Diva

Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com

DIVA tells the story of Caitlin McCourt, a sixteen-year-old opera fan and singer, as she attempts to break out of her old life by transferring to a performing arts school. Among the things Caitlin is escaping are an abusive ex-boyfriend, vacuous "friends" who don't understand her interests, and the advice of her overbearing and superficial mother. However, her new school comes with its own share of difficulties. She has to learn to dance and act as well as sing, and she's afraid she's too "normal" to fit in with the artsy students.

Caitlin is an incredibly sympathetic character. Despite being burdened with a mother who's more interested in flirting with Caitlin's guy friends than supporting her show more daughter, and a father who has started a new family that rarely includes her, she manages to believe in and look after herself. Her voice is realistic and open, letting the readers in on all of her insecurities (which many teens will share). Her decisions make sense for her, even if readers don't always agree with them, and throughout the story she comes more and more into her own.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Caitlin's story is how her relationship with her mother evolves. Much of Caitlin's personality appears to be a product of her mother's hot-and-cold attitude toward her daughter. As Caitlin steps out from her mother's shadow, she sees not only her own needs and desires more clearly, but also her mother's. Caitlin's discovery that there's more to her mother than she realized is poignant and believable.

DIVA will be enjoyed by any teen, especially girls, struggling with the pressures of friends and family. With its colorful and well-developed characters, it's an easy story to get drawn into. The only criticism I could make is that the novel doesn't offer a great deal more than other good titles with similar subject matter, but what it does offer is so involving that it's hard to complain. show less

Caitlyn, the girlfriend who got beat up in Alex Flinn's Breathing Underwater, still has issues with ex-boyfriend Nick and the group of fake friends she inherited when she began dating him. She's been to the 'fat farm' over the summer where she lost 30 pounds, and is still weight-obsessed. What she really wants to do-- but no one can understand-- is sing opera. She secretly auditions for a spot at a Miami High School for the Arts, which would keep her from running into Nick, get her away from the friends she knows are real friends, and give her some space from her divorced and cranky mother. The narrative switches back and forth from a first-person narrative, emails, and blog entries from Caitlyn's online alter-ego, Opera_Grrrl. This is show more essentially a tale of self-discovery for a number of characters, most especially Caitlyn. Nick is a minor character but still looms large for Caitlyn as she occassionally runs into him and is reminded of their abusive relationship. Caitlyn's mom dates a married man-- a rich doctor-- with the hopes of luring him away from a wife he doesn't like. Caitlyn struggles with the morality of this, as well as her mother's wish to be seen as Caitlyn's sister rather than her mom. Caitlyn's fears and doubts about herself and her talents as she moves to a new school are evident, and it is on this score that the book succeeds. We feel for her and relate to her, but Caitlyn seems to believe she is alone in these universal feelings. Diva is a good-stand alone book, but also a great companion read with Breathing Underwater. This is a 2009 Missouri Gateway nominee and I expect it will be a popular title in my library. show less

A sort-a-sequel to Flinn's searing YA novel debut Breathing Underwater, but this time telling the story from the girl's POV. Caitlin, who was abused by her 16-year-old boyfriend, Nick, in Breathing Underwater, is trying to change her life, putting that relationship behind her, as well as focusing on her goal of becoming an opera singer by getting into the Miami High School for the Performing Arts. But even at a school of talented teens, she feels outcast at first, although friendships grow. At the same time, her relations with her mother — who objected to her attending the school — deteriorate. That's the real story here: the mother-daughter conflict. It is no wonder they're at odds: Caitlin's maturing at the same time as her mother show more behaves and dresses like a teenager while seeming unable to function without a man in her life. Nick reappears in Caitlin's life; there's no real reconciliation, just a realization that Caitlin's no longer the overweight, untalented, and unattractive girl that Nick forced her to believe she was. Told in part using an online journal, and loaded with opera references so reader's experience Caitlin's obsession, Flinn's novel portrays a teen character struggling with what it means to be strong. Review originally appeared in Novelist show less

Caitlin wants to be an opera singer, and she is good; she gets accepted into the performing arts high school in Miami. The problem will be convincing Mom to let her go.

This is a sequel to Breathing Under Water and follows Caitlin after her break up with the abusive Nick. She’s still dealing with weight and Mom issues. I haven’t read the first one and don’t feel like I needed to have read it first. Caitlin’s growth into an acceptance of herself made this a good read.

Great main character! There is a lot of back story that is essential to understanding the book (her mother, her ex-boyfriend, her weight issues), but it all comes out quite well. I like that she discusses opera in a way that anyone can understand what she is talking about. It even made me want to learn more. I liked that it addressed an unusual subject for teen lit--opera. It worked.

Suprisingly not cheesy. It was a decent read, very teenagery but I do believe that was the point. It was strangely engrossing and dealt with some VERY serious issues in an amazingly tactful manner.

This is not the reworking of a fairy tale. Instead, it is the story of a approximately a year in the life of a teen-aged girl who happens to love opera and learns a few valuable life lessons along the way. Geared toward young readers, this book was still enjoyable for this adult.