V Is for Victorine

October 1, 2023
The sidekick in Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen (2020) takes center stage in this silent film-era sequel. It's 1915, and about a year has passed since 13-year-old white heiress Victorine Berryman vanished, assumed a new identity, and became a member of Darleen Darling's family and their New Jersey photoplay production company. After watching an adventure loosely based on her own life, Vee dreams of becoming a photoplaywright. A family trip to Hollywood helps Vee realize her dream and brings the struggling Darling business a chance to showcase new technology. The shenanigans, which include stolen treasures and switched satchels, continue in the spirit of the first book and reflect serial adventures of the time. The girls head to California alone, where they stay with Hollywood royalty Lillian and Dorothy Gish, meet influential director Lois Weber, and become embroiled with a villainous artifact collector. This time, however, the over-the-top antics occasionally clash with more serious topics rather than being seamlessly integrated. Nesbet once again introduces an abundance of early film history, including D.W. Griffith's controversial The Birth of a Nation. African American actors (both real and fictional) underscore the lack of opportunities for actors of color and offer a tarnished look at the silver screen. Vee comes to see the need for representation of more different voices and responsible approaches to making art. Ultimately, as she's discovering her imagination as a playwright, Vee also claims her true self. A clever peek at early Hollywood exploring themes that still resonate today. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

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November 10, 2023

Gr 3-7-In the follow-up to Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen, it's 1915, and Victorine "Vee" Berryman is living secretly as Bella Mae Goodwin with her best friend Darleen Darling to escape her former life as an heiress. Darleen is the star of various films through her family-run company, Matchless Photoplay. On their quest to reach Hollywood from New Jersey because Vee's money gets cut off, the girls fall into various adventures and mishaps involving villains, stolen artifacts, and more. This story is captivating and fun; Nesbet imbues the exciting plot with history surrounding film, filmmaking, and old Hollywood. Readers will relate to Vee because she starts to see how movies and media affect the world around her. Tweens should start with the first in the series, as newbies may be confused by past plot references and current character ages. The author's note is also worth the read with information on Lois Weber, Universal City, the Gishes, and more. VERDICT This sequel is a great recommendation for any fan of old Hollywood, historical fiction, and adventure.-Maeve Dodds

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December 22, 2023
Grades 4-7 It's been a year since young heiress Victorine Berryman escaped a dastardly kidnapping scheme with the help of Darlene Darling, silent-adventure serial film star. Though she loves living with the Darlings, Victorine is eager to figure out where she truly fits in this new world, and she decides to try her hand at photoplay-writing. There's plenty of inspiration to be found when the two girls head to California, but they promptly run into complications that leave the survival of the Darling's film studio hanging in the balance. The clever girls know that it's up to them to save the day, and there couldn't be a pair more suited to the task. The sparkling sequel to Daring Darlene, Queen of the Screen (2020) gives Victorine the spotlight, but there is still a firm focus on the girls' deep friendship and complementary skillsets. The effervescent writing again transports readers to cinema's early years; several old Hollywood figures play fabulous supporting roles, and there are hints of wider issues of representation scattered throughout. A delectable, old-timey adventure packed with history and heart.

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