Run by Daisy Whitney at daisywhitney.com

Welcome to special correspondent and young adult author Courtney Summers who’s reviewing “Dani Noir” for us!

By Courtney Summers

DANI NOIR is a sharp look at the life of 13-year-old film noir buff (and big Rita Hayworth fan), Dani Callanzano, during a pretty tough summer. Her parents have divorced, she’s angry at her father, her mom still hasn’t gotten over it, and her soon-to-be stepsister is a nightmare. The only place Dani can find a little peace of mind is at the Little Art movie theatre… but not for long. When a girl with polka-dot tights shows up, Dani finds herself with a full-blown mystery on her hands and if she doesn’t solve it–and soon–someone she really cares about could be hurt.

This is an incredible debut by Nova Ren Suma and Dani Callanzano is one of the most memorable protagonists I’ve ever read. A total snarky delight from start-to-finish. With a very thoughtful and caring hand, Suma explores Dani’s world candidly and honestly and the narrative is charming, hilarious and heartbreaking all at once. On one page, I would laugh out loud at one of Dani’s zingers and the next, my heart would ache at Dani’s vulnerability and need to find balance and control in the way you need to find balance and control when things are changing around you in really difficult ways. And it’s a page turner, too. Once I started, I only stopped once–and that was to make POPCORN. The movie theatre scenes are so well drawn–I COULD SMELL THE POPCORN!–it was impossible to resist. And so I highly recommend making popcorn when you pick this book up because it will complete the experience.

The whole time I was reading DANI NOIR, I wished fervently that I’d had Dani as a fictional companion when I was her age. I remember the books I carried around then like lifelines, and I know that had DANI NOIR been on shelves, I would’ve toted it everywhere. I would have aspired to Dani’s cleverness, her wit, her charm, her sense of adventure and I know that Dani’s razor-sharp outlook would have made me feel less alone. I can just imagine how many girls out there will benefit from reading a novel like this, which is why DANI NOIR gets all five stars from me. This is not just the kind of book you read and enjoy in the moment, it’s the kind of book you treasure and love and pass along. So do that. Don’t you dare miss this one.

-Courtney Summers is the author of CRACKED TO TO BE.