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    Burned
    Burned
    Burned
    Ebook135 pages1 hour

    Burned

    By Franklin W. Dixon

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    To catch this criminal, the Hardy Boys will have to break the law.

    In #6 Burned, Frank and Joe are on a mission to determine the structure of an illegal international C.D. burning operation that employs teenagers--and to sniff out the mastermind behind it. This case requires that the boys stay close to home--a little too close, in fact.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAladdin
    Release dateApr 24, 2012
    ISBN9781442465152
    Burned
    Author

    Franklin W. Dixon

    Franklin W. Dixon is the author of the ever-popular Hardy Boys books.

    Read more from Franklin W. Dixon

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    Reviews for Burned

    4/5

    593 ratings53 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I just read this book last week, and it was one of the most elegantly yet truthfully written novel I've ever read. The use of poetic form in a novel is not something I'm used to, but I very quickly learned to love it; and I don't doubt for one second that Mrs. Hopkins choice of form had something to do with it.From the moment, I started reading I hardly put it down. The characters are so authentic and the circumstances so realistic that I could see myself and my friends as different characters throughout the novel. And the emotional connection I felt while reading it was so intense, and touched me so much that I burst into tears as I came to the end of the novel. When that happens, it is undeniable that this is a great novel!
    • 2/5
      This coming of age novel was unimpressive. The author seemed to play on a lot of mis-perceived stereotypes about the LDS church. I would have respected the storyline more if the author hadn't made it seem like what happened to Pattyn in her household happened because of her church. What happened to her happens in too many families regardless of their faith. The church described in the story was more like the cultish polygamous sects you read about in the tabloids than the true LDS church I am familiar with from friends and neighbors. The coming of age portion of the novel wasn't even very interesting. Pattyn falls for a guy, but he has no character development at all. The only reason he seems to be in the story is for a constant booty call. Then the author's note explains the authors purpose in writing the novel was to draw attention to environmental issues in Nevada. Oops I glossed over the few lines in that one chapter that described those issues. Totally went over my head. Think I'll skip the next book in this series.
    • 4/5
      I thought this book really nailed the first love feeling...very powerful. I still don't understand the abuse...why didn't someone notice? why didn't someone report it? Great read, very sad.
    • 5/5
      Personal Response:I absolutely LOVED this book. It started out a little slow, but when the story got rolling it was AMAZING. This book also has a very shocking ending. Highly recommended.Classroom/Library Uses:This book could be considered a bit controversial, but I also think that it would be very appealing to high school students. I would like use this book to do a book discussion group with high schoolers in a school or public library setting.
    • 5/5
      This is my favorite Ellen Hopkins book by far, just the mystery of it was so good. I love Ellen's book because of the writing, but this was amazing. I couldn't put it down. I wish i could read more on it, but I'm kind of happy there inst a second. It leaves a little mystery left to this great book.
    • 5/5
      Pattyn is a Mormon high school junior living in Nevada. Her life takes some twists and turns and she starts to question her parents and her religion. As a result she is sent to her aunt for the summer to be "fixed." She experiences a summer of learning and growth but now she has to go home with more questions than when she left. How will she face her strict Mormon family and community after a summer of freedom and exploration? Great read with a shocking plot twist at the end. Couldn't stop reading it!
    • 4/5
      Once I got this book from the library, I was a tad intimidated when I saw that it had be at least 500 pages. Then I looked at the pages and realized this book was written in verse. I'd never read a novel written in verse before this. I've heard wonderful things about Ms. Hopkins books. It's way overdue for me to read them. I don't think there's much chance of me making my 100 book goal for the year, but I've come close. Immediately I felt for Pattyn. Her home life was horrible and she was reaching out for love. She's trying to find some kind of self-worth while being raised in a society where females are considered nothing more than property. If you're told you're worthless, how can you value yourself or feel as though you have a future worth hoping for? This book was lovely. I read it quickly and found myself absorbed in Pattyns story. It was tough to put down because I wanted to see where the story went. Wow, did it go somewhere too. It kept me turning the pages right up to the astounding conclusion. I'm giving this one 4 1/2 kisses and plan to read more of Ellen Hopkins.
