Review: Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Burn for Burn
by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian
Series: Burn for Burn #1
Release Date: September 18, 2012
by Simon & Schuster

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Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

*A copy was provided by Simon & Schuster for review purposes*

For some reason, I just am not a huge fan of this book.  When I first started it, I was like “Yeah!  This is going to be a really good contemporary read”, but I was kind of disappointed.  I don’t really like these kinds of books, when all they are about is revenge, so I guess that’s why I didn’t like it.  It was a good idea, just not one that I enjoy reading about.  I loved how Han and Vivian went right into the action, and how they switched between the past and present.  They did a great job of explaining the history as well, and the writing was superb.  The staging was really good as well, but the actual revenge ideas weren’t that good.  Actually, I take it back; one revenge idea wasn’t good (the Alex Revenge was super lame) but the other two were really good.  I also didn’t really like the little supernatural twist thrown in.  But the ending was really good.  Cliffhanger!!

It’s kind of hard to write about these characters.  On the one hand, I feel really bad for them and the things that happened to them.  On the other, I don’t like them because they are doing exactly the same thing as the people that hurt them.  But, I’ll give it a try.

I like all the main characters: Mary, Kat, and Lillia.  I like Mary because she went from being a timid little door-mat to standing up for herself.  I like Kat because she’s tough, defiant, and doesn’t take any crap.  And I like Lillia because she’s not a typical popular girl, but nice.

And I would really like to know which author wrote which character.  Does anyone know?

One last thing before I sign off: the cover.  I’m just guessing here, but, looking at the cover, I think that Kat is on the far left, Mary is in the middle, and Lillia is on the right.  And seriously, this cover is awesome.  The models look exactly like I image the characters…well, except for Kat.  But it’s still pretty close.

3 PINK FLOWERS