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Burn Baby Burn

 

(picture from Goodreads.com)

1.       Bibliography

Medina, Meg. 2016. BURN BABY BURN. Sommerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 978-0-7636-
              7467-0

2.       Plot Summary

 

The main character Nora Lopez is seventeen during the summer of 1977. Living in New York City, Nora is affected by the arson, a massive blackout, and serial killer named Son of Sam who are plaguing the city. Nora’s personal life is also at a low. She is trying to focus on school and graduation, but her mother is struggling to pay the rent and her absent father has started a new family and hardly helps them out. Nora is working to help pay the bills and save for college, but on top of all of this, her brother, Hector, is out of control. He threatens Nora and their mother, is selling drugs and using them.

 

Nora works hard to take care of her family, but secretly longs for escape daily. She is secretly saving to be on her own once she turns eighteen. A boy named Pablo starts working with her, and they quickly start to date. Nora enjoys her time with Pablo but worries about her volatile brother and putting him at risk of Hector’s wrath.

 

When the heat starts to get to everyone, the power is cut, fires and pillaging begin. Nora witnesses Hector involved in these crimes. When she confronts him he turns on her, and Nora finally decides to take a stand to protect herself and her mother from him.

3.       Critical Analysis

1977 Queens is not typically what comes to find for historical fiction. Medina takes a time of disco and flared pants. NYC had a particularly hot summer, and people tend to get a little crazy in the heat. At every turn there is danger with a serial killer on the loose, but also people who start fires, shootings, and a blackout that brings pillaging and anarchy. Medina intertwines this time period into the lives of Nina and her brother Hector. Hector plays into the chaos by committing arson, first to their apartment building and later to the store Nora works at. Time period music is also referenced a lot with clubs that would have existed during this time.

When Nora starts a romantic relationship, she is scared to keep her courtship going with Pablo because of her brother. Many young teens can understanding hiding a relationship from their families and feeling unable to maintain the romance due to it. Nora struggles to hide how terrible her home life is from her boyfriend and best friend.

Hector starts selling and doing drugs and is violent towards Nora and her mom. This story line is not unique for the time period. This is a conflict that, unfortunately, many have dealt with throughout time. Nora and Hector were also abandoned by their dad who started a new family. He calls on holiday’s and sends money when prompted. This doesn’t help enough when their mom is laid off of work and they cannot afford rent. This heightens the anger and animosity in the home. Suspense is created Nora has to learn to stand up for herself and makes a bold move in getting help when Hector goes to far and attacks both of them.

4.       Awards/ Reviews

 

·       Kirkus Prize Finalist

·       Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee

·       National Book Award Long List Selection

·       American Library Association Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection

·       Booklist Editors’ Choice

·       Horn Book Fanfare Selection

·       Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year

·       School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

·       BookPage Best Children’s Book of the Year

Meg Medina is the author I studied, and still study, to learn how to write for children. Her ear is impeccable; the way she captures not only dialogue but also communicates adolescent feelings without being condescending nor pitching extra soft softballs. Few people get the balance of writing about and for teens right.
—Elizabeth Acevedo, New York Times bestselling author

Rooted firmly in historical events, Medina's latest offers up a uniquely authentic slice-of-life experience set against a hazy, hot, and dangerous NYC backdrop. Rocky and Donna Summer and the thumping beats of disco, as well as other references from the time, capture the era, while break-ins, fires, shootings, and the infamous blackout bring a harrowing sense of danger and intensity . . . An important story of one of New York City's most dangerous times.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Medina weaves historical context throughout Nora’s first-person narrative, expertly cultivating a rich sense of atmosphere while still keeping her characters sharply in the foreground...Powerfully moving, this stellar piece of historical fiction emphasizes the timeless concerns of family loyalty and personal strength, while highlighting important issues that still resonate today.
—Booklist (starred review)

Medina uses Nora’s story to seamlessly connect readers to an unforgettable period in history, the setting leaving readers thirsting for more information about the summer of 1977. The character development is tight and accurately constructed. Medina holds nothing back, shedding light on the characters’ flaws, which teens today will be able to relate to. Medina is on point with the teen voices, evoking their intense fear, panic, and dreams. A devastatingly intense story, this work is a must-have for all collections, especially where Ruta Sepetys’s books are popular.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

5.       Connections

 

This is a good book for students who like realistic fiction. There is an element of mystery with the serial killer story line that might intrigue students since it is a real story. Not many people know about the events in NYC during the summer of 1977 but many know about the disco crazy and this book could appeal to them.

 

The main character is Cuban-American, and this book could be a good connection for students from the same background/ life circumstances. Many things Nora Lopez experiences are still social issues dealt with today.  


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