readingwithhippos's review against another edition
3.0
Burn Baby Burn is a fairly typical story of a teenage girl finding love and managing a messed-up home life set against the backdrop of 1977 New York, the summer a serial killer calling himself the Son of Sam haunted the streets at night, gunning down young women and couples in parked cars.
The setting is the most compelling part of the book, the hot, sticky nights and thumping disco coming alive through Medina’s words. Despite the inclusion of the serial killer angle, Burn Baby Burn is much more slice-of-life than detective story. Don’t expect main character Nora Lopez to don a Sherlock Holmes cap and make a citizen’s arrest—she’s more concerned about her pyromaniac brother, absent father, and the hot stockboy at the grocery store where she works.
And, of course, the age-old question: what to do after high school graduation.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
The setting is the most compelling part of the book, the hot, sticky nights and thumping disco coming alive through Medina’s words. Despite the inclusion of the serial killer angle, Burn Baby Burn is much more slice-of-life than detective story. Don’t expect main character Nora Lopez to don a Sherlock Holmes cap and make a citizen’s arrest—she’s more concerned about her pyromaniac brother, absent father, and the hot stockboy at the grocery store where she works.
And, of course, the age-old question: what to do after high school graduation.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
kristen_eden's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of those reads where the tension is so high, you fly through it to find out what happens.
karimorton33's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! I liked that it dealt with real historical events in NYC, the feminist thoughts of some of the main characters, and the really tough but real family dynamics. (Read for Book Riot Live 2016)
katreadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written and incredibly atmospheric. The audiobook dropped me in the middle of the summer of 1977 in New York. Nora's story was beautiful and hopeful. I definitely want to read more about this period.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
Review copy: ARC via publisher
Review to come closer to publication date.
Review to come closer to publication date.
joyfleming's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
tinmanreading's review against another edition
3.0
Tw: domestic abuse, child against parent abuse, sibling against sibling abuse, off page serial killer, drugs, blackmail, arson, rioting, harassment
It’s groovy baby.
This story takes place in one of New York’s worst summers. 1977 with record heat, serial killer Son of Sam on the loose, and a literal lightening strike that sparked riots, arson, and looting.
It’s an easy read though sprinkled with Spanish that had me reaching for Google Translate quite often.
It deals with the rarely portrayed child against parent/sibling against sibling domestic abuse in a way that’s honest and frightening.
Altogether an easy read with a happy ending
It’s groovy baby.
This story takes place in one of New York’s worst summers. 1977 with record heat, serial killer Son of Sam on the loose, and a literal lightening strike that sparked riots, arson, and looting.
It’s an easy read though sprinkled with Spanish that had me reaching for Google Translate quite often.
It deals with the rarely portrayed child against parent/sibling against sibling domestic abuse in a way that’s honest and frightening.
Altogether an easy read with a happy ending
amymck05's review against another edition
4.0
This was an ok story. It's historical fiction set in 1997 in NY during women rights movement and son of sam. Plot could have been better but it has a great message.
girlreading's review against another edition
4.0
Going into this, I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. The thriller element wasn't as stone as I'd hoped it would be but that ended up not to matter. It was the characters, their relationships, their private lives and uncertainty of it all that had me totally hooked. I really enjoy each character and thought the different levels of relationships portrayed throughout were so interesting to follow and to be a part of. I loved the scope of different topics this book discussed. From race, to love, to family, murder, to friendships, to poverty, it had it all and more and neither subject was neglected or smoothed over. Overall this was an enjoyable reading experience of a story I hadn't expected.
helterskelliter's review against another edition
3.0
“‘If you think you’re powerless, you are.’” (230)
In 1977, Nora Lopez is seventeen years old. She lives in a shitty NYC apartment with her mom and younger brother, Hector. Her dad remarried years ago and lives with his new wife and their son uptown. He sends regular child support—usually after Nora calls to remind him.
With an absentee father and an overbearing mother, life is already difficult for Nora. She wants to be independent and free from her family’s struggles. Free from Hector.
See, her brother is not a nice guy.
Despite all their mother’s excuses for his behavior and their father’s obliviousness, there’s clearly something off about Hector.
He stopped going to school. He demands all their mother’s extra cash. He hangs out with Sergio, who makes Nora uncomfortable and who is the neighborhood’s local dealer. Hector does drugs too and sells drugs and lights things on fire with his collection of lighters. He kicks poor Tripod around, the three-legged local stray dog.
He hits their mother and shoves Nora around, threatening more violence if they say anything.
Hector is not a good person.
Somehow, he’s worse that the Son of Sam—the threat Nora is told she should be wary of in her neighborhood.
But, it’s hard to be truly afraid of a possible serial killer when your own brother has promised to hurt you in any way he can.
So, I think this is an important story about several difficult subjects, including family, community, misogyny, racism, and empowerment. This book touches upon all of these subjects and even addresses the complicated intersections of some of these issues.
If nothing else, this book introduces young readers to new ideas and concepts. For example, sometimes home is more dangerous than even the streets where a serial killer roams.
That said, I did find this book to be a shallow dive at best. It really only touches upon many of these issues. There’s not a lot of recourse in this text.
And, I say that knowing that I don’t believe the intention of this book was to be a meditation on any one of those complicated issues. This book truly feels like it’s meant to be an introductory text to bigger, systemic problems. Knowing that, it makes sense that there aren’t a lot of answers presented in this book.
Overall, I’d give it a solid 3/5. I would recommend it for any young readers who are interested in learning more about America’s complicated past and how it has—or hasn’t—grappled very with systemic issues.
In 1977, Nora Lopez is seventeen years old. She lives in a shitty NYC apartment with her mom and younger brother, Hector. Her dad remarried years ago and lives with his new wife and their son uptown. He sends regular child support—usually after Nora calls to remind him.
With an absentee father and an overbearing mother, life is already difficult for Nora. She wants to be independent and free from her family’s struggles. Free from Hector.
See, her brother is not a nice guy.
Despite all their mother’s excuses for his behavior and their father’s obliviousness, there’s clearly something off about Hector.
He stopped going to school. He demands all their mother’s extra cash. He hangs out with Sergio, who makes Nora uncomfortable and who is the neighborhood’s local dealer. Hector does drugs too and sells drugs and lights things on fire with his collection of lighters. He kicks poor Tripod around, the three-legged local stray dog.
He hits their mother and shoves Nora around, threatening more violence if they say anything.
Hector is not a good person.
Somehow, he’s worse that the Son of Sam—the threat Nora is told she should be wary of in her neighborhood.
But, it’s hard to be truly afraid of a possible serial killer when your own brother has promised to hurt you in any way he can.
So, I think this is an important story about several difficult subjects, including family, community, misogyny, racism, and empowerment. This book touches upon all of these subjects and even addresses the complicated intersections of some of these issues.
If nothing else, this book introduces young readers to new ideas and concepts. For example, sometimes home is more dangerous than even the streets where a serial killer roams.
That said, I did find this book to be a shallow dive at best. It really only touches upon many of these issues. There’s not a lot of recourse in this text.
And, I say that knowing that I don’t believe the intention of this book was to be a meditation on any one of those complicated issues. This book truly feels like it’s meant to be an introductory text to bigger, systemic problems. Knowing that, it makes sense that there aren’t a lot of answers presented in this book.
Overall, I’d give it a solid 3/5. I would recommend it for any young readers who are interested in learning more about America’s complicated past and how it has—or hasn’t—grappled very with systemic issues.