Brent gradually gets over his depression and grows and learns from everything that happens to him. The second hardest thing to do in life is to change from a child into an adult. He shares his story with such unflinching honesty that we understand with a terrible clarity what it means to want to kill. Brent runyon was fourteen years old when he set himself on fire. Fans of thirteen reasons why, running with scissors and girl, interrupted will be entranced by this remarkable true story of teenage despair and recovery in 1991, fourteenyearold brent runyon came home from school, doused his bathrobe in gasoline, put it on, an.
The burn journals by brent runyon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Many teen novels touch on similar themes, but few do it so memorably. Its a story about what is everchanging and what is timeless, and how we are shaped by both the people and places we love. In maybe by brent runyon, brians unpredictable behaviors make it hard to know him at first. Not being able to find it at my local library, i picked up your novel maybe instead. Its a powerful story about love and loss and death and anger and the near impossibility for a sixteenyearold boy to both understand how he feels and to make himself heard. Brent runyon was 14 years old when he set himself on fire.
As the title of the memoir suggests, runyon attempted to end his life by donning a gasolinesoaked bathrobe and setting it on fire. Brent runyon is the main character, protagonist, and narrator in his story. He experiences major depression in the beginning of the book, but gradually learns to accept himself. In the burn journals, runyon describes that devastating suicide attempt and his recovery, both physical and psychological, over the following year. Brent runyon has crafted a remarkable portrait of a boy at four distinct points in his life and literally shows us his comingofage. The book is about runyon s experiences of his rehabilitation after he tried to kill himself. Books by brent runyon authors like brent runyon what should i read next register for free to build your own book lists.
Im reading this book for school and our teacher told us to find a non fiction book and we have to write about the climax. In 1991, fourteenyearold brent runyon came home from school, doused his bathrobe in gasoline, put it on, and lit a match. Brent runyon is the author of the highly acclaimed memoir, the burn journals, as well as a novel, maybe. In 1991, fourteenyearold brent runyon came home from school, doused his bathrobe. Any good books like the burn journals please yahoo. Maybe is written as if it were a journal, viewing a small slice of this young mans life through his eyes. He also doesnt seem to have much understanding for the effect his actions had on his parents and his older brother. Another major theme of the book is the innate will of people to survive and fight against things holding them back. The 16yearold protagonist finds himself awash in selfdoubt and insecurity when his family moves to a new town after the tragic death of his older, more gregarious, brother. Maybe runyon did have to do that, but you never get that feeling at all. This book is by the same author as the nonfiction book, the burn journals which i plan to read very soon. Discount prices on books by brent runyon, including titles like surface tension.
Brian doesnt know how the crashed happened, but he fears it was suicide. Maybe ebook by brent runyon 9780375849930 rakuten kobo. The author effectively relays the daytoday life of todays teens, including swearing, drugs, drinking and dating however, these areas are handled tastefully and realistically. He didnt share any deep thoughts and tried to cop cheap feels on girls at his new school. Some of the published credits of brent runyon include burn journals, the ebk, maybe. A novel in four summers by brent runyon online at alibris. Brent runyon or brenner born 1977 is a contemporary writer for young adults.
Brent runyon from the author i took a job as a newspaper reporter a few months ago to help pay the bills. He is a contributor to public radios this american life, and lives on cape cod, where he works as a newspaper reporter. Brent runyon, author of the burn journals, has written a brutally honest and heartwrenching tale in his latest release, maybe, a novel that deals with death, brothers, sex and interpersonal relationships. Actually, right after i got out of the hospital, i did start writing a novel, but the book was so transparently about me that i stopped. Ten years after dousing himself in gasoline and applying a match, brent runyon decides to write about it. Maybe if i mouth the words no one will know im not singing. Brent runyon is a published author of childrens books and young adult books. Brent runyon the second hardest thing to do in life is to change from a child into an adult. In fact, i disliked brian so much in the beginning and didnt know if i wanted to continue reading the book. Maybe by brent runyon is a short 196 page novel about an average teen boy getting over the death of his brother. Runyon does not make the reader just see and show sympathy for brian, the main character, but instead lets the reader in and feel all the emotions flood through them. He suffered thirddegree burns over 85% of his body and spent the next year recovering in hospitals and rehab facilities. He did this by undressing, pouring gasoline on his robe, putting his robe on, and setting his robe on fire.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the burn journals by brent runyon. Hi, i have been looking for a really good book, and i cant find one. Brent runyon offers a raw, wrenching novel of a boy on the edge. Brent runyon s suicide attempt at age fourteen is the subject of his book the burn journals. I was a very outgoing kid, but being in the hospital being outside of social action for so long turned me into an observer. Brent runyon i took a job as a newspaper reporter a few months ago to help pay the bills. With sensitivity and candor, runyon reveals how life changes us all and how. Books by brent runyon authors like brent runyon what.
To edit or update the above biography on brent runyon, please log in or register. Runyon follows the critical success of burn journals 2004 with a foray into fiction that features another troubled teenaged boy. And not one in a thousand novelists could make it work. The burn journals has been nominated for a georgia peach award for young readers. Preparing the maybe brent runyon to read all daylight is up to. I am looking for these qualitiesif you suggest a book please say wich number of the qualities the book has.
Dear brent runyon, a friend of mine recommended the burn journals to me a few days ago. Sixteen year old brians older brother died recently in a mysterious car crash. Simiar to the burn journals, or maybe by brent runyon. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. The burn journals by brent runyon in fb2, fb3, txt download e book. Brent runyon aj vaught although i was a little up in the air about making my own website i decided it was only fair to all my friends and supporters after what they have done for me through thick and thin. Learn more about characters, symbols, and themes in all your favorite books with course heros free. In fact, that bothered me when i read the press materials that accompanied the book. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The burn journals by brent runyon this book is a memoir about a boy named brent runyon the author of this book and how his depression got the better of him. Brent runyon author biography, plus links to books by.
One major theme of the book is being accepting of yourself as you grow up, and learning to appreciate life. A novel in four summers, written with longtime collaborator christina egloff, is in bookstores now. Brent runyon books, biography, contact information. Runyon s fiction, particularly his 2006 novel, maybe, continues these themes, exploring the struggles that young boys face to express their feelings and cope with life, death, grief, and anger. See all books authored by brent runyon, including the burn journals, and maybe, and more on thriftbooks. One major theme of the book is being accepting of yourself as. His first book, the burn journals, is a memoir of his suicide survival.