Burning Up by Caroline B. Cooney Date of Publication: 1999 ISBN: 0442268720 Number of Pages: 230

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Average
GENRES: Mystery, Realism, Romance
THEMES: Prejudice, Loyalty, Good versus Evil, Life versus Death, Family, Appearance versus Reality

SUMMARY:
Fifteen-year-old Macy spends much of her time at her beloved grandparents’ home in the same small Connecticut town where she and her parents live. As the story begins, she has just been given a research project into local history, and is spending the night with Nana and Papa. Here she reconnects with Austin, the grandson of her grandparents’ neighbours, who has come to live with his relatives to avoid his parents’ constant bickering. Austin is very appealing, and he and Macy get better acquainted as they participate in Saturday Group, a volunteer program that takes them to the inner city. Here they meet Venita and her fellow teens, and find they have things in common despite their different backgrounds and races. The day ends in near-tragedy, however, as an arsonist sets fire to the church in which they are painting. Macey’s hair catches fire, but Austin saves her and the group escapes, bonding even further in the trauma of the moment.

Upon returning to their town, Macey’s experiences cause her to reevaluate her priorities. She and Austin get closer, and she decides to do her project on a mysterious fire that caught her interest in the first chapter of the book. This fire, too, was deliberately set, and Macey learns that no one in the town seems to want to talk about it. She enlists Austin to help, but even her grandparents and Austin’s try to stop the research. When something happens to Venita and none of those close to her seem to understand her feelings, Macey decides enough is enough. She continues her research despite their objections, and learns the person who was living in the old renovated barn at the time was the town’s first black school teacher. Despite rumours, he wasn’t killed, and when she finally manages to track him down, she learns that prejudice can sometimes wear a familiar face. Macey must decide where her responsibility lies, and what she should do with her new knowledge.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...

• loves mysteries
• has a strong sense of social justice
• wants to change the world
• likes romance in small doses
• likes stories set in the present, with realistic characters and scenarios
• doesn’t take no for an answer when he or she is passionate about something
  

WHAT ELSE?
This story is very straightforward, but its success lies in the way the author reveals bits and pieces of the mystery while showing the changing perspective of the main characters. It is a great work for provoking discussions about racism and social mores of the past, as well as for exploring inner city issues and the violence that we take for granted. The death of one of the minor characters is upsetting to some readers, but is handled well and acts as a catalyst for Macey’s new understanding. Characterization and dialogue are very well done.

RELATED LINKS:
Teacher's Guide @ Random House
Author's Bio & Interview @ Teen Reads
Review Summary @ All Readers