Fade Out

I really enjoyed reading this novel. The main character is younger than I thought, but I loved her attitude. She was very funny.

Confession: I am not a tween. I am...uh...I am the age of someone who could be the mother of a tween. But I read this book anyway, with no affinity for noir movies and uh, being outside the age range of the book's audience. I do, however, have an affinity for sharp writing, a voice I can fall in love with, characters I can root for over the span of 100+ pages, and a plot that takes me out of my life and into the life of said characters. Nova Ren Suma hits it out of the ballpark with Dani's voice and the characters in this novel. Dani's struggles with friendships, alienation, a long summer, and family are universal themes for everyone, including tweens, and so she is someone most readers can and will relate to. Additionally, Suma's writing is so sharp, the story so detailed, that I even found myself being very interested in noir movies, a genre that Suma uses to great effect in this novel, and uses in a way that doesn't exclude me as someone who isn't familiar with the noir movie genre--it is a great use of the metaphor and I loved it, so much so that I am wishing for a sequel to this book. I'd love to follow Dani's trajectory as she grows up--and I'm thinking tween readers would, too. I wish this book existed when I was a tween.

Dani Callanzano is stuck in her nothing-ever-happens town with only her favorite noir mysteries at the Little Art movie theatre to keep her company. Her best friend has moved out of town and no longer calls Dani often. Her father also is getting remarried and she will be getting a mean sister-in-law, Nichole. So she is alone in the town. But one day a real-life mystery begins to unravel at Little Art! And it all has something to do with a girl in polka-dot tights. Dani is armed with a vivid imagination, a flair for the dramatic, and a knowledge of all things Rita Hayworth. She sets out to solve the mystery and learns more about herself than she ever thought that she would. This book had an awesomeness that is hard to explain. Dani is stubborn, which is usual for most thirteen years old. I am going to have to check out some more noir movies, since I haven't seen them all. It was great to see Dani's love of movies and how passionate she was about all things Rita Hayworth. I also could relate to the problems at home and the lost of her best friend, because that happened to me around the same age. The plot was really interesting and created a great story. Suma was a great writer and created a story like no other. I recommend that you check out this book for a great mystery.

This is one of the best books I've read all year. It's witty, dark and sincere. How can you not pick up a copy?

DANI NOIR is an intriguing tween mystery from Aladdin. The protagonist, thirteen-year old Danielle, is witty, sarcastic and a character that tweens and teens can relate to. The film references, which often feel forced in many novels for young readers, flow seamlessly with the plot. The cover, which was the first thing to draw me in, is phenomenal and matches the high quality of the writing.

If your tween (or you, for shame!) don't know the name Rita Hayworth, they certainly will after reading Nova Ren Suma's fantastic mystery! Touching and spirited. Fun, fast-paced, and moving, DANI NOIR transcends the tween age group by truly becoming a tale for ALL ages. The writing is beautiful, the imagery is dark, mysterious, and gorgeous, and Nova Ren Suma's characters come right off the page to life! An absolutely essential read for your tween, you, and just about anyone who enjoys a good tale told well. Film Noir fans especially!