Violet On The Runway by Melissa Walker

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: September 2007
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 240
Format: paperback
Source: from publisher - Penguin

A wallflower in the spotlight can do one of two things: wilt, or blossom...

Violet Greenfield's life changes forever when a lady in giant Chanel shades tells her she could be IT, the next Kate Moss-but taller, and without the PR problems. That's how Violet winds up with a business card in the front pocket of her jeans on her first day as a senior in high school. Angela Blythe from Tryst Models in New York City wants to put Violet on a plane and whisk her into the world of high-heeled boots and oversized sunglasses. Tall, skinny Violet, who's been P-L-A-I-N practically forever.

And guess what? She's going.


If you're a girl whose dreams are so big you think they're beyond your reach, then let me tell you what you should do. Befriend Violet Greenfield. With her dreamlike but still so real story of turning from zero to hero, she'll prove to you that everything can happen if you're determined and hardworking enough.

This debut book by Melissa Walker, also the first one of Violet series is so beautiful. It creates a world of fashion with fame, money, extreme thrill as well as loneliness, frustration and exhaustion. With elegant writing which somehow still gives out craziness and passion of a teenager, the book will win your love, whether you're a fashion worshiper or not.

Violet On The Runway made me feel like I was having a novel edition of America's Next Top Model on my hands and, apparently, I liked it really much. Even though the glamorous world Violet first stepped into had two sides of it, the good and exciting one totally ruled. The sneak peek will firstly get your curiosity and as more and more of the model's life is revealed, you find yourself can't help but want to know everything of it. Violet's journey from being nobody to being on top didn't have much troubles thus it kind of sounded unconvincing to me. However, the side issues were super fun. Violet unexpectedly lost herself in the middle, pushing her family and friends away and getting involved with people who never spared a thought of how she felt or what was good for her. Sound pretty familiar doesn't it? Still, there was something that made a difference, either was the BK girls or Roger the best friend.

In my opinion, Violet was really fun to be with. I liked the change in her personalities when she became a real model. She went from shy to confident, from humble to wild but what completed her was her toughness, strength and her courage to support whoever she loved, especially Veronica. Veronica is my favorite character too - she appeared typical but she also got depth.

Overall this book is a great start for the series. It's just the beginning of the real story so there will be lot of things you'll wonder after you finish this, and of course, not many characters have fully developed. But it promises so much greater and more eventful details in the next books that the readers just have to rush to the stores. and pick up the rest.

Rating: 3.5/5