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The Amazon Store at MillionDollarPetPix.com ( In association with Amazon.com )Violet on the Runway (Violet) - Violet on the RunwayFrom www.mrsmagooreads.com Title: Violet on the Runway Author: Melissa Walker Grade: A- Ideal Audience: Girls, 12+ Reading Type(s): The Down-to-Earth Reader & The Fun Reader Summary: Violet has extreme confidence and self-esteem issues. She's incredibly tall, impossibly skinny, and people have been making fun of her about it all through middle and high school. Now she's a senior, and even though she has the two greatest best friends in the entire world- Julie and Roger- she still secretly wishes to be popular. However, an opportunity even better than popularity has presented itself to Violet. Angela, an agent from Tryst Models, thinks that Violet could be the next big thing! Violet knows what the modeling world can do to a girl, but how can she resist a chance to finally feel good and confident about herself? Well, it turns out Violet doesn't quite know everything that the modeling world can do, and she's about to find out. At first she's treated like a princess and becomes a big hit, but it's not all fun and games after that. For some reason, fellow model Veronica has labeled Violet as a dangerous enemy. When Violet moves into the modeling apartments, she witnesses Veronica's anorexia and drug problems. The agent, Angela, is getting increasingly demanding and Violet's relationship with Peter Heller, an important figure in fashion, may or may not be a good thing. Violet knows that she should probably go back home soon... but she doesn't want to risk becoming a wallflower again. My thoughts: I was expecting this book to be okay- not horrible, not great- but I really liked it! It realistically portrays the modeling world (at least, to the extent of my knowledge; I'm probably not the best judge of this) and I felt like I understood why Violet wanted to model so badly even when she wasn't enjoying it anymore. I recently finished reading the next two books in the series, and reviews will be coming soon. I'm definitely looking forward to more of Melissa Walker's books in the future! Rating:  - From S. Krishna's BooksViolet Greenfield is ordinary in every way. There isn't anything about her that is above average (at least, that's the way she feels). The only thing that anyone ever notices about her is her freakish height - 6'1''. And she's only a high school senior - who knows what will happen after that inevitable growth spurt in college! Forget being part of the BKs, the popular crowd at her high school in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Though Violet and her best friends, Roger and Julie, make fun of the BKs (Bee's Knees), Violet can't help but secretly wish that she was a part of them. Violet sees her height as a curse, an undesirable. That is, until a modeling agent named Angela sees her working at the local movie theater. Angela convinces Violet to come to New York City to try out for Fashion Week. After convincing her parents that it's a golden opportunity, Violet (with her mother in tow) is on her way to the Big Apple to become a model. And so Violet embarks on a whirlwind journey through the world of modeling that changes her life forever. As she appears on magazine covers and learns the evils of being in the spotlight, she must endure backstabbing "friends" and decide how much being popular really means to her. In the end, Violet must learn what friendship really is and what it means to be a strong person. Violet on the Runway is really a gem of a book. It doesn't glorify the life of a model - instead, it shows the nature of that world in all its ugliness. Being a book directed to teens, of course it sugarcoats some areas, trying to establish that there is good everywhere, but overall, it is a healthy look at the difficulties of being a model. It is definitely a reality check for any teen dreaming of a modeling career. The real strong point of the book is what's at the heart of it: Violet herself. She is not perfect; indeed, she makes some very bad decisions through the course of the book. What makes it compelling is what she does when she finally learns from them, when she realizes what is important and what really isn't. It is also heartening to see Violet once she learns to stand up for herself. It's painful to read about her cowering in a corner when she is nervous and new to the modeling world. Once she has become a seasoned professional, she approaches modeling with a cool exterior, oblivious to the comments around her. While that is a difficult lesson for a girl of 18 to learn, it is heartening to see what she does with it. When it comes down to it, this book is a reinvention on a classic theme in teen lit: the unpopular, ordinary girl who is transformed into a radiant beauty and returns to the school and rules over it. Walker provides a satisfying twist: