Burning from the Inside

by Christine Walde

Getting caught is nothing new for graffiti-writer Thom, but this time it lands him in a youth detention centre. He’s offered a chance to clean his record — if he can infiltrate and inform on a group of writers known as the G7. Writing under his new identity, TNT, Thom gets the attention of the G7 … and the admiration of one of their members. Aura keeps having the dream: the one where her writer idol Story shows her The Ten — a legendary work of graffiti that holds the promise of quintessential truths. Aura’s obsession surrounding Story intensifies when a new graf bomber starts appearing over town: TNT. Not usually one for signs, Aura comes to believe that he is meant to show her the way to Tiger Mountain, the secret location of The Ten.

In her search for the truth about Story, Aura is blind to the lies surrounding TNT. And as Thom gets closer to the G7, he questions the motives of the cop who put him up to it — and his wonders whether his own motives have changed.

Genres: Canada

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Christine Walde has been published in several national and international journals, including The New Quarterly, Descant, The Antigonish Review, and Plath Profiles. She was most recently shortlisted for The 2009 Descant Winston Collins Award. Her first novel, The Candy Darlings, was published by Houghton Mifflin in the US (2006) and by Penguin Canada (2007). She is currently the Writer-in-Residence at The Windermere Manor and is at work on a number of new projects, including a book of poetry and her second novel. She lives in London, Ontario.

Reviews

[Corrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another of the books I got at the OLA Super Conference,and it was written by a classmate of mine from library school, Christine Walde. I knew she was a poet, but I didn’t know that she was also a prose author. At times the language she uses is so beautifully put together, you can tell where the poetry whispered in her ear saying don’t you miss me?

The point of view alternates between Aura and Thom, and in some ways they’re very alike. They’re both just so *frustrated*–Thom wants to make art, art that is seen and changes the world a little bit, and Aura wants to send a message to the world with the rest of the G7 that it needs to WAKE UP. Young frustrated idealism in the face of a cynical world that doesn’t want to listen–a timeless story. Thom and Aura would never work as older characters, because they would be more jaded–they need the impatience of youth to change the world.

The book also talks a lot about graffiti, what drives people to go out and do it even though it is illegal. Graffiti is a culture I have never experienced–probably because I have no artistic talent (alright, and I tend to be boringly law-abiding). I can’t even draw stick people well, and I admire people who do have that talent. There’s a sharp difference drawn here between those who scribble meaningless things with paint on public property and those who create art, who have a message and something to say in a public forum. The amateur and the professional graffiti writer, in a way. Both have their place, but buffing scribbles is a pinprick to Thom while buffing art is a wound.

burning from the inside reminds you what it was like to be young and need to express yourself so intently that you, well, burned with it–burn until you explode. Like TNT.

[Stephanie Pâquet · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* :A very original story that depicts the world of graf artists. Thom and Aura are relatable,likeable and well-written. I found it hard to understand Chef BS and I wished we could have learned more about this important character the characters all gravitated around. The author writes beautifully BUT I can't say I particularly liked this no use of quotation marks style. I understand the author probably wanting to give a more 'bare, closer to the characters' experience but I found myself having troubles focusing on the text at times ONLY because of that.
Still, this was a very unique interesting story and I would recommend it.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in a modern way (no quotation marks, no chapters, open ending), this novel still delivers a fantastic story. Thom, a graffiti artist, is caught and must go undercover to crack the G7 graffiti squad. He tags all night and then works on the crew that removes the graffiti during the day. Recommended reluctant readers and for older teens who enjoy realistic fiction about rebels with a cause.

[Amy Mathers · Rating 3 out of 5]

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