I absolutely love Ellen Hopkins. She has become my favorite author. She has such a fascinating way of writing. Like the majority of her books, I definitely give it a 5 star review. I was hardly able to out the book down! ( )

I love it! I've been wondering what happenes to Pattyn & her sisters. ( )

An excellent sequel/ending to a fantastic first book (Burned). ( )

Wow! I can't believe I read the first book on this duo, Burned, over three years ago. I can remember it like it was yesterday. Whether that's because of the content, the abuse, the love, or just the storytelling in general, I'm not sure. But I'm glad I got around to finally wrapping everything up. Like always, I love Ellen Hopkins' writing, not just the style of it but the way she weaves her stories together. They're heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. I can't get enough, even though they're hard to read sometimes.

Check out my full review here!

https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com/2020/10/27/smoke-burned-2-by-ellen-... ( )

4.5/5

P.S.A.: Remember, any thoughts (review of this book or passages) from this point are mine and mine alone. Keep responses to this post respectful at all times...Even if you do not agree.

This book can basically be summarized in four major words: Fear, Courage, Strength, Love!

Four things I feel on a regular basis it seems. But many times, it seems fear takes it's hold on me through depression and anxiety. So, although this book was hard to take and depressing..It was a teaching moment for me..especially at one part that may be spoiler-ish, and I will cover that part up for those who haven't read the book yet. I do believe God has sent these books to my life for a reason. And that reason was for me to learn..but especially from this one part if nothing else:

(Pages 536-537)
"...I didn't want to tell Aunt J how afraid I am of happiness.

Most People
Would say that's an irrational
fear. How could any sane person

believe they weren't destined
for happiness? Most of the time

I feel balanced enough. Most
of the time I think my brain

is functioning properly. But
somewhere in the gray matter,

profound damage has occurred.
Maybe you can't live through all

I have and come out unscathed.
I'm in need of healing myself,

and I am on a pilgrimage of sorts.
I'm not alone on this journey,

and for that, I'm grateful. But until
I reach that end destination, I will

not search for happiness. Perhaps it will come looking for me."
(DISCLAIMER: All in quotes are exact passages from Smoke by Ellen Hopkins, I take no credit for it at all. I am sharing this part as a review and sharing my feelings on that part of the book)
========

Now, with all that typed out, that is a healing part for me, especially the parts about the healing and not coming out unscathed. This is yet another step towards my healing process in my own life and how grateful I am to a God that I personally believe in that He will show me He is listening and allowing me to learn from others and all the things they have survived through!

I enjoyed this duo-logy as much as you can enjoy books like this..and this one is an especially wonderful book of healing, growth, courage, love, forgiveness of self [and hopefully of others] in time. Something we all need to work on, regardless of beliefs, or lack there of.

Now, I am not here to preach, just speak my personal feelings on this book. I am not here to try to change how anyone believes or thinks...That's not my job..I just give my thoughts and allow people to take from it how they choose.

Thank you for taking time to read this out. And again, any passages that may be here from the book I have put in quotes and have naturally given credit to the page, author and book name.

I do not see myself reading any more of her books any time soon because of how depressing her books seem to be. That is something I can not handle on a regular basis. And as much as I enjoyed this book, I'm not sure if I'll buy them because I have to ask myself: Would you re-read this book? If the answer is no..then I generally tend not to buy/keep books now. Unless there is another purpose behind it at the time. These are the only books I have read by her, and she is a beautiful writer, it's just the depressing tone of her books. :-( ( )