Burning Blue

Jan 30, 2013 Reynje rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemp-or-realistic, mystery-thriller-noir, read-2013, young-adult

I’m enough of a cynic these days to greet reference to the theme of inner beauty with an eye roll. In my experience, much of the messaging around the nature of true beauty is either trite or saccharine and comes with generous helpings of condescension or overt moralising. I need another “lesson” on the superficiality of judging someone’s appearance like I need another makeover montage in a high school rom-com. So while the blurb of Burning Blue piqued my interest, the mention of “the notion of w...more I’m enough of a cynic these days to greet reference to the theme of inner beauty with an eye roll. In my experience, much of the messaging around the nature of true beauty is either trite or saccharine and comes with generous helpings of condescension or overt moralising. I need another “lesson” on the superficiality of judging someone’s appearance like I need another makeover montage in a high school rom-com. So while the blurb of Burning Blue piqued my interest, the mention of “the notion of where beauty lies” triggered an alarm bell.

Despite, or possibly because of, that early misgiving, Burning Blue exceeded my expectations. It’s a taut, compelling mystery that examines the social, physical and psychological ramifications of an act of shocking cruelty. If the novel does not entirely succeed in answering the question of why someone would perpetrate such a crime, it admirably examines the effects, and the fact that support and empathy can be found in unlikely places.

Griffin does an excellent job of reinvigorating the somewhat tired and over-used character archetypes of the mysterious, loner guy and the beautiful, popular girl. Ostensibly, Jay Nazarro and Nicole Castro fall neatly into these stock roles - Jay is an outsider from the wrong side of the tracks and Nicole is a pageant-winning beauty queen – yet their characterisation is substantially developed and layered. As the story progresses, they are each shaded and defined with strengths and flaws; Griffin peels back layers of their outward image to reveal the vulnerabilities and motivations beneath.

Jay suffers from seizures induced by a head injury and is returning to school following an incident in his freshman year, when he experienced an attack during a pep rally. A skilled hacker, Jay becomes consumed with identifying Nicole’s assailant and in the process of his investigations and burgeoning friendship with Nicole, is compelled to consider whether victim and perpetrator could be one and the same.

Jay and Nicole have convincing chemistry throughout the novel, and I don’t mean this merely in the romantic sense. While Jay admits early in his narration to being attracted to Nicole, the dynamic that develops between them is complex and believable, based on their mutual recognition of a shared experience, what it is to be labelled and isolated. Griffin succeeds in showing why these two teenagers are drawn to each other, and also the fragile balance of trust that tempers their connection. The dialogue is sharp and intelligent; much of the humour comes from the passages of conversation between the characters, and occasionally Jay’s own dry observations.

Related primarily through Jay’s first person account, the story is fleshed out with excerpts from Nicole’s journal and her psychiatrist’s notes. These secondary channels of communication are used sparingly, to provide detail that Jay couldn’t possibly know, but also to remind the reader that Jay’s observations are fallible. While I found Dr Nye’s (fortunately few) portions of the novel to be less realistic, the voices of both Jay and Nicole are well-rendered and distinct. Griffin has a firm grasp of Jay’s astute, yet guarded, commentary and also captures Nicole’s raw, more emotive language.

This isn’t a novel that bludgeons the reader with a lesson about it being what’s inside that counts. While it would have been easy to draw a painfully laboured parallel between Nicole’s scarring and the relative depth of physical beauty, the novel fortunately avoids any too obvious clichés. Of course, that’s still a theme in the book – that a person is more than the sum of their physical attributes – but it’s handled in an accessible manner. Further, I appreciated the fact that Griffin points out that even those we consider to be inwardly beautiful are not free from their own issues or faults. It’s evident from the novel that idealising a person on the basis of their appearance or their personality is to do them an injustice.

A more shrewd reader than I may succeed in unravelling the mystery sooner, but I was kept guessing up to the end. On a slower read through, perhaps I would have picked up on more clues or questioned some of the more obvious conveniences in the plot, but honestly I read this so fast I didn’t have time to scrutinise for weaknesses in the action. (Also, I’m not a hacker [sorry!] so I have no idea how feasible Jay’s exploits in technological espionage really are). I consider it worth mentioning, however, that I didn’t want to put the book down. I thought the tension was particularly good, Griffin maintains a steady, steep build up that feels in keeping with Jay’s own increasing sense of urgency and subsequent sleep deprivation.

