Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning [Hardcover]

Danette Haworth (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Spunky, headstrong Violet Raines is happy with things just the way they are in her sleepy backwoods Florida town. She loves going to the fish fry with her best friend, Lottie, and collecting BrainFreeze cups with her good friend Eddie. She loves squeezing into the open trunk of the old cypress tree, looking for alligators in the river, and witnessing lighting storms on a warm summer day.  

But Violet’s world is turned upside down when Melissa moves to town from big city Detroit. All of a sudden Violet’s supposed to want to wear makeup, and watch soap operas, and play Truth or Dare! It’ll take the help of Violet’s friends, her Momma, a few run-ins with lightning, and maybe even Melissa, for Violet to realize that growing up doesn’t have to mean changing who you are.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—Eleven-year-old Violet Raines is no "shrinking violet," especially when it comes to girlie girl Melissa Gold, whose family has just moved to her small Florida town in the 1970s. Violet's best friend, Lottie, is fascinated by Melissa and her talk of life in Detroit, "the murder capital of the United States." Violet, however, thinks Melissa is a "priss" and proves it by showing her the fish-head bucket at the Sunday fish fry (Melissa runs away to vomit). After Lottie's house is struck by lightning, she and her sisters stay at Melissa's big house, much to Violet's chagrin. While Melissa and Lottie talk movie stars, makeup, and bras, Violet still enjoys squeezing into the tree cave, exploring outdoors, and hanging out with her childhood buddy Eddie. Haworth takes on coming-of-age dilemmas with spunk, innocence, and a cast of believable, well-developed characters, describing the challenges kids face when one friend matures faster than another, the two-against-one pitting of girl trios, and budding romance. Violet passes through the last doors of childhood and into the uncertain entryway of junior high with acute sensitivity while maintaining her authentic sense of self and the surprising, satisfying support of her friends. An enjoyable read with plenty of discussible points about relationships.—D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH
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Review

A coming-of-age tale that is as full of sass as its uniquely named protagonist. At 11, Violet is caught betwixt and between childhood and adolescence. She remains very much a child, reveling in hollowed-out tree trunks and playing Barbies with her best friend's little sister. However, just like the ominous atmospheric changes occurring prior to turbulent weather, Violet's growing awareness of a developmental shift among her peers leaves her unsettled and unsure. Caught in this transformation is Violet's relationship with Lottie, which is complicated by the upheaval caused by newcomer Melissa, who has one foot firmly planted in adolescence. Rumblings of romantic changes in her friendship with Eddie also add to Violet's confusion. Haworth deftly explores Violet's ambivalence toward growing up with an authenticity that will resonate with readers, who will appreciate her competent management of such crucial tween issues as best friends, fidelity and impending maturity. Violet is a worthy ally for readers navigating their own stormy evolution. (Fiction. 8-12) -- Kirkus Reviews

Gr 4-7 Eleven-year-old Violet Raines is no "shrinking violet," especially when it comes to girlie girl Melissa Gold, whose family has just moved to her small Florida town in the 1970s. Violet's best friend, Lottie, is fascinated by Melissa and her talk of life in Detroit, "the murder capital of the United States." Violet, however, thinks Melissa is a "priss" and proves it by showing her the fish-head bucket at the Sunday fish fry (Melissa runs away to vomit). After Lottie's house is struck by lightning, she and her sisters stay at Melissa's big house, much to Violet's chagrin. While Melissa and Lottie talk movie stars, makeup, and bras, Violet still enjoys squeezing into the tree cave, exploring outdoors, and hanging out with her childhood buddy Eddie. Haworth takes on coming-of-age dilemmas with spunk, innocence, and a cast of believable, well-developed characters, describing the challenges kids face when one friend matures faster than another, the two-against-one pitting of girl trios, and budding romance. Violet passes through the last doors of childhood and into the uncertain entryway of junior high with acute sensitivity while maintaining her authentic sense of self and the surprising, satisfying support of her friends. An enjoyable read with plenty of discussible points about relationships. School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Walker Childrens; 1 edition (August 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802797911
• ISBN-13: 978-0802797919
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I hate tomatoes. The year 2005 was supposed to be the year I Ate A Tomato, but I Did Not Do It. I don't like mushrooms either, but if they are chopped up small enough, I can ignore them.

Pink and purple are my favorite colors, but sometimes I like green.

I am a good skater, and fast too. In fact, I used to have my own custom skates with racing wheels--that's how fast I skate. When I thought I was a grown-up, I gave my skates away. That was a mistake. I could still use them.

