Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
5.0 out of 5 stars
VIDEO MAGIC, October 26, 2006
Teenagers these days face more challenges than ever before. Vikk Simmons understands and confronts some of these important issues in VIDEO MAGIC.
Kimberly Lange is a junior in High School. She knows she wants to become a cinematographer after graduation, and she's applied for a position as an intern on the annual senior videography club project. She approaches everything in life with single-minded determination and always chooses the fastest means to an end. She remains oblivious to the effect of her own actions on those surrounding her, and harbors a deep jealousy of her older, over-achiever brother, Bobby. In her eyes, they have been locked in competition from the moment she was born.
Greg Winters is the senior in charge of the videography project. He knows the value of preparation and is methodical in his approach to life--the complete opposite to Kimberly, which leads to complications, confrontations, and ultimately, to a friendship that develops into a budding relationship, despite their differences.
Kimberly's best friend, Carol, develops a case of the "green eyed monster" when Kimberly becomes involved not only with Greg and the video project, but also finds a new friend in Marla, once a rival for the internship. Kimberly finds herself in turmoil at every turn as she becomes estranged from Carol, gets into hot water with Greg and Mr. Jeffries, teacher and sponsor of the video club for overstepping her bounds and making rash promises to the Principal, and has to deal with her brother, home for a visit and undermining her confidence at every opportunity.
Kimberly learns lessons throughout this book, controlling her impulsivity and finding fulfillment in becoming part of team. She discovers that winning isn't the ultimate victory she once thought it was, and finding love involves giving as well as receiving.
Simmons shows the pitfalls not only of jealousy but rivalry. The students of this second book in a series about Northrupp High School are struggling to complete projects, prepare for future careers and manage their personal lives. The pressures of modern-day life are clearly reflected in choices made and decisions that could dog these characters long after they leave high school.
Lovers of romance will find satisfaction here, as Kimberly and Greg find more than the video project occupying their thoughts. Their characters evolve with the plot, and as the stakes grow higher, they become people the reader will root for until the last, satisfying page.
|
|
|
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure enjoyment, July 9, 2006
I loved this book from beginning to end. The main character was interesting and the plot kept me turning pages. I hope I'll see more from this author soon.
|
|
|
4.0 out of 5 stars
Video Magic, January 5, 2006
Kimberly Lange, a junior at Northrupp High, desperately wants to be the junior intern on the senior video project. Not only does she love working with the camera, but the head of the video project is Greg Winters, a guy she's crushed on all through high school. Unfortunately, beautiful Marla Monroe seems to have the inside track with Greg, so how will Kimberly stand a chance?
Author Vikk Simmons captures the feeling of teenage angst expertly in this short young adult novel. With the progress of the video project as a baseline, the heroine has many enlightening learning experiences throughout the story, most of them in interpersonal dynamics. Kimberly learns that it's possible for someone to have hidden facets that explains their past behavior, and experiences turmoil in her relationship with her best friend Carol. She faces her jealousy of her older brother and his achievements, and learns that her impulsiveness can get her into a lot of trouble. And she finds out that, by working together, a team can accomplish amazing things.
I was very impressed with the plotting and writing style of this author, who keeps the action moving swiftly, and carefully resolves all plot lines by the end of the novel. The characters were very real to this reader as I remembered my experiences in high school -- so much rests on each event! The speed with which events happen at this age is highlighted by the author in the fast plot that never stops. I think this is a wonderful novel for teens, and I quite enjoyed it. -- Jean, Fallen Angel Reviews (courtesy of Fallen Angel Reviews)
|
|
|
|