Finally, I would recommend reading the author’s comments in the acknowledgements and notes (not before you finish though, or you will completely spoil the book – you have been warned) as it gives his decision to write this particular story some greater context. As to whether he adequately unpacks the questions raised (could I be more ambiguous?), reader mileage will vary. I don’t think this was necessarily the most nuanced analysis of the motivations behind such an abhorrent act – yet I do think that he handles the repercussions thereof in an effective manner. It’s a sensitive and insightful portrayal of teens dealing with trauma in their own way, framed in a twisted, suspenseful thriller.
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Dec 01, 2012 Keertana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 3.75(?) Stars

Where do I start when it comes to Burning Blue? It's different. In a genre of literature so popular, it's hard to find anything similar to it. It's part mystery, part romance, and part something else entirely. I can't quite wrap my head around it to be perfectly honest. On one hand, I loved it. It was intriguing, kept me flipping the pages, and startled me with its eventual revelation. On the other hand, I was expecting something a little different when I went into it. Alth...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

To sum the story up, Burning Blue is your typical love story, when the school outcast and the popular drama queen fall in love. Right? Right? That's what Burning Blue is about, but it's so much better than that.

When acid is thrown on her face, Nicole, the most popular, wealthy, pretty girl in the school, watches her life change right before her eyes. Jay, who suffered from a seizure during freshman year, knows what its like to be stared at like a freak.

I personally, really liked the story. The c...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Brooke rated it 4 of 5 stars

As soon as I read the synopsis for Burning Blue I knew I had to check it out— seriously how awesome does it sound?!

So, I’m glad to say that the story did not disappoint! It was suspenseful and funny and a little bit frightening and I couldn’t put it down! I HAD to find out who was responsible for splashing Nicole with the acid. HAD TO!

I adored the way this story was written. It's told from Jay’s point of view but there are also glimpses into Nicole’s thoughts through her journal entries and I th...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Ellie Marney rated it 4 of 5 stars

I hadn't read any of Paul Griffin's work before, and the premise intrigued me - and it was well worth the read. I would peg this one as a genuine crime mystery, powered by the romance at its core. Dialogue was tight, witty and realistic, and Jay and Nicole become fleshed-out, fully-realised characters - they keep tugging you back to the story. I think Paul Griffin created a wonderful voice and tone for Jay: he's acerbic and smart, but unlike some 'loner nerd-guy' characters he has a physical pre...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Lynne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: guy-read, mystery-suspense, novel, realistic-fiction, young-adult

Jay keeps to himself. In fact, after having a seizure in front of the entire student body during his freshman year, he home-schooled for a year and a half. Now back into the school day, he finds himself caught up with a very unlikely girl. Nicole is the perfect student - straight A’s, student council, athlete, beauty pageant beautiful, and extremely popular. Her life is shattered one day as she turns the corner at school and is hit in the face with acid. After the accident that claims half of he...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved Paul Griffin's Stay with Me. One of the best teen novels I've read for a long time, heart breaking and authentic. Burning Blue is quite different - a teen whodunit.

Beautiful, popular teen Nicole is in the high school corridor when someone sprays her face with acid. Another student, Jay, uses his hacking skills to try and find out who could do this. Jay is nick named Spaceman, a result of his epilepsy. The loner hacker and the school beauty queen form a friendship, supporting each other t...more I loved Paul Griffin's Stay with Me. One of the best teen novels I've read for a long time, heart breaking and authentic. Burning Blue is quite different - a teen whodunit.

Beautiful, popular teen Nicole is in the high school corridor when someone sprays her face with acid. Another student, Jay, uses his hacking skills to try and find out who could do this. Jay is nick named Spaceman, a result of his epilepsy. The loner hacker and the school beauty queen form a friendship, supporting each other through their family problems, school lives and their respective healing.

This is a complex novel, a page turner with a large cast of characters, and therefore suspects. Griffin knows his readers and his characters - they live and speak as genuine, contemporary teens. Which is my one small gripe. As a children's and teens librarian, I'm often asked to recommend books for prodigious readers who are ver young teens, with parents don't think they are ready to read about sex. And so the two sexual references in the book mean I can't recommend it to anyone under 14. Take out the sex and I could. Whether a 13 year old can quite understand or empathise with some of the characters I'm unsure about, but they can certainly enjoy the mystery element.

The sexual references aren't really necessary to the plot line, and while they shine some light on one character's motivation, it still could have been left out. I'm not advocating censorship, just lamenting how difficult it is to find a good novel to commend to parents and young teens (as opposed to the pulp in a series that we do end up recommending). I had said the teens in the book seemed authentic, so I guess that's my other quibble about the sex. Jay writes he's hardly been kissed but has received a couple of hand jobs from a girl: another character laments to a boy that "she's good enough to suck his dick but not good enough to be seen with". (I haven't got the book with me so might have misquoted). Goodness, I had a fine old time in my teen and university years but I don't want my daughter giving young men sexual pleasures in such a casual way. The inclusion of these sexual references in the book trivialised and normalised such behaviour, which probably is quite normal, but maybe it shouldn't be.

