Danette Haworth

Reviewed by Cana Rensberger for TeensReadToo.com

When you've lived in the same sleepy town your whole life, you get real comfortable. As comfortable as a favorite pair of old shoes that you've broken in good. And that's just the way Violet Raines feels about Mitchell Hammock, Florida. What's the point in a new pair of shoes that'll just blister your feet?

It's the summer before junior high and Violet looks forward to spending lazy days with her best friend, Lottie, and feeding the fish under show more the old net bridge with Eddie. And on scorching hot days, the three like to collect cups for a free BrainFreeze at the gas station nearby. Since they live in Florida, they get to do that a lot.

Then Melissa moves to Mitchell Hammock from Detroit, with her big city ideas and her highfalutin ways, and the atmosphere between her and Violet becomes charged with friction as quickly as the sudden downpour in a summer thunderstorm. Florida is the lightening capital of the world, and by the end of the summer, Violet has been burned more than once and has also managed to hurt both of her friends.

Somehow, Violet has to figure out how to repair the damage she's done to both Lottie and Eddie, even if it means including Melissa. In the process, she just might find out that it's fun to try on that new pair of shoes, and that, in time, they can become just as comfortable as the favorite pair you've worn forever.

Danette Haworth has crafted a beautifully written, pleasurable read. In VIOLET RAINES ALMOST GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, Violet's spunky, blustery voice is a terrific contrast to her sweet, gentle soul. There is something about Violet that reminds me of Opal in Kate DiCamillo's BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE. I rarely read a book more than once, yet as I flipped back through the pages to write this review, I found myself caught up in reading it again.

This is one of the many reasons that I am awarding VIOLET RAINES ALMOST GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING a Gold Star. Don't miss this one! show less

In her small Florida town, Violet Raines is happy with the status quo. She's 11 and getting ready to start junior high in the fall with her best friend Lottie. But a new girl has just moved to town, threatening to disrupt everything Violet holds so dear. Melissa is from Detroit, a big city, and brings with her a love for fashion, make-up, movie stars, and gossip. Lottie is anxious to make Melissa her friend, and Violet can't stand the idea that a city girl could come between them. She does show more everything she can to sabotage Melissa, but it just makes Lottie angry. But when there's a tragedy in the neighborhood, and Violet fears it might be her fault, she knows she has to pull it together and maybe even grow up a little to make sure her friendship with Lottie can survive. Haworth's debut novel is a sweet look at southern tradition, at the different ways we deal with change, and at one girl's fight to stay true to herself through the pressure of adolescence. Violet Raines is a strong, spunky, inspiring character, and I hope this isn't the last that we see of her or her friends. show less

What a wonderful telling of young adult changes. Living in rural Florida, Violet's life is good! She has close friends, a loving mother and a neighborhood of adults who care. Then, all too suddenly, Melissa, a pretty, savvy, intelligent and well-dressed girl moves from Texas, and Violet's small-town ways seem not as secure. Jealous when her best friend begins a friendship with Melissa.

Willing to include her, Violet simply becomes more nasty, snitty, insecure and hateful. When life-changing show more transformation occurs, Violet suddenly has to look at herself and her rude behaviors. show less

Violet is a real spit-fire. She lives in the rural south and spends the summer hanging out with her best friends, Lottie and Eddie. When Melissa moves to town from Detroit things start to change. Change is one thing Violet does not like much.