Viola in Reel Life by Adriana TrigianiReviewed by Suzanne M., Director
Viola in Reel Life is the first teen novel by popular adult author Adriana Trigiani. In it, high school freshman Viola Chesterton is transplanted from Brooklyn, New York to an all-girl boarding school in the Midwest while her parents are filming a documentary in Afghanistan. An only child accustomed to a very small circle of friends, Viola is extremely uncomfortable living in a quad with four other girls. She resolves to get through this year as painless and as friendless as she can seeking solace in her video camera. However, life at The Prefect Academy for Young Women has other plans for Viola.
Due to the huge popularity of Trigiani's Big Stone Gap series, I had expected a little more from Viola in Reel Life. It was an adorable story, but very formulaic (girl faces adversity, girl is frustrated, girl has revelation, girl works hard, girl prevails). While a nice addition to the Young Adult collection, it is not a stand-out in this fast-growing genre. Girls in 6th - 10th grade will adore the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of Viola and her roommates, but lack of character development will make it difficult for Trigiani's adult fans to cross-over. Recommended to tween and teen girls looking for a sweet tale of friendship.
Reserve your copy of Viola in Reel Life through the Chester County Library System online catalog. To learn more about author Adriana Trigiani and her work, visit her website.
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