiction novel that does a tremendous job of showing consequences.

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