But I don't want to end on such a note. I've seen the book reviewed as a crime novel in reviews aimed at adults, noting that it's teen but a satisfying read for adults too.(less)

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Feb 28, 2013 Sandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, ya

Life was perfect until the incident in the hallway that left Nicole scarred for life. Who would do such a thing to perfect Nicole is a question that Jay is trying to uncover. Why Jay? Jay feels connected to Nicole and at first, this connection is a one-way streak and that is fine with Jay. Jay has felt humiliated and embarrassed at school since his seizures went viral and his classmates cannot move on. Nicole is facing these same demons and Jay feels a connection. Using his computer hacking abil...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Steph Bowe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Told by Jay and through Nicole's diary entries, Burning Blue is described as a psychological thriller, but I think it's more of a contemporary YA romance and mystery in one. Though it started out slow (even though it begins with the catalystic event, it being retold to the reader made it lack immediacy), and both Nicole and Jay are kind of acerbic to begin with (Nicole for good reason), it's intriguing enough to continue reading. It's definitely one of those books that is - I hate to use the dre...more Told by Jay and through Nicole's diary entries, Burning Blue is described as a psychological thriller, but I think it's more of a contemporary YA romance and mystery in one. Though it started out slow (even though it begins with the catalystic event, it being retold to the reader made it lack immediacy), and both Nicole and Jay are kind of acerbic to begin with (Nicole for good reason), it's intriguing enough to continue reading. It's definitely one of those books that is - I hate to use the dreaded word-that-isn't-actually-a-word "unputdownable" - very difficult to put down once you reach a certain point. It's thoroughly original, and certainly did not end as I expected it to. I enjoyed all the hacking stuff (there's a lack of that in YA, oddly), but really wanted to hear more from Nicole.

Though Burning Blue is quite dark (and I'd definitely recommend it to older YA readers), it's comparatively not as intense as the author's previous novels. I read Ten Mile River by the same author several years ago, which I enjoyed but I think pales in comparison to Burning Blue. I had a copy of the author's second novel, Stay With Me, which I never ended up reading because, after hearing the author do a reading of the novel (which was actually excellent), knew it would be too unpleasant for my reading sensibilities. I think the characters of Burning Blue are a little more mainstream than the characters of the first two novels (Ten Mile River is about kids who have escaped from a juvenile detention centre; in Stay With Me the teenaged protagonist commits a murder), so I think it's probably the most accessible of Griffin's novels for a wide audience.

There is an incredible twist. It is somewhat made-for-TV-movie ridiculous, which I love, but in case you don't, rest assured it makes sense within the novel. It's really quite startling. It took me a while to warm to Burning Blue, but it definitely gathers momentum and is an intense but ultimately uplifting read.

(By the way, I love the Australian cover and think it suits the novel well. The US cover is the one visible on Goodreads, and I don't think it quite captures the novel. It's not just a mainstream thriller.)(less)

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Feb 09, 2013 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was originally intrigued by this book because of the reviews. The book was well received in the "book world" and the concept seemed interesting. I brought home the book and intended to spend the weekend reading it. However, a certain daughter saw the book first and grabbed it. She finished in 1 day so I felt inspired by this.

The story is about a girl who is very pretty - Nicole has everything going for her. Until one day when she is attacked at school. A person sneaks up behind her and throws...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Alicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: boy, dysfunctional, mystery, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. While some of Griffin's books, I don't understand, this one's plot, characters, and message were perfectly clear and riveting. Nicole has been attacked with acid inside her school, leaving her face partially burned and somewhat blind, losing one eye. Within seconds, beautiful Nicole is saddled with pain and anguish, but chooses not to dwell on who might have prompted the attack. The subsequent story is of her friendship with Jay, who was humiliated in that same school previous to the attack when...more While some of Griffin's books, I don't understand, this one's plot, characters, and message were perfectly clear and riveting. Nicole has been attacked with acid inside her school, leaving her face partially burned and somewhat blind, losing one eye. Within seconds, beautiful Nicole is saddled with pain and anguish, but chooses not to dwell on who might have prompted the attack. The subsequent story is of her friendship with Jay, who was humiliated in that same school previous to the attack when he suffered a seizure at an assembly, peed himself, and someone posted the video on Youtube (this easy access to technology is an important sub-plot as to the ease of teenage bullying and harassment via technology).

