- Hardcover: 240 pages
- Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (Feb 9 1999)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0385323182
- ISBN-13: 978-0385323185
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 14.2 x 2.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 386 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
This is a story rife with fire. In Shell Beach, where teenaged Macey Clare divides her life between her busy parents and her sweet-natured grandparents, neighbors gather around driftwood bonfires. Arson in the inner-city church where Macey volunteers leaves her asking why life should be so hard for some people--a question that becomes more urgent when her new friend Venita is killed in the crossfire of a gang shootout. And primary to the story is the mysterious fire of 1959 that burned down a barn across the street from Macey's grandparents' house. When Macey and her new love Austin begin to explore the barn's history for a school project, their families and neighbors become strangely evasive. But the pieces begin to fit together when Macey and Austin discover that long ago the barn had been turned into an apartment, the inhabitant of which was the first--and last--black high school teacher in Shell Beach. Why was the building burned down? And, more importantly, whose hand lit the match? As they dig deeper, Macey and Austin become more frightened of the truth--of answers that will rekindle fires of bigotry much too close to their own lives.
Caroline Cooney, the popular and prolific author of The Face on the Milk Carton and many other young adult novels, has risen to new heights of suspenseful storytelling with this wise and compassionate story. Teens will be riveted by the gradual revelation of the mystery, and inspired by Cooney's clear message that young people--as well as their elders--can be caught up in the apathy of "doing nothing" about evil. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell
From Publishers Weekly
What does a 1959 barn fire in Macey's affluent Connecticut town have to do with an arsonist's attack on an inner-city church where she and classmates volunteer one day? Nothing, as far as the 15-year-old's friends and family are concerned. But Macey, who narrowly escaped the church fire, senses that there is a connection between the two when she researches local history for a school project. Cooney (The Face on the Milk Carton) has produced another tantalizingly dark secret for her protagonist and readers to unravel together. Macey's rising awareness of hate crimes sharply escalates after Venita, whom Macey met at the church, is murdered when she tries to interrupt a gang fight. Macey is appalled by her parents' and grandparents' apparent callousness and their refusal to let her attend the girl's funeral ("Try not to think about Venita," her mother says. "It's so sad, darling, but there is nothing you can do"). Were her grandparents' hearts as cold 40 years ago when the barn apartment of the town's only black resident went up in smoke? Were they responsible for his near death? By interviewing community members and tracking down Mr. Sibley, the tenant of the barn apartment, Macey finds the ugly answers to her questions. Even though Macey's introduction to prejudice and her unshakable nobility are slightly overdrawn, she remains a sympathetic figure, just stubborn and vulnerable enough to be real. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Caroline Writes another great summer read,
By A Customer
This review is from: Burning Up (Mass Market Paperback)
Burning up is about Macey Clare, the typical teenage girl, who stumbles on to or rather into a neighborhood mystery. After getting cought in a fire in an old church durring a community service project with her friends, Macey begins to wonder about the burned down barn next door to her grandparents house. She'd always heard that something had caught fire and the barn had burnt down around someone, but when she begins to get curiouse and asks more about the fire Macey finds that no one wants to talk about it. Why? When Macey finds that this could have been an act of racism she becomes even more curiouse about the town and townspeople she has always loved. Could someone she knows or maybe many people of the town she knows have commited this crime?This book is an excellent summer read. I Loved reading it and wished it would last longer.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Crap,
By Bryan (Bryan) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Burning Up (Mass Market Paperback)
Ok. let me give you an overview of this book. this girl finds out that a barn has burnt down. Now, for the next 200 or so pages, she thinks about who the person might be who burnt down the barn. Keep in mind that this happened 50 years ago. She thinks for 200 pages. Not real excitement if you ask me. Please dont read this book. I beg of you not to.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Burning Up,
By A Customer
This review is from: Burning Up (Mass Market Paperback)
If you are looking for a book that keeps you reading all the way through this is the book for you.Burning Up was a story about a teenage girl named Macey. Macey is your typical good girl. She also loves visiting her grandparents house. After being in a church fire she was wanting to learn about another fire that was in her grandparents town. When she was assigned to do a paper for school about something from history she thought this would be the perfect time to learn about this fire. Mean while Macey has a crush on boy, Austin who also will visit his grandparents house. I really enjoyed reading this book because it kept me guessing. It could have been a little more of a thriller book but i still thought it was a book that god hard to put down. I hope that you also enjoy this book the way I did.
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