Burning
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Uncorrected proof from Bloomsbury (released 7th July
2016)
After three years in Juvie, Angela Davis is just three months shy of
release. She’ll finally see her little brother again. And she’ll get the hell
out of the pit that is Brunesfield Correctional Facility.
But then Jessica arrives. She’s young, only ten years old, and she’s
brought to Brunesfield in shackles under the highest security possible. She
doesn’t speak and is placed in the segregation ward. No one knows what she did
to end up there, but there are plenty of rumours. Soon creepy things begin to happen
to Angela and her friends, that can only be traced to the new girl’s arrival
and it becomes clear that Jessica is more dangerous than anyone ever expected…
Bloomsbury sent me a copy of this to review
and I would just like to say, I started it around 2pm today and have just
finished it. It was simply unputdownable. This book is one of the creepiest
books I’ve ever read, if I’m honest but my god, it’s so addictive.
Burning is a book written by Danielle Rollins. I’m not
sure if there’s a sequel for this book but it’s something I need to find out
pronto because there’s no way the
story can be left there. I’d say its borderline just an adult book because
there are some scenes in this book that just make you think….”woah”.
Burning is written from Angela’s point of view. She
is currently in juvenile prison for crimes I will not reveal (no spoilers!) and
has been for a while. There is one person she’s desperate to get out and see:
her little brother Charlie. Angela never has any visitors and her mum doesn’t
allow her to see Charlie. Luckily, Angela has her two friends Cara and Issie
who she shares a room with and they are just about the only thing that keeps
Angie sane.
They are enjoying the brief time they’re
allowed outside one day, when a girl, no more than ten years old, enters the
prison…shackled and being treated like she’s highly dangerous. The girls are
confused; no one gets this treatment here. What could this little girl have
done that was so bad?
Around the same time the new girl arrives, Dr
Gruen arrives to tell the girls of an exciting new Science program she wants
the girls to all be a part of. Dr Gruen starts making radical changes to the
facility. The guards are much stricter, the inmates aren’t getting as much
freedom but she is renewing everything in the prison so the girls are happy
with the changes…they can finally have a hot shower with shower gel! But this
doesn’t sit right with Angela. A strange little girl shows up around the same
time that everything starts changing…nothing’s changed in the facility for
years. Could the doctor and the new girl really be connected?
The new girl’s name is Jessica. She’s ten
years old and seems terrified of everyone and everything…but everyone seems
afraid of her. She keeps to herself and seems so innocent but things keep
seeing to go bad whenever she’s around. I will give you a clue: it’s something
to do with fire; but I will say no more. Again…no spoilers. Dr Gruen makes a
deal with Angela. If she befriends Jessica and finds out more about the
mysterious girl, she’ll make sure Angela gets out before her release date.
Seems easy enough, right?
I have to mention a character here. I haven’t
connected with a character like this for a long time. The last (and probably
only) time was with Warden from Samantha Shannon’s The Bone Season series. His name is Ben Mateo. That should be
Officer Ben Mateo, He’s a guard at the facility and someone that Angela gets
pretty close too. I’m not sure what it is about him but he is just wonderful.
He’s so sweet and brave and…honestly? I could write a review on just his
character alone. The way it was left with him made my heart explode from my
chest. He is one of the main reasons I’m desperate for a sequel. I need to know
my Ben is okay. Yes, I’m attached, okay?
This book is incredible and it’s so gripping.
It’s a book for everyone but honestly think I’ll be having a few nightmares
about this place tonight! Go and grab yourself a copy now! (Well, when it’s
released in 3 days).
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