Crash and Burn

Unique, immersive, and impressively ambitious; Crash and Burn is both an insightful take on contemporary culture and an intimate, poignant tale of two troubled boys and how they changed each other’s lives. Crash is a charming slacker—and narrator. Crash and Burn is his account not only of the terrorist incident and his and Burn’s relationship but also Crash’s attempt to deal with fame and the consequences of the attack. (In his words: “I’m not exactly the hero everyone says I am.”) The parallel narratives unfold with skillful pacing and make for an engrossing, resonant reading experience. The dynamic between Crash, irreverent yet vulnerable, and Burn, brilliant but deeply disturbed, evolves convincingly as the story progresses through adolescence and toward a final confrontation. At times the pair are mere acquaintances, at other times they are something like best friends, and eventually they are outright enemies. At each stage the link between them feels momentous, and their remarkable bond is among the most enthralling in recent YA history. The novel’s realism is exceptional. Michael Hassan has a keen understanding of the relevance of texting, video games, courtship, and substance use (and abuse) in teens’ lives. Hassan’s portrayal of modern male friendship is spot-on, and supporting characters—including Crash’s verbally abusive father and Burn’s rebellious sister, who becomes Crash’s first love—are depicted with complexity and empathy. Readers will know ahead of time that Crash prevents Burn from detonating the school, but the tense climax nevertheless provides many surprises and ends on a pitch-perfect note.