Growing up in an Air Force family, I have lived in a lot of places, and I can tell you that the best place to be is in the woods or on the mountains. It is even better if your best friend is with you and you build a fort. My best friend and I built a pretty good fort once, but my sister and her best friend built a better one. It doesn't even bother me to say that.

At six-years-old, I published my own comic book series starring Peter Pan. He jumped into adventure, narrowly missing capture and certain death by his arch enemy, Captain Hook. Most pages featured a green stick figure sword-fighting with a red stick figure. Still, it was pretty good for a six-year-old.

I wrote a lot of stories in junior high, high school, and college, and my teachers seemed to like them. I liked it when they read my stories out loud and my classmates laughed in all the right places. There is nothing like that feeling.

If I wasn't a writer, I'd own a diner and call it Netti's. It would be small--you'd probably pass it if you drove by too fast--but my regulars would be loyal. "Try the sweet potato loaf," they'd tell each other. "It is to die for!"

If you want, you can call me Danette. Here's how you say it: d'NET or DihNET. Some people confuse this with "dinette," which is actually a table. (You can tell the difference because I do not have four legs and I am not a table.) If you forget, don't worry. People have called me Jeanette, Janet, Denise, Danita, Danielle, and Darnet. So even if you say it wrong, I will still turn around and smile and say "Hi," especially if you are holding a donut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll love Violet's unique voice!, August 19, 2008

By 

L. K. Messner "Kate Messner" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning (Hardcover)

In many ways, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning is a coming-of-age story, but here's the thing... Violet Raines is coming of age on her own terms and in her own sweet time.

Danette Haworth's debut middle grade novel is perfect for kids like Violet who aren't in a hurry to grow up, girls who are still more interested in mud pies than makeup. Violet faces her share of issues -- a long time boy friend whose really nice eyes she's suddenly noticing, a new girl who just moved to town from the city, and a best friend who thinks that glamorous lifestyle is pretty interesting. It throws Violet for a loop, and when her friend's family faces financial troubles, Violet has to decide what's really important through all those crazy changes.

There are so many things to praise about this novel -- the lively, quirky characters, Violet's fabulous voice, the Florida-in-summer setting, painted so perfectly I kept swatting imaginary mosquitoes while I read.

I loved this book. Really loved it, the way I love fireflies and lake swimming and ice cream cones in summer. Any kid you know who loves that sort of thing is going to love it, too.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mother and daughter approve, October 5, 2008

By 

John Kauffman (Dunedin, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning (Hardcover)

My daughter read this book for a report in school, and we read too so we could help out (if needed). All loved it. The character interactions rang true and it was pretty funny.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a fun, funny and sweet novel, October 21, 2008

By 

courtney summers - See all my reviews

This review is from: Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning (Hardcover)

Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning by Danette Haworth is the first middle grade book I've read in a long time (for shame, I know). Firmly entrenched in YA, this book totally set off that "Think of what you could have missed and all that you're missing!" voice in my head and I'm grateful for it.

This is a fantastic debut. Set in a small, Florida town, Violet Raines is a fierce, fun protagonist on the verge of a lot of change. Junior High looms on the horizon, her best friend Lottie is being monopoloized by the glamorous new girl in town, Melissa (who hails from Detroit and doesn't appreciate Violet's hometown as much as Violet thinks she should), and her other best friend, Eddie--well, she doesn't have a crush on him and that's that. This tailspin of change has Violet questioning her now evolving role within her group of friends while fighting to keep things the way they've always been: uncomplicated, free and always fun. When Lottie's family faces an unexpected crisis, Violet realizes the only way out is through. Can anything good come of it? Well... you'll have to read to find out!

This is a very sweet novel and I read it in a few hours--not because I was in a hurry to finish it, but because I couldn't put it down. Violet's voice jumps off the page (as another character remarks, "[she's] no shrinking violet!"), and is full of attitude and humour. She's a delightful and strong and strong-minded female protagonist for boys and girls alike to root for (and they will root for her). Supporting charaters are also solidly "there" with quirks and charms all their own. And the setting! The setting is incredibly vivid. I have a feeling Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning is as close to Florida as I'll get without actually ever going there (one day, one day).

The film My Girl, one of my favourites, came to mind a lot as I read this. The plots are VERY different, but both that movie and this book offer unforgettable main characters on the brink of growing up, and the challenges and struggles therein. The way Haworth navigates Violet's journey is thoughtful and considerate and results in a very sweet and touching story that has a very natural and satisfying conclusion. It's going to be fun telling people about this one. This would be a great read for people of all ages.