Melody Burning

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More About This Book

Overview

Beresford doesn’t remember much about his past or how he came to live in the chutes and crawl spaces of the posh high-rise that shares his name. But when rock star and teen sensation Melody McGrath moves to an apartment on the fiftieth floor, he knows he has to be near her. Although she doesn’t realize it, Melody is threatened by more dangerous forces than her manipulative stage mom and the pressures of life in the spotlight. The owner of the glamorous building has been hiding a fatal secret within its walls, and Beresford puts all his plans at risk. Will Beresford and Melody be able to escape with their lives (and love) intact?

 

Bestselling author Whitley Strieber makes his young adult debut with this pulsing romantic thriller.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Twilight meets Tarzan in a Los Angeles high-rise in adult author Strieber’s (Communion) disappointing YA debut. After his father is murdered, a boy hides from the killer in an apartment building that is still under construction; he never leaves, growing up to become a feral teenager who lives in the crawlspaces of the now-occupied structure. At 16, he falls in love with a new occupant: pop star/actress Melody McGrath, a troubled young woman with a blossoming career and an abusively domineering mother. Beresford (having named himself for the building he calls home) stalks Melody, who starts out fearing him, then makes an instant 180 and returns his love (“Oh, he was beautiful, he was beautiful, he was gentle and amazing, and he lives in the walls”). Together they contend with Melody’s disapproving mother and the building’s crooked owner, who plans to destroy it for insurance money. The potential of the premise is lost in a sea of flaws: the villain is one-dimensional, the teenage voices are inauthentic, characters’ mood swings are abrupt and implausible, and Melody’s lyrics are downright painful. Ages 12–up. (Dec.)
VOYA
Melody Burning opens with a young boy listening to his father and another man arguing over a hotel's safety. The boy's father struggles in a fight with the man, falls off the roof of the building, and dies. Fast-forward years later, and this boy has been secretly living in the hotel and has named himself Beresford, based on the hotel's name. He sneaks into the hotel rooms to get food and survives in its hidden nooks and crannies. One day popular teen rock star sensation Melody McGrath moves into the hotel, and Beresford becomes extremely interested in her, even spying on her. Melody is dealing with her own issues, including having a mother who is trying to take advantage of her career. Melody and Beresford meet and become fond of one another. Melody helps Beresford figure out who he is and the mystery behind his father's sudden death. Melody Burning is a combination of music, mystery, and love. Although these are all strong qualities for a book, the entire book falls short. Melody is reminiscent of a fictional version of Miley Cyrus, and her character seems rather typical. The beginning of the story, in which Beresford's father falls to his death, and the mystery he is hiding, will capture readers' attention, yet the mystery is predictable. It is also hard to believe that Beresford could really survive in the hotel living the way he does. The relationship that forms between Melody and Beresford is forced and unbelievable. At one point, the two meet each other and shortly thereafter they tell each other they love one another, which just does not make sense. Because of its predictable nature and forced believability, this book is not recommended for your library's collection. Reviewer: Jessica Skaggs
More Reviews (2) Fewer Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
A ham-handed contemporary Phantom of the Opera that features a teen pop sensation and an agoraphobic boy by the adult author of The Wolfen (1978). Teen singer and actress Melody McGrath wakes one night to find an attractive boy beside her bed. His name is Beresford, and he's been living in the walls of her L.A. high rise since the day his father was murdered for trying to document the building's violations. Instead of being understandably terrified, Melody is charmed, and the two fall in love immediately. They are torn apart when the building super discovers Beresford, and he is shipped off to foster care. Luckily, just before he is taken away, Beresford sees the basement bomb planted by the shady superintendent and his father's murderer in order to collect a hefty insurance check. So he breaks out of juvie and arrives just in time to save Melody from the burning building by crawling down the side, Spider-Man style. Stronger writing may have distracted readers from the plot's sheer implausibility, but insipid lines such as, " ‘Melody,' he said in his heart, ‘if I die tonight, my last thought will be of you,' " and overuse of the words "beautiful" and "perfect" to describe everything from Melody's eyes to Beresford's muscles do little to help its case. Too many sour notes in this melody. (Fiction. 12 & up)
School Library Journal
Gr 7–10—This fast-paced melodrama is told from the alternating views of teens Melody McGrath, a high-maintenance music/TV star, and Beresford, an orphan who lives behind the walls of Melody's high-rise apartment building. Due to the ambitions of her barracuda mom, Melody is a superstar singer and the lead in a hit TV show. She describes her poor-little-rich-girl life of fame and glamour in a breezy, Hollywood voice. Beresford's story unfolds in the third person, as readers are told about his solitary existence hiding in the walls and ceilings of the building, sleeping in vacant apartments, bathing when people vacation, and dressing in tenants' forgotten clothes. When the pricey high rise's greedy owner hires an arsonist to work security, it soon becomes apparent that the occupants are in grave danger. The story feels like a mash-up of Beverly Hills 90210, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, with a little Spiderman thrown in for good measure. Lines such as "Careful, Jim, he's a monster!" and "I want him. I can help him grow and become a real person" exemplify the lack of subtlety and character development. For readers wanting romantic adventure with clear-cut good guys and bad guys in a no-brainer read, this will be a good fit.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780805093278
  • Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
  • Publication date: 12/6/2011
  • Edition description: First Edition
  • Edition number: 1
  • Pages: 224
  • Sales rank: 186,631
  • Age range: 12 - 17 Years
  • Lexile: 750L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 5.70 (w) x 8.30 (h) x 1.00 (d)

Meet the Author

Whitley Strieber
Whitley Strieber

Whitley Strieber is one of the great names in science fiction. He has written many bestsellers, including Communion, The Wolfen, The Hunger, The Day after Tomorrow, Critical Mass, and The Omega Point. He lives in Santa Monica, California. [www.unknowncountry.com]

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Posted February 28, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Melody Burning is a Must Read

    Melody isn't meant to be a moody teenager, more a teenager who's learning how to be independent from a rather controlling mother while discovering what's important to her. Melody's relationship with Beresford is one of curiosity and perhaps slight vanity. Novels can be difficult to read when written from two different perspectives, but in Melody Burning, it gives the story more context. Yes, Melody is a bit superficial, but that's because of her upbringing. Melody Burning is a short, but sweet novel of simple teen love. The characters may be shallow at times, but it is still worth your time.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted December 28, 2011

    Read it!!

    COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN! This book was great. Please don't be discouraged by lesser reviews. This author is extremely talented...his swift writing made every chapter fast paced and fun, never dull or drug out. He did an astounding job switching between first and third person. His characters were well rounded, you could really get a feel for who each one was, and therefore, you will really grow to love them. This story was fascinating, and if you like a good romance, or even a good suspense, this is a book for you! I say READ IT! It's a quick read. I read it in a day because I was so intrigued. Recommend for anyone who loves YA, Romance, or Suspense reads.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 28, 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

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