Things That Burn

Rating 3 stars

Things That Burn by A.M. Rogers follows the story of Harper an aspiring drama student, left reeling after her parent's divorce. She is forced to move in with her dad and new stepmother who is expecting. A raging bushfire then turns her world upside down.

The book was a fun and easy read. The format was unique, with text in a poem-like format. The plot was easy to follow, however it was a bit simple and predictable. I would have loved to see more depth with some of the side-characters, such as her step-mum. The character is extremely relatable and easy to sympathise with.

I would strongly recommend this book to those who enjoyed one of us is lying, as they both cover family issues.

Things That Burn is a very quick read. It tells an exhilarating story of Harper who gets caught in a wildfire with her pregnant step mom. As a complicating factor, he father is a firefighter tasked with trying to put the wildfire out. Forced to flee her house, which doesn't even feel like her home), she and her step mom try to get to safety. Will Harper find safety? Will her dad survive? Will they be a family again? Told in verse, kids will fly through this exciting and heartfelt book.

She does not have a name, but she has a story. She is a high school student, her parents are divorced, her father has remarried and she lives with her dad and stepmom. She had no voice concerning which parent she lives with, and now there is going to be a baby. This is a story in poetry that confronts a teen's insecurity in a new school, and new family situation. Fire adds an additional bit of drama. It is a good quick read, and I will recommend it to my students. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc and the ability to give an honest review.

Things That Burn is a contemporary YA novel about one girl’s journey through her parents’ divorce, her father’s remarriage, and her desire to find her own place in life.

Harper loves acting, Audrey Hepburn, and her memories of her life before her dad remarried, before her parents split, before she became an outsider in her own life. When her new stepmother gets pregnant, Harper feels even further outside the perfect family her dad is creating.

As Harper grows angrier and more alienated from her family, her only source of hope is Dakota, her friend who shares her love of acting and seems to have the confidence to speak up when Harper does not. When a wildfire breaks out, Harper’s dad is called out to battle the fire, and Harper is left with her stepmom. As the fire creeps closer, they have to evacuate, and Harper’s stepmom goes into preterm labor. Harper is faced with two paths: protect the family she has or remain locked in her anger.

The quest for belonging is relevant and relatable, and the free-verse format of the novel allows readers to feel Harper’s pain and loss. While the plot comes through loud and clear, so do multiple social issues, like climate change, corporate responsibility for environmental disasters, and LGBTQ+ identity issues. Many YA readers will enjoy Harper’s quest for belonging, but readers should be prepared for the political and social themes that drive much of the story.

This was a fantastic novel talking of complex family dynamics, trauma and global warming. This novel kindles a fire like no other.

Things That Burn is a beautifully written YA novel-in-verse with lots of heart. The story is told from the POV of Harper, whom I found to be a sympathetic protagonist. This book tackles a wide range of themes such as being a child of divorce, family, friendship, environmentalism, wildfire devastation, angst and belonging. Despite being a quick read that I finished in one sitting, it was all very well-balanced and packed quite the punch.