The Burn Journals
By Brent Runyon Alfred A Knoff(2004) ISBN: 0375826211
In the true story, The Burn Journals, Brent, 14, feels overwhelmed by the challenges he faces in his young life: he gets in trouble frequently, has failed most of his classes, and is overwhelmed by what seems to be an infinite sadness. One day, Brent receives some matches, lights one up, and sets the whole box on fire. In his panic, he throws the fiery box into a locker, igniting a t-shirt. After his is discovered as the arsonist, Brent is
up for expulsion. Feeling utterly beaten down by the “all the stupid things” he’s done, Brent walks to his family’s shed, grabs a can of gasoline and matches, trudges upstairs and locks himself in in the bathroom. There, he proceeds douse himself with gasoline, and like the t-shirt, erupts his body into flames—a move he immediately regrets. With his brother’s help, emergency workers arrive to take Brent to the hospital…
up for expulsion. Feeling utterly beaten down by the “all the stupid things” he’s done, Brent walks to his family’s shed, grabs a can of gasoline and matches, trudges upstairs and locks himself in in the bathroom. There, he proceeds douse himself with gasoline, and like the t-shirt, erupts his body into flames—a move he immediately regrets. With his brother’s help, emergency workers arrive to take Brent to the hospital…
In the The Burn Journals, Brent shares the powerful grip of depression, his grueling recovering, and his willingness to live.
Quantitative: Lexile Level--690L; ATOS-3.8
Qualitative: Even though ATOS ranks The Burn Journals between a 3rd and 4th grade reading level for independent reading, this book holds an interest level for upper grade students. Due to the graphic nature of Brent’s suicide attempt and some foul language, students in junior high or high school would be able to identify with the content of this book in a more impactful way. Overall the vocabulary used is not complex; however, during Brent’s time in the hospital, medical language is invoked which could confuse students. Context clues are helpful when attempting to make sense of this medical language. Throughout the memoir, Runyon uses literary devices such as imagery and symbolism to describe the eyes as a window to the soul. The eyes play a significant part in Runyon’s recovery and the reader’s understanding of his pain, since his eyes are the only part he considers to be part of his true self—before and after his attempted suicide. Additionally, once Runyon enters the hospital, the book’s format shifts taking on the structure of a journal. Although dates aren’t always listed, the entries report his experiences as he goes in and out of treatments and recovery centers. Time may become a concern for novice readers without regular dates listed, but the narrative remains linear.
Content Area: English; Peer Resource; Health--Teen suicide; Art--Therapy
Curriculum Suggestions: This is not a book I would recommend for mandatory reading, but it would work well in a health class when examining the impacts of depression. Furthermore, the memoir highlights the painful nature of recovering from bodily burns. This could be used as a primary source to learn about both issues—depression and wound recovery. Additionally, Brent Runyon, through his journal entries, shows the reader the power of art as means of coping with mental health issues like depression. Any teacher—whether it’s in English, health, or art—could have students create a piece of art that represents an emotion that they have been caring. By allowing students to choose both the form and medium of the art piece, teachers offer a differentiated means of expressing that feeling while practicing a coping strategy that Runyon uses himself.
Teachers could also use The Burn Journals as a launch pad to explore how mental health is being addressed in the United States and how treatment compares to other countries.
Common Core Standards: RST 9/10.1-5
Additional/Digital Content:
Personal Thoughts: What I appreciated most about The Burn Journals is that it presents the male experience when dealing with depression. We live in a culture that does not cultivate a safe space for sharing feelings, especially for young men. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are not isolated to one sex and Runyon makes this crystal clear. Runyon's attempted suicide occurred in 1991. Today, with kids' access to social media, students have shown that social media increases depression among its users. Growing reports of teenagers committing suicide related to online activity--specifically bullying--makes The Burn Journals as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 2004.
*Meets the “Reading for Pleasure HS/MS” requirement
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