This bestselling author explores the destructive nature of hatred, the crime of indifference, and the power of accepting love and responsibility...
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Dec 19, 2011
Joey
rated it: 
I stumbled upon this book the other day when moving some Christmas decorations (I had gotten it I think in middle school, back when the thought of internet use in the 1990's didn't make me laugh); I'm glad I did.
Now, this book is young adult fiction, and is clearly written for a younger audience (in other words, it isn't Shakespeare). That said, it's still a great story, and, as one reviewer put it, Cooney shows an "outstanding command of emotional tension," and this aspect More...
Now, this book is young adult fiction, and is clearly written for a younger audience (in other words, it isn't Shakespeare). That said, it's still a great story, and, as one reviewer put it, Cooney shows an "outstanding command of emotional tension," and this aspect More...
Jul 04, 2011
Maggie61
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I started reading this thinking it would be similar to other Caroline Cooney books I had read, but was surprised at the depth of the storyline here. Macey can`t leave the mystery of a fire that happened 38 years ago alone. While it was only what originally seemed to be just a barn fire, it ended up being the home of the first black teacher in the area and the intent of the arson was to drive the teacher away. No one wants to talk about the fire, everyone has conveniently forgotten the fire hap
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Nov 16, 2011
Jamesspillett
rated it: 
I thought this book was ok. I didn't think this book had a real good problem. I think they could have put some more problems in it. The only two problems in the story is that one macey cant find out a story about an arson that happened 20 years ago to a black man and that the boy she likes is helping her and in the end he moves away back to his parents house. I wish they had put more "action" in the story. The only Heart raising thing that happened through out the whole story is in the
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Feb 15, 2010
Levina
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This is a great book with an important message. The details of the plot is already covered in the description, so I'll just skip to the main message.
Macey has chosen to research an ancient fire in her neighborhood that destroyed a barn where someone lived, forty years ago, for her history assignment. She's amazed and puzzled when everyone she asks either has no information or records of the fire or refuses to talk to her about it.
Macey is determined to solve the mystery of who More...
Macey has chosen to research an ancient fire in her neighborhood that destroyed a barn where someone lived, forty years ago, for her history assignment. She's amazed and puzzled when everyone she asks either has no information or records of the fire or refuses to talk to her about it.
Macey is determined to solve the mystery of who More...
Jun 13, 2009
Victoria
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This is a great book that mixed teen life with a serious issue. It kept me interested the whole time.
Macey Clare feels comfortable in her home town, although it isn't always fun being shunted back and forth between her two sets of hovering grandparents, who live near her. But between hanging out with her two good friends, attending annual barbacues on the beach, and getting to know cute classmate Austin better, her life seems fine.
Then, for a school project, Macey start More...
Macey Clare feels comfortable in her home town, although it isn't always fun being shunted back and forth between her two sets of hovering grandparents, who live near her. But between hanging out with her two good friends, attending annual barbacues on the beach, and getting to know cute classmate Austin better, her life seems fine.
Then, for a school project, Macey start More...
Mar 09, 2009
Martin. A
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I didnt like this book so much even though thing iough I love mystery sotories. But at the time I did like at the in some parts when the author makes a pretty good imagery thats why I putted 4 stars, because if not the only thin g on the storie would be about the main character named macey resolving the mystery, I really dont like that. But in the story there are some parts where the story gets to the top when they are trying to solve the mystery and start blaming a guy really intense thats wher
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Apr 29, 2008
Erika
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OK, so, I went into a "mystery/thriller" phase back in middle school, and Caroline B. Cooney is the woman to go to. Out of all the books I read of hers, this is my most favorite. That and the "Time" series. The "Time" series is her romance series and they are my faves of hers too. Happy reading!!
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Sep 15, 2010
Rolando
rated it:
I learned several things in this book. for example, i learned that Macey has a project to do and she decides to do it about a fire that happened in 1959.Also, when she begins to study about the past fire she ask her grandmother about it and she replies as if she did not even know that the fire happened and acted as if she did not recall that event. In addition, the more she studies about the fire the more people start to deny what happened and act suspicious. People start telling Macey to not br
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Feb 06, 2010
Sabr!na
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This book was short, yet packed with important lessons about bravery, family, racism, facing up to the truth, and standing up for what you believe in. The down to earth way the book was written helps you easily see how to relate these things to your own life while still giving you the enriching experience of catharsis that you can only get by reading an captivating novel. It challenges you, like the character Macey was challenged, to change your life by finding the truth, and then to teach other
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Sep 25, 2009
Bobaloi
rated it:
Burning Up
Burning Up is a good book if you like mystery and action books this is the one for you. “Austin. Well, I’ve thought about it.” “You can’t think about a crush. You have one, or you don’t have one.” This is Macey the main character and a person named Venita. Macey is a kind and nice person it seems she is nice to everyone and everyone likes her back and there’s nothing bad to say about her. I’m still reading the book and I have nothing bad to say about it. Poor Macey she has More...
Burning Up is a good book if you like mystery and action books this is the one for you. “Austin. Well, I’ve thought about it.” “You can’t think about a crush. You have one, or you don’t have one.” This is Macey the main character and a person named Venita. Macey is a kind and nice person it seems she is nice to everyone and everyone likes her back and there’s nothing bad to say about her. I’m still reading the book and I have nothing bad to say about it. Poor Macey she has More...
Dec 31, 2009
John
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This is an older children's/YA novel, and I wish there'd been more of this kind of stuff around when I was a kid. Young Macey lives in the swanky Connecticut burb that's been home to her family for generations. As a school project, she decides to delve into the history of a local burnt-out barn . . . and is surprised to run into a wall of adult hostility to the notion. It could have ended there -- why rock the boat? -- but Macey's attitudes mature quite a lot when she and a few classmates More...