    • 4/5
      Well written book that I couldn't put down, though ending wasn't satisfying. Writen in verse, it's about a girl dealing with her religion's conflicts with her sexuality. It's worth a read.
    • 5/5
      Book review by Holly R., posted by CA Library:"Burned by Ellen Hopkins is amazing fiction book! This book was thrilling. Burned is written in verse. Pattyn, the main character in the book also the protagonist in the book deals with many different problems: question her religion as a Mormon, true love, questioning God and family.It starts with Pattyn being a good Mormon girl and belonging. Then she has an interesting dream and questions everything. She soon starts dating behind her father’s back. She sneaks around with her boyfriend. Her father soon ketches on and follows Pattyn and sees her drink and do some other stuff. As any father would, he flipped out. Eventually, Pattyn gets sent to her Aunt Jeannette’s house in Carson City, Nevada. Aunt J, as Pattyn calls her, takes care of Pattyn all summer. Pattyn finds her true love and experiences tons of stuff. Well I’ll let you figure out the rest for yourself. I defiantly rate this book 5 out of 5 stars! Please read this book it is the best book I have read in a long time.I would recommend this book to the age range or 14 and above due to its close details in the book with romance. The book does tend to get a little graphic! . I am not a big book reader and I flew throw this book."
    • 5/5
      Raised in a religious family with firm beliefs as to the proper place of women, Pattyn Von Stratten knows she wants more out of life than to be a perpetually spewing womb. With an alcoholic, physically abusive father to cope with, she's learned how to be background, but it's increasingly difficult as her life seems more and more repressive. She acts out and as punishment is sent to Nevada to stay with an estranged aunt. In a story rife with amazing verbal imagery and emotional highs and lows, ultimately, Pattyn is left with no way out.Hopkins' characters tend to be young adults coping serius issues, and the outcomes are not usually "happy" in the fluffy-bunnies sense, but this one seems especially grim. Is Pattyn *SPOILER ALERT* sitting on an overpass with a gun, plotting the deaths of everyone whose actions culminated in her loss really the answer that should be suggested to young adults? Yes, it's dramatic; yes, it's realistic.... But it's not the only ending possible. Burned is incredibly powerful and fluidly told, but I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth when the final pages unfolded.
    • 2/5
      Although I know Ellen Hopkins is wildly popular, (as evidenced by many of the other reviews here) this was the first book of hers that I've read, and I wasn't blown away by it. The story is heartbreaking, but except for the heroine, Pattyn, most of the characters are one-dimensional. I was extremely frustrated with her and her sister's and her mother's submission to the father and his violence, and disappointed in the end. I'm also not sure what the author's reason was for writing in verse, and suspected while reading the book that it was just sort of a gimmick. I know that many young adults love this author, but I just felt disappointed with her writing and with the story.
    • 5/5
      An incredible cliffhanger. Seventeen year old Pattyn struggles to find survive her abusive Mormon family and manages to still find fleeting happiness. Another characteristic Hopkins novel in verse.
    • 1/5
      Book seems to be popular amoung YA girls. Did not particularly care for the story. To pro sex for a teenager and not enough concentration on nuclear test conducted during the 60's that caused birth defects or sterlization amoung women in Nevada which is why the title. Maybe it is my age, but this is just my opinion.
    • 5/5
      This book was so good it got right down to it. The characters and everything is so real. I would wake up in the morning and just start reading it. It only took me about 2 hours to read beacuse I split up the time but I can say I am not a genius or anything but this book was amazing I can reccomend it to anyone.i wish Ellen Hopkins would come out with more books like these, these were well written poetry based on real life senarios.
    • 2/5
      The critically acclaimed author of "Crank" returns with a gripping, masterful novel told in verse that weaves a riveting story about a teenage girl who is raised in a religious--yet abusive--family.
    • 5/5
      written in journal format wonderful books
    • 1/5
      Did I ever tell you about the time the author tracked down my blog and left me a comment because I said not nice things about her book? Yeah, it was interesting. But I still stand by what I said then, the ending was not set up enough by the story. I understand as an author she wanted to end up somewhere but the rising action did not equal the climax, 3 pages from the end of the book. Style aside, I felt cheated because the reader only sees one half of the story and the 2nd half would be more interesting.
