Burn Baby Burn (novel)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Burn Baby Burn is a 2016 young adult novel by Cuban-American author Meg Medina. Set in the summer of 1977 in Queens, New York, it follows Nora López as she longs to move out on her own while danger and fear swirl around her.

Nora’s home life is hard. Her father left years ago and rarely sends money, leaving her mother pressed to pay the rent. Nora’s younger brother, Hector, is abusive, and their mother often blames Nora for the trouble. To keep things private, Nora hides the bruises from her best friend Kathleen, who has a loving family. Nora’s world lightens briefly when she starts dating Pablo, a college student who works with her at the local deli, but that happiness doesn’t last.

Meanwhile, a real killer called the Son of Sam begins terrorizing the city, and Nora must always be careful and wary of danger. The fear that “anyone could be a victim” weighs on her as she navigates friendship, family, and growing up.

Medina drew on her own experiences growing up in New York City in 1977. She wanted to show the chaotic energy of that year, the fear people felt, and the idea that feminism and personal strength could matter in a young girl’s life. The author spent three years on the book, doing interviews and research to capture the era.

Burn Baby Burn received strong reviews, including starred acclaim from Kirkus, Booklist, Horn Book, and School Library Journal, with Publishers Weekly also giving it positive notices. It was named one of the best books of 2016 by several review outlets.

Publication details: Candlewick Press, 2016. 320 pages. Available in print, ebook, and audiobook (narrated by Marisol Ramirez). ISBN 0763674672. Preceded by Mango, Abuela and Me.