Violet On The Runway

Violet Greenfield has always been the outcast. It's senior year, and she hasn't changed since middle school. That means: same old glasses, out-dated clothes, and hunched over posture (Violet stands over 6 feet tall.)

She's hoping for change, though she can't make it happen herself. Ironically, she gets spotted by an agent at her job. The agent, Angela, thinks she'd be a perfect model. Maybe even the next "It" girl.

The next thing you know, Violet is driving to New York, feeling a little more confident and excited about a fresh new start. As soon as Violet gets discovered by famous designers, she soon learns that modeling just might be her thing. 

Read Violet On The Runway to see if she can survive the modeling world. Rude models who only care about themselves . . . stuck up designers who treat the models poorly . . . and paparrazi who follow her everywhere! What will Violet make of her new life, and what will her true friends think of her?

REVIEW: First Test by Tamora Pierce

First Test is book 1 in the The Protector of the Small quartet by Tamora Pierce.

In medieval times, Keladry of Mindelan is a determined young girl whose dream is to become a knight and serve for her kingdom.  At the age of only 10, Keladry goes after her dream and enrolls in training to become a knight under the instruction of Lord Wyldon of Cavall. Lord Wyldon, along with King Johnathon, let Keladry attend, under one year of probation. Everyone has mixed feelings about their decision. No one has ever had a probation. Lord Wyldon is strongly against females becoming knights. There is only one lady knight in the kingdom, and that is Lady Alanna-- The Lioness, whom Keladry looks up to. 

Before becoming a knight, Keladry has to serve several years as a page and squire.  During those years, she will be taught fighting techniques, school lessons, and discipline. She's been waiting her whole life for this journey.  Keladry feels anything but welcome on her first day of training. The boys there give her dirty looks and start fights. Lord Wyldon is always picking on her even though he knows she's probably the most talented and determined page out of all the pages.  Kel knows better, puts a straight face on, and puts up with it all.  

First year pages always get a second year page to sponsor them. The sponsors show the first years the ways of the training, plus rules.  Nealan of Queenscove, who is about four years older than Kel, chooses to sponsor her and they soon become good friends.  By forming a study group with Neal, she impresses the other boys with her intelligence and fighting skills.

Towards the end of the book, all he pages go on their annual trip into The Royal Forest. Unexpectedly, Keladry surprises everyone by doing something Lord Wyldon will never forget. Does Keladry succeed in her first of being a page? Will she finally show Lord Wyldon and everyone else that she is capable of doing anything boys can? Read  First Test to find out. 

In my opinion, First Test was one of the best books I've ever read. With a little bit of fantasy and lots of adventure mixed in, this fiction book got me turning the pages faster and faster until the end. The author, Tamora Pierce, explains in full detail what the characters' personalities are and how they connect to the setting around them. Not once in this book was I bored, there was always something suspenseful happening.  

I think this book would appeal to mostly girls ages 10 and older. Boys might enjoy this book as well, but since the main character is a girl, I believe that girls can relate to the plot of the story better.  

Tamora Pierce did an excellent job of making Kel seem like she actually existed in real life. Even though Keladry of Mindelan is a fictional character, she has inspired me to do my best in whatever I do and never give up. 

GRADE:  A