    • 5/5
      A Mormon extremist home and community, and a teen finally seeing a different way to life is the subject of Burned. Pattyn Van Stratten is questioning most everything she has been taught and the way she has been raised. Her abusive and alcoholic father catches Pattyn with a boy and sends her away for the summer to his sister's ranch. He expects her to find herself and salvation in wild west Nevada. Pattyn does find herself but salvation? She meets Ethan, her soul mate. She also experiences the love of a parent in Aunt J. At summers end all of this ends for Pattyn who returns home. What happens next will completely change her life and the lives of everyone in her family. On a . . . oops, almost told you. Go read it yourself.A cautionary tale of the restraints religion and home can put on a child, especially a teen. The entire story is written in poetry, making the book a fast read despite it's numerous pages. The poems are amazing. Some take on shapes and others have double meanings or can be read from side to side and from top to bottom both with the same meaning. Ms. Hopkin's work is fascinating and amazing. The subjects she tackles are dark, desperate, sad, and a commentary on society, usually the underbelly most people do not see or wish to ignore. Of all of her novels, this one may actually be the "lightest" in terms of subject.This is definitely NOT for anyone under 15.
    • 5/5
      Burned by Ellen Hopkins is a wonderful book that takes a look into a different type of lifestyle of a stalwart Mormon girl. It is a shocking story of the cruelity shown to women of this religious groups extremes and made me feel as if I was it the story. This book was truely a work of art with a shockingly sad ending that leaves the reader open-mouthed and empowered.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book because it really and truly represents the way mormons live. Not all mormons, but the fact that the fathers think it's alright to beat their family and teenage mormon girls feel restricted and feel the need for freedom...to cut loose from their religion.
    • 4/5
      Hopkins, EllenBurned2013. 560 pp. $12.99 pb. Margaret K. McElderry Books. 1442494611. Grades 9 and up.Tags: poetry, young adult, fiction, abuse, alcoholism, violence, domestic abuse, free verse, teen pregnancy, romance, sex, religion, death, rage, survival, identityAs are her previous books, Hopkins’ Burned is written in eloquent yet powerful free verse poetry. The main character, Pattyn, lives as the oldest of eight sisters in a radically religious home with a subservient mother and abusive father. As she realizes that the rules of the church dictate that she, too, is to live the life of a submissive wife, Pattyn begins to question her religion and its strict rules. Pattyn soon experiences her first high school crush, which results in disappointment and rage. Consequently, Pattyn’s father sends her to live the summer with an estranged aunt on a ranch in Nevada. There Pattyn discovers love, tolerance, and acceptance. Unfortunately, Pattyn’s fairytale doesn’t last long, as much more heartache unfolds. Though beautifully and interestingly written, the story may leave many readers disappointed, as the ending deflates rapidly while the main character chooses to fight her torments with violence. On the other hand, the last chapter titled “Plans Made” provides enough suspense to encourage the reader to continue with the next book in the series. Though this book does contain mature themes, Hopkins skips the graphic descriptions and uses profanity sparingly. Young adult readers are certain to seek out this book along with Hopkins’ other novels.
    • 4/5
      Grade Levels: 10-12 Category: Realistic FictionRead Alouds: pp. 1-2 (Did You Ever); 31-41 (Brother Prior); 168-169 (banishment); 194-198 (Aunt J); 224-227 (the threat); 247-254 (Ethan); 257-266 (blast parties); 278-296 (true love); 303-316 (birthday); 351-354 (the cat); 421-430 (Jackie) 476-487 (the beating); 492-497 (the Kotex); 517-525 (death); 530-531 (the end)Summary: Pattyn Von Stratten has grown up in an abusive restrictive environment. She questions the religion that refuses to acknowledge that her mother suffers at the hands of her alcoholic father. When she rebels against the beliefs of her family and her church she is sent to live in rural Nevada with her aunt. There she finds the love of family through her aunt and romantic love. She comes back home to suffer beating from her father and plans an escape when she discovers she is pregnant. It all ends in tragedy. She loses her baby and the love of her life. Themes: Abuse and domestic violence drive this story. As Pattyn begins to question what is right and normal, she sees that her family is not normal. She rebels and resents her father (for drinking and beating his wife all the while playing the role of good Mormon husband), her mother (for not standing up to her father), and the church (for looking