Jay is convinced he can use his hacking ability and his friendship with Nicole to solve the mystery of the attack, though he doesn't really let on with Nicole about what he's doing. At the beginning, everyone is a suspect and one by one people are ruled out, yet a niggling feeling is there that it's someone closest to Nicole. While the book does not harp on Nicole's popularity or her then boyfriend, Griffin plants clues that he or his posse of boys might have something to do with it.

Yet the conclusion is brilliant, as it's discovered that an acquaintance that has been helping Jay solve the crime, whom he considered a friend of Nicole's was the attacker, though her instability showed that while she perpetrated the crime, she was lured by a hatred and money. The real culprit? Nicole's mother, who was scared at losing Nicole after her divorce from Nicole's father, to Nicole's friends and activities, and eventually to college. While there was a Gail Giles-type conclusion as Nicole's mother admits it once she's discovered and pours hot oil over herself in front of them, the entire story is an active mystery.

Of course, Jay also has his own demons and story that incorporates his deceased mother and alcoholic father, but the story of Jay and Nicole is sweet but not overtly romantic. I almost rolled my eyes thinking it would be a mismatched love affair like Stoner and Spaz or Fanboy and Goth Girl, but it lacked a truly romantic relationship, instead one of mutual understanding without being hokey.

A well-done whodunit! (less)

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Feb 05, 2013 Marsha rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was surprised by this book, literally. I didn't read the jacket, and for some reason thought it was some dystopian novel--it was actually realistic fiction about two very interesting and likable teens. The main theme of the book is that outer beauty can be fleeting and doesn't tell much about who we really are; it is who we are inside that really counts and makes us beautiful. Possibly trite, but true none the less, and it works in this book.

Nicole is the most beautiful girl in the school, wit...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Kaity rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, mystery, contemporary

The beginning of Burning Blue was a little rough for me. I really liked Jay as a narrator – he was interesting and I loved his voice - but the way he told the first events as if he were there was distracting. He starts off by saying "From what I heard..." then goes on to say students were drenching Nicole in water after the incident, what the exact words she said were etc. I'm glad we got a clear picture of that huge moment considering acid being thrown in Nicole's face is the jumpstart to Burni...more The beginning of Burning Blue was a little rough for me. I really liked Jay as a narrator – he was interesting and I loved his voice - but the way he told the first events as if he were there was distracting. He starts off by saying "From what I heard..." then goes on to say students were drenching Nicole in water after the incident, what the exact words she said were etc. I'm glad we got a clear picture of that huge moment considering acid being thrown in Nicole's face is the jumpstart to Burning Blue but it didn't make logical sense to me and it put a wedge between Jay and I. To be honest it made me suspect that he attacked Nicole which might have been Griffin's intention. I also wasn't a fan of Jay's 'future narrating' either. To me it's like giving spoilers away, it does nothing for me in the sense of heightening the anticipation since I find it so annoying.

"I had the opportunity to see him in action—see him by proxy rather, but I’ll get to that, to him, later."

"I should have figured it out right there. Nicole’s secret. Looking back, maybe I knew."

I really enjoyed that the attacker was communicating through email and that Jay was an adept hacker. Despite my slight narrating misgiving when it came to suspecting Jay, I liked that he seemed to be piling evidence against himself to start with (tech savviness, borderline obsession with Nicole, black outs, etc). Definitely enough to make you wonder if Jay is a lying narrator... haven't had one of those in a long time.

I absolutely loved how Griffin flawed and built his characters. A lot of the time, especially in YA novels, I find myself put off by the more flawed characters because they're often harsh stereotypes (for example a goth girl who no one understands with stringy dyed hair, loads of piecing, combat boots etc.) or just generally obnoxious. Griffin amazed me with his ability to skirt those stereotypes and actually create unique, flawed, believable teens.

Nicole's journals provided wonderful insight into her mind. It was really interesting to see her from Jay's point of view and then get into her own mind. I'm actually not crazy about multi-point of view books when there's a mystery involved but choosing to show Nicole's thoughts via her diary entries kept me in Jay's presence while giving me Nicole as well. I really liked that.

I'll admit that I picked this up after seeing a few people label it as romance. I'm a huge sucker for YA (non-angst) romance. I'm not sure I would haven given Burning Blue that label but the between friendship and romance relationship shared between Jay and Nicole was immensity satisfying and beautiful to follow.

