Burn Baby Burn

Median, Meg. BURN BABY BURN. 2018. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9781536200270

Plot Summary

Nora is a senior in high school living in Queens, New York with her mother and brother, Hector. She works at the deli, her best friend is Kathleen, and she has a huge crush on Freddie Prinze (an actor). Nora has decisions to make about her life: will she attend college, stay and help her mother, or move away because what her mother doesn't want to acknowledge is that Hector is a danger to them. Hector has a thing for fire and he is a user. Nora's parents divorced when she was a young kid. There is this cute guy, Pablo who she works with but isn't too sure about dating. Senior year seems to go well. But the summer after graduation becomes a mess: acts of arson are happening around the city, a nineteen year old girl is killed, and soon Nora finds herself in a bind as she may lose her best friend and boyfriend.

Critical Analysis

Meg Medina does an awesome job of writing about events that occurred in Queens, New York in 1977. First, how Ms. Medina weaves the killings committed by David Berkowitz aka Son of Sam into the story is remarkable. She includes points where Nora and Kathleen talk about how having a curfew as seniors is bad because they had more freedom during middle school. Ms. Medina was just a teenager in 1977 so her memories are from a child's perspective; however, she does her research to make sure that including such tragic events as the Son of Sam killings, to the blackout that would paralyze a large major city for days would make Nora living in Queens realistic and relatable. Ms. Medina creates a setting that allows the characters and story to flow with ease as it is being read.  She writes Nora as typical teenage senior that has to deal with being raised by a single-mother; having a brother who is angry and a danger to not only himself but Nora and her mother. On the other side of Nora is her best friend, Kathleen, who has two parents who love her and are active in the community: Kathleen's dad is a firefighter and Kathleen's mother is active in the Women's Movement that is about women having equal rights to men.  With all these layers woven into the story, the reader is given a tale that is believable.  Ms. Medina allows for multiple view points so the reader can choose which character they like or do not like. Ms. Medina also adds complexity when it comes to family. The way she has chosen to write Hector as a pyromaniac and drug user is surreal. Every detail that surrounds Nora is written with care so as not to make the story seem too fake.  Although, Burn Baby Burn is historical fiction, Meg Medina has written a story that I may have to read again and then go look up more information about Queens.

Review Excerpt(s)

Washington Independent Review Books-"Burn Baby Burn is more than just a coming-of-age novel. It’s also a keen exploration of the immigrant experience, family violence, mental illness, and the convulsive revolution of sexual politics in the 1970s. All of it is still highly relevant."(Watkins, Steve. May 13, 2016. Accessed 10.30.22)

School Library Journal-"I also loved Medina’s choice to write historical fiction. The time period is as much a part of the setting as the NYC cityscapes surrounding the characters. The pivotal summer depicted allows for a slow build in the plot —... Medina does not allow these dramatic events to drive the story. The historical setting gives readers the opportunity to make connections and parallels to the headlines and current events we see today. Medina allows Nora’s personal story to slowly collide with the escalating events of 1977, while still keeping the focus on Nora’s own situation."(Couri, Sarah. October 14, 2016. Accessed 10.30.22)

Connections

Provide a brief introduction about New York City and explain how the city is divided into boroughs. Pull up a map and show students what the city looks like. Transition to talking about Queens, as it is the setting of the story.

Create and display a poster/infographic of what was happening in 1977 in New York City and a few facts about the nation.

Briefly talk about Son of Sam killings. You can show a video clip of the killer being interviewed in the past 3-4 years. Crime Stoppers: David Berkowitz

Discuss immigration and how it continues to impact communities across the United States. Comparing and contrasting Nora's family and her community to present day. Encourage students to share books and/or real-life experiences that are similiar to Nora's.

Discuss how addiction and drug use affects families and communities; looking at what has and has not changed from 1977 to 2022.

The words of this review are my own and written for the purpose and participation in a graduate studies class at Sam Houston State University.