Burned Literary Elements

YA Fiction

An unnamed town in Nevada

The story is told in the first person from the point of view of the protagonist, Pattyn Von Stratton.

The mood throughout the novel is largely pensive and fearful. There is constant trepidation as we follow the protagonist due to the ever present fear that she might get caught.

Pattyn Von Stratton is the protagonist of the novel. There are multiple antagonists in the novel, but they are mainly her father Stephan Von Stratton, her Mormon pastor, and the corrupt deputy who is in cahoots with her father.

The major conflict begins early on in the novel when Pattyn begins to experiment with her body and discover herself. This, however, is put to a stop by her restrictive father and she is sent to live with her Aunt J, beginning a spiral of events.

The story comes to a climax when Ethan and Pattyn reach the point in their relationship where they finally have sex. The novel then continues with the aftermath and consequences of their illicit relationship.

The ending of her relationship with Derek foreshadows the ending of her relationship with Ethan, albeit due to very different reasons (Derek leaves her for another girl while Ethan is killed in a car crash).

The novel portrays the beatings and violence with such nonchalance that the significance of these acts is understated.

Aunt J is alluded to as a sort of messiah and savior from Pattyn's abusive dad, who is alluded to a Mormon with double standards - Biblical allusions.

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Pattyn's father is expected to live up to the high standards he has set for his daughter. However, he often falls short of these standards yet punishes his daughter for failing to meet his expectations.

Pattyn's relationship with Ethan is paralleled with the relationship her father has with her mother. Theirs is one filled with genuine love whereas her parents' is a loveless marriage.

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