The mystery... I loved how Griffin ended Burning Blue. The mystery was wrapped up beautifully with the perfect culprit. I never expected it but it made so much sense and I couldn't have been happier with how it ended. I feel a little guilty saying that but as a mystery lover it was just so great.

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Dec 19, 2012 Jack Downs rated it 4 of 5 stars

Talk about a pageturner, and a book that makes you think. I give it five across the board in all my hotbutton areas, with the exception of ultimate believability. It is a first-rate, by-the-throat thriller. I have to know who dun it, even into the wee hours,and each suspect in turn is gilded irresistably, and then swept from contention.

One of the elements I really admired, and at the same time questioned, is the language. There is a truth seldom acknowledged - by the time my kids are in middle...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

Normally, I am pretty onto it when we get new books in the library but the day we got this book I must have been away. I saw this come through the returns slot at work and as soon as I saw the cover I knew I just had to read it. At first glance, I thought this book was going to be a dystopian sort of novel similar to Robin Wasserman's Lia Series with Frozen, Torn etc but it turned out to be a mystery novel as the main character Nicole Castro - the most prettiest girl is attacked and half her fac...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Pamela Kramer rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin is a mystery, but it's also much more. It's a social commentary on troubled teens. It's a commentary on cliques. It's a window into the lives of troubled teens. It's a fascinating and compelling read.

The story is told in first person narrative with the narrator, Jay, telling the story about Nicole, the stunningly beautiful girl who is disfigured when someone throws acid on her face. His story alternates with entries from Nicole's diary and a few notes from her psyc...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE

Recommended to Ashley by: No one

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. THIS BOOK. THIS FREAKING BOOK. *Cough*

Okay, so I was a bit skeptical when this book popped up in the 'You Might Like' section in my Kindle. I love mystery books, but I try to avoid ones written when the main characters are still in high school, but I took a chance and was pleasantly surprised. My very low expectations were surpassed within the first two chapters, and I came out with a very satisfied read.

Burning Blue is the story of two very different, yet somehow alike, teenagers, Nicole Castro...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Adrienne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nicole Castro is beauty pageant beautiful--until someone sprays acid in her face and destroys one side of her face. Jay Nazzaro, an accomplished hacker, has been an outcast ever since a seizure left him with wet pants in front of the entire school a couple years before. Jay, rather than staring at and gossiping about Nicole like everyone else does, decides to use his hacking skills to try to figure out who it was that attacked Nicole. As he does, he gets to know Nicole and realizes that she isn'...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Liviania rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the books I picked up at TLA. The publicist told me she was excited about the new Paul Griffin, "of course," and I admitted I'd never heard of him. She handed me an ARC of BURNING BLUE so that I could rectify my mistake. I am very happy she did, because BURNING BLUE is a terrific book.

Now, don't confuse BURNING BLUE with MY LIFE IN BLACK & WHITE. Both feature beautiful girls being disfigured, have color titles, and were published by one of Penguin's young adult imprints, but h...more This is one of the books I picked up at TLA. The publicist told me she was excited about the new Paul Griffin, "of course," and I admitted I'd never heard of him. She handed me an ARC of BURNING BLUE so that I could rectify my mistake. I am very happy she did, because BURNING BLUE is a terrific book.

Now, don't confuse BURNING BLUE with MY LIFE IN BLACK & WHITE. Both feature beautiful girls being disfigured, have color titles, and were published by one of Penguin's young adult imprints, but have little else in common. BURNING BLUE is a thrilling mystery, not an introspective character study. Someone threw acid in Nicole Castro's face, and Jay Nazarro wants to know who. That's right - despite the girl on the cover, the narrator is a boy.

Jay is returning to public school after two years of being homeschooled after a video of one of his epileptic fits went viral. He meets Nicole in the school psychologist's office - they're in a swanky school district - shortly after the attack. The two become friends, after a rocky start, initially attracted by someone else who has issues being looked at in public. I absolutely loved their relationship. It's a little sexy, as there is obviously something between them, but it stays platonic. Above all else they become friends. Friends with the potential for more, yes, but it's a very sweet friendship and feels more authentic than an actual romance would.

Jay is pretty compelling on his own, as any good detective should be. I'd read a series about hacker detective Jay Navarro. He's good looking, but too socially awkward to notice or do anything about it if he did. He's willing to stand up to bullies, even if it means his own reputation takes a dive. But he isn't perfect. He's got little respect for privacy and interferes sometimes when he'd be better off trusting (or helping) the police. He might be good at helping Nicole recover, but he can still say thoughtless things that hurt her.

