Violet on the Runway by Melissa C. Walker

This month, Melissa Walker’s Violet books are the pick of the month at readergirlz. Even better? It’s a series (be sure to check out Violet by Design and Violet In Private )! I already sent a recommendation to a few of my former students who I know will enjoy Walker’s books.

I often have a hard time finding acceptable readalikes for these books, and Violet on the Runway fits the bill. And I am thrilled that it is perfectly acceptable for 6th graders. I plan to recommend this to students who enjoy THE CLIQUE novels and Meg Cabot’s AIRHEAD. And really, isn’t that what we all want in middle school and high school? She just wants to be something more than P-L-A-I-N. She struggles and makes mistakes, but you don’t blame her. Violet is genuine and real, you feel like you know her. I really enjoyed this book! It was a great look at the world of modeling and glamour, but with a likable heroine. Is modeling all that it’s cracked up to be? Can Violet survive being a runway model, the next “It” girl, and a high school senior? Can her life back home and her relationships with friends and family stay intact? Most importantly, can Violet survive, intact? When four designers choose Violet to walk their Fashion Week runways, she is suddenly thrust into a whole new world. Is this woman, Angela, right? Could she possibly be model material? She eventually decides to take the plunge, which takes her and her mother to New York for go-sees, appointments with designers. However, over the next few days the card burns a hole in her pocket. Violet accepts the card, but laughs it off. In the midst of complaining about her movie-going experience, the woman is stunned by Violet and hands over a card for Tryst modeling, asking if Violet is “signed anywhere”. In Violet on the Runway, Violet’s life is forever changed the day she meets the woman in Chanel glasses at the movie theater. Even her job, at the small hometown movie theater is designed to keep her hidden- anyone in their right mind (even Violet) goes to the megaplex across town to see a movie. To compensate for her long legs and ever-growing body, she tries to dress inconspicuously and avoids drawing any attention to herself.

Unfortunately, her height makes that almost impossible. Violet Greenfield wants nothing more than to be able to fade into the background of high school.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han.

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer.

Found (The Missing Book 1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

World Literature That High School Students Actually Want to Read- Share a Story, Shape a Future 2012.

Violet on the Runway by Melissa C. Walker