the other way). She does not feel love or worthy of love until she goes to live with her aunt who comes to love her like a daughter. This builds Pattyn’s sense of self and she falls in love. When she returns to her family, she tries to fight back through defiance. But the fear of her father is always there. The fear drives her to make an escape at the wrong time in the wrong way. Her fear creates the tragic end.Discussion Questions: Is suicide the only way out for Pattyn?Compare the cougar and Pattyn’s dad. How are they alike? How are they different?Compare Ethan and Derek. How are Pattyn’s relationships with them different?What role does the polluted environment play in the story? How would the story be different without that backdrop for Aunt Jeanette?How would this story be different if it were told in prose?Reader Response: I have read three books by Ellen Hopkins and I feel this one is the strongest in terms of storytelling and poetry. In the other books the poetry feels repetitive and sometimes bogs down the story. The poetry actually makes the character of Pattyn seem more vulnerable than I believe that prose would. This would be an excellent book for studying the circumstances of life that just are not fair. Jeanette would have made a wonderful mother, yet her alcoholic brother is able to produce ten children.
    • 4/5
      This was such a difficult read for me. It was a book that I read in a sitting, that's how much I dove into the story, refusing to extract myself from it. I really enjoyed the format it was written in, and the rhythm it carried itself in was spectacular.
    • 3/5
      compared to her other books i thought that this one was a little more low key. i did really like this book. and the layout is like all her other books. it makes the book interesting. this book doesn't really deal with drugs as much as it is family problems and boys, but its still a good quick read.
    • 4/5
      I loved this book, i finished it in less then a day. It is one of my favorite books i have ever read. The way the author wrote it is great and i think the ending makes the book. A lot of people dont like the ending because its sad so if you dont like sad endings i wouldnt recomend it
    • 5/5
      This book was interesting because it gave me a perspective on a different way of life from what I'm used to. I liked reading about the main character's life. However, I was pretty disappointed with the ending of the book. I think that the book could have turned out a lot differently in the end and it would have been a lot better.
    • 5/5
      Ellen Hopkins is such an amazing writer. All her books are 5 star material and Burned was a great book. Her style of writing is my favorite. I love books written-in-verse. That is why I am drawn to her books and she never fails to please me.This book is about Pattyn Von Stratten who was raised in a very strict religious household. But, her father also is abusive. As she gets older, she become curious about a lot of things. That is when she gets in trouble and is shipped off to be with her Aunt. This book was very interesting and Pattyn was a great character. Anyone who loves Ellen will love this book!
    • 4/5
      Pattyn, who belongs to a Mormon family, begins to have questions that her faith can't or won't answer. Will God forgive her for having dreams about the very hot, Justin Proud? Is a woman's role to be submissive to her husband? Even an abusive husband? And what about love? Will she ever experience real love? When Pattyn gets caught with a boy, her father sends her to live with her aunt for the summer to find redemption and salvation. What she finds instead is the love and acceptance of her aunt and a young man. Pattyn begins to blossom into a confident, strong young woman. Will this new Pattyn be able to survive when the summer is over and she is called back to her terrible home-life and family? Tragic events ensue and Pattyn is sure she is doomed to some sort of a hell, maybe not the one preached about in church, but definitely a place Pattyn does not want to be. I found parts of the story hard to believe, but I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Pattyn is very likeable and her strong character and motivations are what keeps the story moving. Recommended for teen girls.
    • 4/5
      This is probably my favorite Ellen Hopkins book. It's not written as a poem like her usual books, but it was still just as beautiful and I honestly could not put it down for one second. This book filled me with so many emotions, but most of all it angered me so deeply because of the fact that there are actually people in the world like the ones she had to deal with. However, I loved the book.
    • 5/5
      the ending wasn't anything like i was expecting. i don't know how to give a review on this book other than the fact that it was good.this book will definitely be a book that i forgot that Ive read. I will always remember this book and the feeling that it gave me at the end. that i want to do anything to help this girl, to make this girls life better in some way in any form. To give her some type of hope.

