review: Shrinking Violet

Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph
Published: MTV (May 5, 2009)
Pages: 320
Source: Borrowed from library

Short Summary: Teresa lives and breathes music. With the bass pumping in her ears and the lyrics running through her soul, it's easy forget the real world--the world where she is so painfully shy. The world where she snd her mother fight like cats and dogs.

In her world, Teresa is the DJ and all of Miami is listening to her.

Too bad it's only in her dreams. In real life Teresa has been assigned an group presentation with Gavin, the boy at school that Tere can't quite figure out. She can't decide what is worse--the oral report or that her mother is still trying to turn her into a younger version of herself. Complete with a Mary Kay makeover.

But things may turn around for Tere when a slot opens up at a local radio station (conveniently owned by her stepfather).  Behind the mic, Tere is Sweet T, Miami's new mysterious DJ. And even though talking to people usually breaks her out in cold sweats, on air, she's a natural. But when a new promo at the station will combine Tere's two worlds, she going to have to find a way to break through.

My thoughts: I really related to Shrinking Violet. I was also very shy as a child and young adult. My escape was books rather then music. I really like Teresa--she really tries to overcome her shyness and pursue her dreams. I think a lot of times in books the main character is handled some type of challenge and has to come up with the courage to complete, but Tere doesn't wait and I love that about her.

While I really liked Sweet T's life at the station, it seemed completely removed from her home life--almost as if I was reading two different stories. Both were good, but I felt like they crashed together at the end, instead of being woven together throughout the book.

There was a lot of information about the supposed music scene in Miami. The station where Tere works played a lot of local artists who have the potential to go big. As a small town Oklahoma girl I found this really interesting and different from the music scene in this here neck of the woods.

A fun read and one that had me remember my own shakes and nerves from public speaking in high school.

Rating: 3 Stars