THE BURN JOURNALS

This true story of a 14-year-old boy who tried to commit suicide by setting himself on fire certainly has the power to grab the attention of many young readers, despite its length. Formerly an excellent student, Brent suddenly begins to fail in school and pulls one too many pranks. Sure he’ll be caught and expelled for impulsively setting a fire in a locker and unable to admit his guilt, he decides that it’s best to die. The bulk of the narrative follows Brent through his treatment and recovery, his pain, pleasures, and frustrations, his family’s love, and his relations with his friends. Rarely stated but always lurking below the surface is the question of why Brent set himself on fire, because he doesn’t know himself. It’s a fascinating journey through a teenager’s mind, only lacking information about what happened to Brent after he returned to school. (Nonfiction. YA)