Cameron Grady is a loner, and with good reason. His freshman year has just been one misery after another ever since he went to the school's sports orientation night and the coach thought he was a girl. Now he's known as Cameron Diaz and forced to "map out his day with survival being the only objective." But there's physical and mental survival, and after an incident in the boys' locker room, Cameron's psyche doesn't survive, and he commits an unspeakable act against the boy who witnessed his shame.
This is a hard novel to write about. Not because it isn't powerful and challenging, but because it is so utterly terrifying. It's a middle of the night, one-sitting sort of book. It's completely realistic, but you wish it weren't. I want to feel great compassion for Cameron Grady, but I'm not sure he deserves my compassion. How can a character be both the hero and the villain? This is the balance beam that Suzanne Phillips has her readers walk. Burn, along with Living Dead Girl, will probably be amongst the most talked about literature of the season.
I just finished reading this book, ironically about midnight. Late night, one sitting book indeed. It really opened my eyes to how cruel high school is. My smalltown high school has bullies and cliques, but no true violence. We are blessed in that respect.
The "bad cop" was horrid, completely vile. I felt like punching him, even as just an observer. Cameron is both the protagonist and the antagonist, so I can't decide what I think of him. Good, bad? It all blurs together into one in my brain.
I commend Suzanne Phillips with writing a fantastically horrifying, heartbreaking novel. I look forward to reading more of her work, and hope she continues writing.
Thanks, Andie
Posted by: Andie Sohma | November 18, 2008 at 11:54 PM