As for the crime itself - wow. Griffin does not back away from the darkness. BURNING BLUE is a book driven by violence, and the many motives violence. Despite that, BURNING BLUE isn't a dark book. It's quite often funny and the characters are more often good people than bad, no matter that they might seem sinister at first. The only way to discover who attacked Nicole is to treat everyone as a suspect, but the truth is the vast majority of people wish her nothing but the best. I liked that BURNING BLUE delved into tough issues without being cynical. It's a book with heart.

BURNING BLUE will appeal to both genders. Fans of mysteries and contemporaries will both enjoy the story within its pages. And I nominate Jay one of the most swoon-worthy heroes of the year, even if he isn't a werewolf/vampire/merman/other-tortured-creature-of-the-night. (less)

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Oct 12, 2012 Ernie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Griffin is the New York author of Ten Mile River where his life experience in the NYC volunteer ambulance contributed to the realistic conviction of his writing about desperate teenagers who lived on the edge of crime and survival. Now he turns this experience to two lonely teens, Jay and Nicole who have just returned to an upper middle class high school after traumatic injuries. Jay is a tall epileptic, nicknamed Spaceman and traumatised by a fit in the assembly hall in front of the whole schoo...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Adrianna rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a good, quick, read. I do not read many mystery novels so I went into this book with a lackadaisical attitude but found myself drawn into the characters and the way that they related to each other and how their characters evolved through the course of the book. I loved how the only person able to see that the 'school beauty' was still the 'school beauty' was a kid with his own substantial amount of emotional baggage and how the people that drew you in and caused you to developed a likin...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Susan P rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: committee, ya-fiction

Ever since he had a seizure in front of the entire student body his freshman year, Jay Nazarro has pretty much kept to himself. Too embarrassed to come back to school after the incident, Jay convinced the school and his dad to let him homeschool for the rest of his freshman year, and sophomore year as well. But now at the beginning of his junior year the adults have decided that he needs to get back in the mix and start doing the college prep thing. Unfortunately a lot of people still remember t...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Behind The Book rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

A definite page-turner - I read this book almost in one go. Great pacing, and some unexpected twists kept me racing towards the end. I loved how well he used a few crucial details, both as clever narrative mechanisms, and symbols for larger existential questions. (Love love love how he interwove Picasso's Girl In Front of Mirror with so many different strands of the story).

In the Author's Note, Paul mentions some real life inspiration, and that this book was his way of trying to understand the...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Henrietta rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I first heard of Burning Blue, I thought it was just a romantic story between a hacker and a popular girl. I assumed it would be something fairly predictable, like a girl got into an accident and then she met a guy, and this guy – probably handsome, strong and protective – would offer her a shoulder to cry on, and then they’d live happily ever after. But Burning Blue is a lot more than a romance. It has mystery, something that I wasn’t able to resolve (well, it’s more like I made a guess in...more When I first heard of Burning Blue, I thought it was just a romantic story between a hacker and a popular girl. I assumed it would be something fairly predictable, like a girl got into an accident and then she met a guy, and this guy – probably handsome, strong and protective – would offer her a shoulder to cry on, and then they’d live happily ever after. But Burning Blue is a lot more than a romance. It has mystery, something that I wasn’t able to resolve (well, it’s more like I made a guess in a wrong direction quite early on in the story) and when things are revealed in the end, I felt like I didn’t quite see that coming (not because I guessed things wrong but more because the characters were not just black and white, they were all shades of grey).

I really like the characters in the book. They all have something that they’d like to hide. They all feel unsafe to share their secrets, and I guess because of their desperation of wanting to hide what they don’t want to get exposed, they all act in ways that are deceptive, somewhat hurtful and inauthentic.

What I love about Burning Blue is that in the story, Jay (the hacker) goes about doing his investigation to find out who hurt Nicole not because he wants to make himself look like a hero. He does it because he feels it’s the right thing to do. I also like that we get to see why Jay has become the version of who he is when he becomes acquainted with Nicole at school after her accident. Probably because of his past, his way of extending his support for Nicole is not exactly forthright, but I like that he is sincere and caring. I especially like how his action is always louder than his words when he is interacting with others in the story.

Because the characters in the story are not pure evil or pure good, they feel real to me. It’s like I can relate to their sense of desperation, their loathing of self, their wanting to be different. I can feel how eager they want to shatter the masks that they’ve been wearing and yet they’re afraid the exposure of their authenticity would cost them dearly. I really like how the story explores into the vulnerability of our human nature, and if you like stories that explore the frailties of human nature, I think you’ll love Burning Blue.

