Meet a New YA Star, Tora From “Burn Out”

Kristi Helvig | The Children’s Book Review | March 18, 2014

Seventeen-year-old Tora Reynolds is one of the last survivors on Earth when the sun starts to burn out way ahead of schedule. She is tough and sarcastic which has helped her to survive, yet she also has a vulnerable side that comes out when she comes across fellow survivors. Her entire family is dead and she has been trained to trust no one except her pet gun, Trigger. However, she’s also a normal teenage girl (with teenage hormones) who hasn’t had much contact with boys before. Against her better judgment, she starts to fall for a quiet soldier named James who may not have her best interests at heart. Here’s a short excerpt depicting her tough nature regarding being one of the last people alive after she has been injured.

“My younger sister would have known squat about burn treatment, but she would have tried to hug my pain away. My chest tightened at the memory of her enthusiastic embraces. I squeezed my eyes shut, attempting to blot out their charred bodies. My insides clenched and I gritted my teeth against the feelings welling inside me. You can’t have a pity party; there’s no one left to invite.”

Tora discovers that her fellow survivors are even deadlier than the environment and must fight to survive in a world where it’s every man for himself.

Enter to win a copy of Burn Out by Kristi Helvig. Giveaway ends May 18, 2014.

About the Author

Kristi Helvig is a Ph.D. clinical psychologist turned sci-fi/fantasy author. She muses about Star Trek, space monkeys, and other assorted topics on her blog and Twitter. Kristi resides in sunny Colorado with her hubby, two kiddos, and behaviorally-challenged dogs. Grab a copy of BURN OUT on Amazon, Indiebound, or Barnes & Noble.

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