Mar 02, 2010
Frisky Mulcoy [canine lover]
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I really liked the plot and the message, but as for the writing... The imagery was great, as was the dialogue, but sometimes Cooney just seemed to jump around too much. For instance, one character could be talking about one thing, and then randomly jump to another. There were no hints that they had been thinking of anything else, either. It was like some need to get back to the point was driving the dialogue, rather than letting the events come as a part of the story.
But that was onl More...
But that was onl More...
Oct 03, 2008
The name of the book I read is called burning up by caroline b.cooney this book is non-fiction.this story takesz place in a dark place over in the connecticut.
This book is about a 15-year old girl named macey clare and she loved going out 2 her quite beautiful hometown and thatz were her grandparentz lived and also were her mother grew up at,she liked going over there but she really likes going over there now that this boy name name austin has moved in with his grandparents.but one day More...
This book is about a 15-year old girl named macey clare and she loved going out 2 her quite beautiful hometown and thatz were her grandparentz lived and also were her mother grew up at,she liked going over there but she really likes going over there now that this boy name name austin has moved in with his grandparents.but one day More...
Nov 17, 2010
Sarah
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This book talks about an unspoken thing, people are still racists and sexists. Too often, it is said in violence, resulting in major injuries, and possibly death. It's too true, and seems like it's not true, that we're not that mean or rude. But, often or not, it's true. Caroline B. Cooney did a great job telling about this event in the book. And, she writes really fabulously. Although I'm not really a fan, she is also one of the best authors I have read so far.
Jan 12, 2010
Amanda
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I found this book in my English classroom and thought that it looked like it could be good. I thought it was a fun book to read. It had a ton of symbolism in it and that was fun to follow. I really started to get into the book and i can recal multiple times feeling like just yelling at the characters as well as just getting so angry at the town just doing nothing about what happened! I thought the ending was kind of weak but the rest of the book was pretty good.
Dec 16, 2009
Daydreemer5696
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Oct 12, 2010
Oh Caroline Cooney. I'm sure there are many good and redeeming things about you, but I mostly read your books because of their trashy mystery feel. Burning Up was a 2002 Rebecca Caudill selection, so it must've had more going for it than, say, The Face on the Milk Carton, which was apparently made into a TV movie starring Kellie Martin!
Jul 27, 2011
A school history project sets Macey off on a path which she probably wishes she had never started down. But once begun, Macey is compelled to complete the journey. The story contains an element of mystery, with themes about racism, personal responsibility, trust, family and friendship.
Although aimed at a teen/young adult audience, I think this is a novel readers of all ages will appreciate.
Although aimed at a teen/young adult audience, I think this is a novel readers of all ages will appreciate.
Dec 19, 2010
Patrick
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This book was pretty good. It was about a girl named Macey Clare researching about a fire that occurred in her town. While she was researching about it, no one wanted her to know the truth. As she does more research, she finds out surprising information. My favorite part in this book was when Macey and her friends go to the Good Shepherd church to paint the church. When they were painting, there was a fire. That fire made Macey want to research about the fire that occurred in her town even more.
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Oct 14, 2010
Jessica
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Macey Clare is a highscool studet. she loves going to her grandparents house and is good at school. but when she statrts reserching a fire for a school project. she noticed something was wrong. so her and her friend Austin start looking around. i think that this is a good book. read the book to find out what happens in the end. :D
Dec 08, 2008
Josie
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I suppose it was OK. not the best book i have ever read. But it was still good. I borrowed it from my friend. Anyway, it's about the girl who tries to discover who this mysterious teacher is and what happened to him. Everything seems to evolve around this fire, thats why it is called Burning Up.
Jun 09, 2009
Kayla
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This was a pretty amazing book for being about segregation. It was so sad what happened to the little girl. Surprisingly I read the whole thing and was interested and learned things I never knew still existed that badly. I think a lot of people should read this book and see what horrors the world thinks are gone today, but are actually better hidden.
Sep 25, 2010
Jess
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i just re- read this book and finished it this mornig. I had read it a couple years ago and liked it but i just couldn't remember what it was about. I liked it agian but i have read much better i hate to say. i was disapointed with the ending but it was still pretty good.
Feb 10, 2012
Timothy
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It is starting off slow but in an interesting way, its talking about life and the setting before getting to the real topic, Cooney made the begins of this book very interesting, and in a way that makes you want to read more.
Aug 22, 2011
Although To Kill a Mockingbird (also one of my favorites!) is in a class by itself, I think you might enjoy Burning Up by Caroline Cooney. The teenage main character is spunky like Scout and faces community crime and prejudice.
Aug 22, 2010
Elizabeth
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i loved this book and i recommened it too everyone. it is a story about a girl who lives in this nice rich area and she always thought her town was perfect but she stumbled along a secret and nobody wanted to tell her the answer or give her any clues so she goes with her neighbor to find out the answer to the secret.
Jan 22, 2009
Jan
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Good Young Adult read about bigotry and people who do nothing to prevent or stop it. Understanding and disgust comes to a later generation as they realize the true story that was hidden.
Jul 09, 2011
Marissa
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Caroline B. Cooney brought in a problem that still exists today. Although the race card can be a sensitive topic, the book goes past that and smacks it right in your face. Very inspiring.
Jun 23, 2009
Jennifer
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I did not expect this novel to turn into an exploration of racism in the North during the 1950s. The storyline was quite interesting despite the plot dragging at times.
Jan 17, 2010
Emma
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no, this isnt about the jonas brothers. it has nothing to do with the jonas brothers. it is about a fire. read it
