Sara's Face

Read date: 2007 or '08.

I remember thinking this was the most fucked up book I'd ever read in my life. Melvin Burgess has a way with words, that's for sure. He can turn a simple story into mystery and murder and he will hook you in from the very first page.

Reviewed by Dianna Geers for TeensReadToo.com

Jonathon Heat was a famous rock star who had his own compound, surgeons, and assistants. All of the things a rich and famous celebrity would have--and then some. In fact, due to so much cosmetic surgery and experimental procedures, somehow Jonathon's face was destroyed to the point that he wore a mask at all times. With his high celebrity status, wearing a mask became a widespread thing to do. There were all sorts of masks--some with snouts, some with real hair, half-masks, full masks.

Sarah was once an unknown and sometimes self-destructive girl. She had big plans to be famous and was saving for several forms of cosmetic surgery: new breasts, a better face, liposuction later on. It was part show more of her long-term plans. When Sarah's destructive behavior spiraled out of control, she burned her face with an iron and her mother had her placed in the hospital. Sarah claimed it was an accident, but not everyone was convinced. This is when she met Jonathon Heat. He came to visit children in the hospital, but somehow already knew a great deal about Sarah. He lured Sarah to his compound with the promise of free cosmetic surgery to fix the burn mark.

It was almost Michael Jacksonish the way Jonathon took Sarah in. Sarah moved into his mansion and was his constant companion. The two were constantly photographed together and speculation about their relationship was rampant. However, when readers were exposed to Sarah's video journals, we learn a completely different view of what was really going on. Secret rooms, security cameras covering every inch of the property, and maybe even ghosts. It's very difficult to tell what really happens, what Sarah might be imagining, and what she may even be making up. However, it is obvious there is more to Sarah being a guest at Jonathon Heat's compound than free cosmetic surgery.

The mood of the entire book is eerie. Creepy. There is always something going on that is just not right. It keeps readers wanting to read more because they have to know what is going on and what is going to happen. The whole world that the author, Melvin Burgess, has created will leave you wondering if this type of situation could actually happen in the not-too-distant future. If you want to read a book that will keep you wondering even after you have finished reading it, then you should definitely read SARA'S FACE. show less

Even though others see Sara as an attractive girl, she does not view herself that way. In the hospital after burning her face with an iron, she meets rock star, Jonathan Heat. Having had numerous plastic surgeries himself, Jonathan has a live-in doctor, and offers Sara the chance of a lifetime - move into his mansion and have his doctor perform the surgeries she thinks she needs. Taking him up on his offer, Sara's life changes in strange ways. Yes, she has designer clothes and appears with Jonathan in celebrity settings, but she also begins to see the ghost of a girl with no face. Former boyfriend, Mark, is hired as a security guard and he takes the job only to be close to Sara in an attempt to protect her. He discovers that he needs to show more get Sara out of this setting, but will she leave? An interesting read and well-written, although I'm not quite certain how I feel about this book. show less

This is one weird book...written in part like a fan magazine. The point of view keeps jumping around and it was impossible to get a real view of Sara...which was probably the point. Strange...too strange for me to really like it and very creepy.

This book was strange, but good. It was about a girl named Sara who burned her face and a rock star who generously, if not strangely, offered to pay for her full cosmetic surgery, including other work besides covering the scar.

I found this really strange, scary and couldn't get myself to finish it. Very weird. I usually really like Melvin Burgess. Also I couldn't get my head round the writing style, it's not like his usual stuff.