Smoke

I'm so glad to have a resolution to the story started in Burn. This book is not just Pattyn's story however. Pattyn's parent's destruction behaviors impact her siblings as well and in this book we get to hear from Jackie, the second eldest sister in the family. I love Ms. Hopkins use of free verse to tell her stories.

Fantastic sequel to Burned. A bittersweet but mostly happy ending for these characters. Highly recommended.

I'm really glad Ellen Hopkins decided to write this sequel to Burned to update us on how Pattyn and Jackie's lives have been changed by one night. Her books are always about life issues of one kind or another and are very good reads. In this books she is dealing with a lot of issues, rape, recovery, abuse, murder, racism towards minorities and gays, standing up for yourself, and so much more.I always look forward to when the next Ellen Hopkins book comes out.

The sequel to Burned picks up the action as if it never stopped. Pattyn is on the run and Jackie is left at home to try to pick up the pieces. The book alternates between their perspectives and shows the challenges and issues they face after the death of their father, the death of Ethan, the rape of Jackie, and the birth of their brother Samuel. A fast read filled with action and challenges to overcome. Will Pattyn be brought in for the murder of her father? Will Jackie be able to put her rape behind her even though her mother won't support her? Can Pattyn love again or is there only one real love in a person's life? A quick read that answers these and other questions. A surprise ending brings the story to a close.

'How many people live unafraid? To truly embrace courage, I think, requires one of two things--unshakable faith that death is no more than a portal to some Shangri-la reunion. Or zero belief at all.'Smoke is the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2006 release, Burned. It's a dual-narrative story told from the point of view of Pattyn who is currently on the run after her father is shot and killed and of Jackie, Pattyn's sister, who has remained behind and is suffering through the aftermath.While Burned did admittedly leave off with a major cliffhanger of an ending, I can't help but think it would have been better off left as is. Smoke's plot felt stretched and thin and unnecessary story lines were added that detracted from the heart of the story. There was the radical militia movement, the slaughter of wild mustangs, the mistreatment of migrant workers and while these are all important topics I felt that not only was there too much going on but it never felt like it fit with the main story which centers around the Mormon community the family is a part of. I think the bigger issue with Smoke though is the absence of Ellen's signature writing style. Yes, this is written in verse and yes her prose is beautiful... but only in certain sections. It wasn't consistent and read far too much like a typical novel for my liking.In addition, the wrap-up was far too flawless. Too picture perfect. And storylines were left unresolved, like the lack of resolution of Pattyn's previous life she had while on the run. Burned is one of my favorite by Hopkins and while Smoke didn't live up to that, it did give us a resolution (whether it was ultimately necessary is definitely debatable). Smoke is a story of survival, of learning to cope following the aftermath of abuse and starting anew.

Pattyn is on the run - a fugitive, forced out of her small Mormon community because of the part she played in her fathers death. But the death of her father means nothing in comparison to the deaths of her baby and her boyfriend, Ethan. Jackie is left behind, trying to tend to the shambles of their broken home. With her father dead and her mother a wreck, Jackie is forced to put aside her own grief and care for her siblings. But Jackie - like Pattyn - has secrets buried within, and she can't keep them contained forever....I loved Burned, so when I heard that there was a sequel in the works, I was a little wary (albeit excited). When I found a copy sitting in my mailbox a few days ago, I knew it was going to be another one of those nights when I stayed up late reading. Pattyn and Jackie were extremely well-developed. I loved the way their stories started off in the same place, branched out, and then connected again. The supporting characters were also really well-written - I loved Gavin and Angel and Adriana. Jackie's struggle to move on was heartbreaking, and reading about her mother's indifference infuriated me. I found myself cheering on Pattyn, hoping she found what she was looking for and got the chance to move on. While abuse was a major theme in this novel, I found hope to be one as well. Moving on was a big one too, and Ellen Hopkins wrote it beautifully. Jackie and Pattyn's struggles were believable and relatable, and nothing was sugarcoated. If you are a fan of poetry, contemporary lit, or just looking to branch out in the YA genre, I definitely recommend you check out anything and everything by Ellen Hopkins. If you loved Burned, pre-order Smoke ASAP!