    Book preview

    Burned - Franklin W. Dixon

    ATAC BRIFING FOR AGENTS FRANK AMD JOE HARDY

    MISSION:

    To smoke out the mastermind behind and learn the structure of an illegal international CD-buring operation that employs teenagers.

    LOCATION:

    Local and global. Start close to home.

    POTENTIAL VICTIMS:

    Musicians. Record companies. Unsuspecting customers who are unaware that they are participating in illegal activity.

    SUSPECTS:

    Start with Julian Sanders, your classmate. Work from there.

    THIS MISSION REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THIS MESSAGE WILL BE ERASED IN FIVE SECONDS.

    WATCH OUT FOR OUR NEXT CASE: #7 Operation: Survival

    ALADDIN PAPERBACKS

    Simon & Schuster, New York

    Cover photo copyright © 2005 by

      ThinkStock/SuperStock 1433R-5874-R-O37

    Cover designed by Lisa Vega

    Ages 8-12

    kids.simonandschuster.com

    1005

    #1 Extreme Danger

    #2 Running on Fumes

    #3 Boardwalk Bust

    #4 Thrill Ride

    #5 Rocky Road

    #6 Burned

    Available from Simon & Schuster

    This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

    ALADDIN PAPERBACKS

    An imprint of Simon & Schuster, Children’s Publishing Division,

    1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

    www.AladdinPaperbacksPublishing.com

    www.SimonandSchuster.com

    Copyright © 2005 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

    All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

    THE HARDY BOYS MYSTERY STORIES and HARDY BOYS UNDERCOVER BROTHERS are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

    ALADDIN PAPERBACKS and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster,

    Inc.

    Designed by Lisa Vega

    First Aladdin Paperbacks edition October 2005

    Library of Congress Control Number: 2005921360

    ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-0008-5

    ISBN-10: 1-4169-0008-X

    ISBN-13: 978-1-44246-515-2

    1. SSSSSSSSS!

    2. Jaws of Death

    3. Surprise Packages

    4. Top 40 Suspects

    5. Dodging Questions

    6. The Web of Crime

    7. Money to Burn

    8. Mega Madness

    9. Shop Till You Drop (Dead)

    10. The Mysterious Mr. Burns

    11. Playing with Fire

    12. Burned!

    13. To the Bitter End

    14. Band on the Run

    15. Dead or Alive

    16. Facing the Music

    1.

    SSSSSSSSS!

    I heard the hissing sound first.

    Then I saw it slither out of its cage.

    Easy, dude.

    I stopped in my tracks and held my breath. The creature moved so fast I could only make out a blur of gray scales uncoiling at my feet. In two seconds flat, the reptile reared up in front of me—and locked eyes with mine.

    Hello.

    It was The King. And I’m not talking about Elvis Presley.

    This was a king cobra. Twelve feet of angry, hissing poison with beady yellow eyes, a big flaring hood, and a glistening pair of needle-sharp fangs.

    I kid you not.

    Don’t move, Joe.

    My brother Frank lay on the floor in the corner, next to a smelly tank of baby turtles. I was glad to see that he was okay. Outback Mack had clobbered him pretty good with a twenty-pound bag of pet feed.

    Yes, the Outback Mack.

