The Burn Journals

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Author(s)

Brent Runyon

Publisher

Random House

Genre(s)

Non-Fiction

Age Range

12+

Release Date

September 14, 2004

ISBN

0375826211

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I don’t want to get out of bed.I’m so stupid.I did so many things wrong.I don’t know what to do.I’m going to be in so much trouble.What am I going to do?I’m completely screwed.In 1991, fourteen-year-old Brent Runyon came home from school, doused his bathrobe in gasoline, put it on, and lit a match. He suffered third-degree burns over 85% of his body and spent the next year recovering in hospitals and rehab facilities. During that year of physical recovery, Runyon began to question what he’d done, undertaking the complicated journey from near-death back to high school, and from suicide back to the emotional mainstream of life.In the tradition of Running with Scissors and Girl, Interrupted, The Burn Journals is a truly remarkable book about teenage despair and recovery.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

A haunting true story

January 14, 2006

Overall rating

5.0

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When Brent Runyon was just fourteen, he purposefully set himself on fire to try and commit suicide. But, as with his previous suicide attempts, he doesnt quite kill himself. Instead, hes left with a body almost entirely touched by fire (85% coverage). This is a true story, and one that will stay with you.

Its a scary story because weve all, at one time or another, felt some of the things Brent felt: hopeless, stupid, useless. His emotional honesty will give you pause and it should. Read this book to learn not only about Brent and his story, but your own.
The book starts on the day Brent sets himself on fire and continues through the year that follows as the doctors slowly put his body back together and Brent works on the other pieces sometimes being forced to, other times prodded by his loving family or psychologists. The details are excruciating at times and the reader suffers along with Brent.

Sometimes its the other way around the reader rails at Brent when his mental healing progress slows or goes backwards. Its a long, hard journey for him and it is only right that the reader fight along with him.

Recommended for readers aged 12 and up, especially boys on the edge. Teachers, how about keeping a copy of this in your classrooms? If it inspires just one teen to share his feelings, itll be a great thing. As other reviewers have mentioned, this book is riveting, authentic, and haunting.

Kimberly Pauley Top 50 Reviewer 393 reviews

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4.8(6)

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Can't put this book down

October 24, 2008

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by torii

This has to be one of the best books I have ever read. It follows the trial and tribulations of a teenage boy who feels his life is umbearable and in attempt to take his own life decides to light himslef on fire. He survives the horrible burns and the book follows him throughout his physical and emotion recovery. This book will be sure to make you look at your life and relize that its not that bad.

I believe that this book should be read in classes as well its a great conversation book and has great themes.

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Mothers should read this, too!

February 11, 2006

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Melinda

I am a teacher mother of a 14 year old. Brent Runyon really hit home by telling a story through his eyes yet revealing his parents through his actions and comments. The story is simply gripping and questions why teenagers think the world is so overpowering and how parents almost seem oblivious to their thoughts and how serious they could be. I have a new respect for kids and how deeply they think. Every parent and teacher should read this novel to help them understand the tenacious grip these kids this age have on their emotions and how they react to them.

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The Burn Journals

October 03, 2005

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Megan Simpson

The Burn Journals explained the suicidal attempt of Brent Runyon so well... He told us the thoughts in his head and everything.. It was the best book i have ever read and i'm about to do a speech in my english 2 class about it. Brent's book is explained in great detail! I LOVED IT!
<3MEGAN

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Best book!

July 11, 2005

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Kate

I think this book was one of the best books I've ever read.It had exiting parts,funny parts,and sad parts.I kinda felt like I know what brent was going through at those times...Thats how good he explained things.And I really felt as if I was sitting right there when everything was happening!I would give this book a 10 but it can't go up that far

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Awsome

July 02, 2005

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Jenner

I absalutely loved this book. Once started to read it I found it hard to put down. It capdavates you , pulling you in , its very well writein , a must for anyone who enjoys a book you just can't put down.

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mesmerizing, totally authentic

June 06, 2005

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4.0

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Reader reviewed by plentyo'moxie

Wow. This is a totally amazing book. I kept having to remind myself that Runyon didnt write this weeks after all this happened but years, because the way he puts everything down, the language he uses and the tense and everything just make it all feel so real and immediate. Of course it is real, but sometimes when you are reading non-fiction and there is dialogue, or there are parts where the author is telling what they were thinking at the time, it is so unbelievable. And you know the author just forgot what it felt like, or what somebody said, and just had to make it up to fill in the blanks. Not this book. Maybe Runyon did have to do that, but you never get that feeling at all. Everything he is thinking, the thoughts he has about why he set himself on fire and what he was like before and after, its just so authentic, not cheesy or moralistic or anything. It just really amazes me that he was able to get back into his fifteen-year-old brain and think in that same way again. Really well done. I wish this guy would write more YA, because he definitely has a great style for it, but he hasnt written anything else at all.

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