Violet's personal journey through self doubt to a place of confidence. At the beginning of the book, she constantly fears that the other models will see the plain girl within and know that she doesn't belong there. She is afraid they will see she is faking, but she slowly learns that validation comes from herself, not from other people. It is a painful realization, but Violet emerges much stronger and wiser than before. Violet on the Runway is a book for all ages, not just teens. Older readers will remember the pains of high school and will enjoy the escape by living vicariously through Violet. Younger readers will enjoy the depiction of the modeling world, in all its glory and ugliness. This book really does have something for everyone, and it is an incredibly promising start to a brand new series. Rating: - From the Shadows to the Spotlight!Violet on the Runway is the story of Violet Greenfield. She's very very tall and very thin and because of this insecure. One day while working at her local movie theatre (I would love that job!) Violet is discovered by Angela Blythe of Tryst Models. This begins her whirlwind journey into modeling in New York City. I really enjoyed this book. You get to put yourself in the shoes of someone realizing every girl's fantasy. What would it be like to become a model in New York City? I really looked forward to enjoying the luxurious life with Violet, being pampered and fussed over and going out on the town. I also liked the pop culture references. I just started reading the next book in the series, Violet By Design. Violet reveals that her "public" favorite movie is The Royal Tenenbaums! That is my favorite movie! I did miss Violet's friends Julie and Roger (I think I have a crush on him!) while she was away in New York and lost touch with them. Eventually they find each other again and for that I was very glad. I wanted to pinch Violet but nobody is perfect and she soon realizes her mistake. I really liked watching Violet grown into a young adult. She learns a lot through her experiences. Not everything she encounters in the modeling world is a dream come true. But Violet handles it and becomes a better person for it. She also becomes a more confident person that can stand up for herself. Rating: - Violet on the RunwayWhen Violet is spotted by a bigshot modeling agent, her life will never be the same again. In a search for excitement and a place to fit in, she's sucked into the modeling world faster than you can say Jimmy Choo. Not too long after she starts, she moves to New York to live in a house with other models, including Veronica Trask, a witch with a capital b, and her companion Sam. She gets a boyfriend and things are going great, because she finally feels like she can fit in. Even though she left her two best friends behind when she left North Carolina. This novel was intriguing from the very beginning, because I've never really read any books about modeling before. The idea was fresh and interesting, and it was kind of like an insiders look at the world of modeling. I loved how, while it didn't make modeling seem perfect, the book didn't make fun of models... it just focused on how modeling wasn't exactly perfect for Violet. And the mix of fun and seriousness was perfect for the mood of the book, and so it's a perfect book to read on a rainy day. Rating: - Enchanting YA Review: Violet On The RunwayVIOLET ON THE RUNWAY MELISSA WALKER Rating: 5 Enchantments After being discovered by a high profile modeling agent at her after-school job at her local movie theatre, Violet Greenfield finds herself thrust into the New York modeling scene as the next hot `it' girl. Violet's new model status elevates her popularity--especially at school where her height had earned her the nickname `green giant'--and the girls she always wanted to hang out with suddenly think she's cool. So who can blame her for testing out everything her new life has to offer? Its not like she's planning on ignoring her two lifelong best friends forever...she just wants to test the new waters she's suddenly found admission into. Violet finds herself immersed in an entirely new world in NYC where her life in North Carolina seems so far away, especially her two best friends, Julie and Roger. When a new Violet starts to emerge, one who's confidant and more popular than she could have ever imagined, can Violet resist the temptation to let go of the `old' Violet? Violet is a vibrant character who comes to life on the pages. I loved the scenes where Violet has her first go-sees and her newfound agent Angela tags along with her to one, and then basically throws her to wolves to fend for herself for the rest of the day. VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY is an addicting debut novel by Ms. Walker. I was hooked from page one and look forward to reading more about Violet. Lisa Enchanting Reviews March 2008
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