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This review was originally posted on my blog.(less)

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Dec 06, 2012 Isamlq rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Isamlq by: Keertana

Colour me impressed and more than slightly surprised. Why, this... Yes, this was the kind of reading experience I wanted out of Shift. And my disappointment over that one's turn out is something I still grumble over to this moment. I’m not grumbling over this one though, as most aspects of BURNING BLUE had me thoroughly engaged. I was asking things, questioning things, thinking that so and so was doing this and that then seeing this is why’s and that’s how come’s. I thought I had things pegged,...more Colour me impressed and more than slightly surprised. Why, this... Yes, this was the kind of reading experience I wanted out of Shift. And my disappointment over that one's turn out is something I still grumble over to this moment. I’m not grumbling over this one though, as most aspects of BURNING BLUE had me thoroughly engaged. I was asking things, questioning things, thinking that so and so was doing this and that then seeing this is why’s and that’s how come’s. I thought I had things pegged, then moments later I’d be back to doubting my conclusions as well as doubting the conclusions Jay’d come up with.

How does one sum this one up when it’s mainly a mystery, but so much more? The relationship that grows between the two: one a misfit who’s so self conscious about not being in control of his body; the same kid relating to the other one on this level where they both have a need to be separate from the rest? Match made in heaven or not? Considering he’s accustomed to it all while she’s new to it. Her past after all had her cast as perfect: intelligent, rich and … beautiful.

It’s that last bit that starts the story too. What’s to be done when the thing that identified her is gone? It’s a question she deals with… but it’s not the central question of the book. Mostly this is about him wanting to figure out who, how and most importantly WHY.

Now one could cry impossible over him being boy -genius and her being too good to be true, but Jay is a different sort. As he’s telling the story, I was buying it, even with his super hacking skills and sleuthing wannabe moments. A bit Nancy Drew (or should I make that Hardy Boys?) him these skills and knowing all these other things as well as wanting to take it upon himself to right a wrong, but that’s me looking back on things, looking for something to nitpick over because while I was reading it, I actually didn’t mind any of those improbable (much.)

And then there’s Nicole… he relates to her on a certain level. Relating to one who on the surface seemed all about the surface, and what’s left to said girl when said surface is stripped away? (*Shakes head* Wait, I think I just confused myself there.) You think you know who they are and you think you know who’s behind it all. You’d be wrong. The guy, the girl and the rest of them when it’s one thing then another and it’s all WTF as in… Seriously, WTF did I just read? (Also, dude…can we get a cover change please?)

3.9999/5
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Aug 15, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

In my efforts to read more contemporary books, I’ve been on the lookout for things that both sound interesting to me and don’t involve dystopian societies, zombies, ghosts, witches, etc. Easier said than done. But Burning Blue struck me as a book that I’d be interested in reading. I mean, a girl gets ACID THROWN IN HER FACE. Or sprayed in her face to be more precise, but whatever. She gets disfigured in a brutal manner. A girl who has always been the most beautiful, the most striking, now stands...more In my efforts to read more contemporary books, I’ve been on the lookout for things that both sound interesting to me and don’t involve dystopian societies, zombies, ghosts, witches, etc. Easier said than done. But Burning Blue struck me as a book that I’d be interested in reading. I mean, a girl gets ACID THROWN IN HER FACE. Or sprayed in her face to be more precise, but whatever. She gets disfigured in a brutal manner. A girl who has always been the most beautiful, the most striking, now stands out for a different reason.

The book itself is told from Jay’s perspective, which I really enjoyed. Not that there aren’t tons of great books from a female perspective because there certainly are, but books from a male perspective seem to be a lot more few and far between. At least in the YA genre. In addition to Jay’s narration, it also includes excerpts from Nicole’s diary, emails, notes from her psychiatrist, etc. Not overdone, but enough to add to the story.

While I expected the book to be primarily about how Nicole deals with the aftermath of the crime, I was surprised at how strong the mystery aspect was. Jay spends a great deal of time trying to sort out who is behind Nicole’s attack, running down suspects and hacking into private email accounts, websites, etc. His suspect list is fairly long – everyone was jealous of Nicole, after all – and it’s really interesting to watch him whittle it down. He even suspects Nicole more than once, although he doesn’t want to think that she could be responsible for her own disfigurement. I confess that I was really surprised when I found out who the guilty party was. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been, but I was.