    You may have seen his hokey homemade commercials on late-night TV. G’day, mates, he’d drawl in his exaggerated Australian accent. I’m Outback Mack. And if you like rare and exotic animals as much as I do, you’ll just love Outback Mack’s Animal Shack. We’ve got snakes, turtles, iguanas, gators, you name it… all in one convenient location off Route 17. Then he’d cock his pith helmet, hold up a lizard, and wink. You gotta love ’em.

    What a creep.

    If he loved rare and exotic animals so much, why would he ship them into the country illegally, packed into filthy crates as if they were office supplies?

    Outback Mack was a criminal, no doubt about it.

    Which is why Frank and I were assigned to this case.

    Let me explain. My brother and I are undercover agents for ATAC—American Teens Against Crime—and we applied for after-school jobs at Outback Mack’s so we could gather evidence of illegal wildlife trading. The United States has strict laws about importing and selling exotic animals, and Outback Mack was breaking every rule in the book. The fool even thought he could advertise his business on television without getting caught.

    But Frank and I underestimated him.

    Outback Mack had figured out who we were and what we were doing. He caught my brother going through his files—and that’s when he clubbed him with a big bag of pet feed.

    And—oh, yeah—that’s when he unleashed the king cobra.

    Nice guy.

    I could hear Outback Mack’s footsteps as he dashed down a corridor and out of the warehouse.

    I could also hear the king cobra… hissing at me.

    Stay calm, Joe, Frank whispered.

    Was he kidding? There I was, face-to-face with a giant killer reptile, and my oh-so-thoughtful brother wanted me to stay calm?

    Yeah, right. No problem, bro.

    The cobra flared its hood even wider.

    This is not cool, Frank, I managed to gasp. He’s getting ready to strike.

    Just relax. King cobras aren’t usually aggressive. They tend to flee.

    "Really? Tell him that."

    Don’t make any sudden moves.

    I’m not planning to.

    Just hold still and I’ll call for backup.

    Frank slowly pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket and speed-dialed the local police. I stood there like a statue, frozen by the cold stare of the king cobra.

    If looks could kill…

    Those eyes were the scariest things I’d ever seen—except maybe for those fangs.

    What are you looking at, snake? Your next lunch?

    A pink forked tongue darted in and out of the cobra’s mouth. I couldn’t help but wonder what I looked like through the eyes of a snake. A super-sized cheeseburger? An extra-tall order of fries?

    Help is on the way, said Frank, clicking off his phone.

    Great, I replied. But what if Mr. Hissy here bites me before they arrive?

    Frank took a deep breath. Actually, king cobras aren’t as venomous as smaller cobras.

    So I wouldn’t die?

    Frank hesitated. Well, um, probably. One bite delivers enough venom to bring down an elephant… or twenty men.

    Thanks for the fun facts, Mr. Discovery Channel.

    The snake hissed at the sound of my voice.

    Quiet, Joe, my brother whispered. I have an idea.

    It better be a good one.

    It’s the only one I got.

    That’s good enough for me.

    Frank rose slowly to his feet. You have your CD player with you, right?

    Sure, I answered. It’s in my back pocket. Why? Do you want to groove on some tunes while I die? Go ahead, check out the new Thrasher CD. That should drown out my screams.

    Maybe the music will distract the cobra, Frank explained. It works for snake charmers.

    But dude, I protested, staring at the hooded reptile in front of me. I don’t see any ears on this guy.

    Believe it or not, snakes have a highly developed sense of hearing.

    Speak up, Frank. I don’t think the killer snake heard you.

    My brother ignored me. Their ears are internal. They feel the sound vibrations in their jaws.

    I stared at the cobra’s powerful jaws and shuddered. So where do we put the headphones? On his fangs?

    I think he’ll be able to hear it across the room.

    "You think?"

    Just stand still, Joe. I’ll creep up behind you and get the CD player. Then I’ll try to lure the snake away with the music.

    I sighed. Try real hard.

    "Don’t worry, man. I

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