One thing in particular that I liked about this book is that, with one or two exceptions, everyone is genuinely likeable. Granted as secrets are revealed and real personalities are exposed the shine wears off some of them rather quickly, but for most of the book it’s hard to guess who is guilty simply because none of them seem likely to be capable of such an act. And it would have been so, so easy to make Nicole into the caricature beautiful mean girl, but she’s not. She is a nice girl. She could get away with being a complete and total bitch and never suffer for it, but she doesn’t. She is kind, which makes it all the more puzzling that someone would want to hurt her. And Jay is fantastic. He’s got some issues of his own – both physical and mental – but he comes to truly care about Nicole and wants to help her, often at a cost to himself. He’s a great knight in shining armor without being too over the top doofy or ridiculous, and he’s got a bit of the bad boy aspect but he’s not really bad.

For fans of the big romance – which sometimes includes me and sometimes doesn’t – I really enjoyed the one in this book. There is a sliiiight love triangle but it’s resolved cleanly and quickly early on in the book and really doesn’t play a huge part overall. There’s no wavering between two awesome guys, no big overwrought showdowns. What happens is a slow to develop but sweet romance between two damaged people.

There was one aspect of the story at the end that felt somewhat tacked on and unnecessary, or at least could have been tied into the story better because I do think I know what the author was trying to do with it, but my complaint is really minor and more nitpicky than anything.

I wavered back and forth over whether to give this 4 or 5 stars so I decided to split the difference & go with 4.5/5 stars.(less)

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May 25, 2013 Taylor rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: puzzler

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 17, 2012 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was very excited going into this book when it arrived in my library's newest book order. The synopsis intrigued me and the cover really caught my eye. It is hard for me to give the book a rating because in one way, the book was fast paced and kept me guessing but in another way, the book was missing something to me.

Griffin definitely has an interesting concept with the book and the ending will definitely surprise you. I didn't feel any sort of connection with the characters and didn't believe...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Michelle (FabbityFabBookReviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-young-adult

Narrated by high school outcast and mega-hacker Jay Nazarro, Burning Blue tells the story of an acid attack that takes place in high school- and its aftermath. Nicole Castro, the target of the heinous planned attack, has always been considered the most gorgeous girl in school; it appears that whoever did this attack was someone who hated her. Or was jealous of her. But who could have done this? And why?

When Jay and Nicole accidentally start becoming friends- and Nicole confiding more and more of...more
Narrated by high school outcast and mega-hacker Jay Nazarro, Burning Blue tells the story of an acid attack that takes place in high school- and its aftermath. Nicole Castro, the target of the heinous planned attack, has always been considered the most gorgeous girl in school; it appears that whoever did this attack was someone who hated her. Or was jealous of her. But who could have done this? And why?

When Jay and Nicole accidentally start becoming friends- and Nicole confiding more and more of her fears- Jay finds himself drawn in deeper and deeper into a tangled web of lies, deception, and something more than friendship. Interwoven with doctor, psychologist and psychiatric assessments; conversations between Nicole and her mom; phone call transcriptions and emails; Jay's hacking opens up multiple monsters- some deadly, some terrifying, and some devastating. I personally love reading stories that include various media, and I think the author did a great job at creating tension with this feature. Along with Jay's terrific narrative voice, the story kept me hooked (and sad and terrified). At times, though, it did feel like a bit too much was going on in the story. Multiple arcs and lines are intersecting along with the investigation into the acid attacker- along with a few red herrings dropped here and there. It's not as though the author doesn't keep it all reigned it, I just felt that the main storyline almost got cluttered along the way with diversions that did not seem as integral.

Overall, I thought this novel was well-written and thoughtful, taking on some very serious, very critical topics (most of them so pertinent to teens). Never turning into a lecture or soapbox on 'beauty comes from within', Griffin takes what that has been dealt with many times before by female narrators, and gives us something different with Jay's male voice as the lead. Also: if you do get to this book: once you finish, try to take the time to read the author's notes at the back.

I would recommend this contemporary/mystery title for fans of: Mariah Fredericks, Natasha Friend, Ellen Hopkins, Courtney Summers and Anna Jarzab. If you're looking for a solid, edgy mystery, that tackles some heavy-duty topics, then this is a good pick. This is the first YA novel by I've read by Paul Griffin, and I do hope to get to his earlier books.
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Feb 05, 2013 Sammy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: perfect-chemistry, reviewed

Where shall I start with this book , I picked it thinking it was a romantic novel with bit mystery , but it totally surprised me , with male narration , when the story was based on the female lead , only Paul Griffin could pull out such a stunt & gets success .

The best part of it was he built it around the realistic characters , keeping the romance to minimum , yet you fall in love with the chemistry.

Jay loner by choice , yet circumstances played role in his choices , smart & perceptive...more

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