Dani Noir

by Nova Ren Suma (Goodreads author)

book data

8 ratings, 4.50 average rating, 5 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		75%
4		12%
3		0%
2		12%
1		0%

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published

September 22nd 2009 by Aladdin

binding

Hardcover, 272 pages

url

http://daninoir.com/

isbn

1416975640 (isbn13: 9781416975649)

description

Zoom in on thirteen-year-old Dani Callanzano. The summer before eighth grade, Dani is stuck in her nothing-ever-happens town with only her favorite no...more

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TRT's 2009 Gotta Have 'Em List! (Part 1)

120 books | 133 voters

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 62)

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04/21/09

Molly rated it:

bookshelves: authors-i-adore, books-i-wish-id-worked-on, love-the-jacket, middle-grade, new-favorites

Read in April, 2009

Dani is one of the most refreshingly REAL middle grade protagonists I've read in ages, and I say that as someone who reads middle grade daily for a living. It's like she's standing in front of you, telling you her story, just telling it like it is, as she reads. I want to give Dani a hug, the same way I always wanted to give Katherine Paterson's Gilly in THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS a hug -- not because I pity her, but just to let her know that I'm rooting for her. She's so totally unguarded, so unab...more

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01/02/09

Annika rated it:

bookshelves: fiction

Read in April, 2009

recommends it for: ages 9+ (including adults!)

This is, hands-down, the best middle grade book I've read since I was *in* middle school. Nova is the next Paula Danziger!

Dani is the most REAL 13-year-old I've read since Marcy Lewis. Every word of this book is a work of art.

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01/02/09

Courtney rated it:

bookshelves: 2009, favourites, mg-fiction

Read in June, 2009

MAN, that cover is one of the best I have ever seen.

Dani Noir is so many things. The first of those things being a freaking spectacular book. An incredible debut. A new favourite. A forever favourite. Since I was lucky enough to get an early read on this one (!), I don't want to go into much--or rather, any--detail about the plot, so I'll confine my thoughts to how this awesome novel made me feel and how sharp and tight the writing was and then amend this review accordingly aft...more MAN, that cover is one of the best I have ever seen.

Dani Noir is so many things. The first of those things being a freaking spectacular book. An incredible debut. A new favourite. A forever favourite. Since I was lucky enough to get an early read on this one (!), I don't want to go into much--or rather, any--detail about the plot, so I'll confine my thoughts to how this awesome novel made me feel and how sharp and tight the writing was and then amend this review accordingly after it's released (September 22, 2009--take note, people!). Also I just finished this book like five seconds ago so this review might be slightly all over the place because itwassogoodIwannatalkaboutitnowwww!

So how did Dani Noir make me feel? Well, it made me feel like I want to do right by every word I put on the page and create something that carries the reader along so effortlessly from one sentence to the next, one page after the other, like this book does. With a thoughtful and caring hand, Nova Ren Suma explores the life of a 13-year-old film noir buff during a tough period of transition candidly and honestly in ways that are charming, hilarious, and heartbreaking all at once. On one page, I would laugh out loud at one of Dani's sharp-as-heck zingers and observations (and Dani's zingers made me LOL a lot--oh my God, voice! It came right off the page!) and on the next, my heart would ache at her vulnerability and her need to find the kind of balance and control you need to find when things are changing around you in really difficult ways (yes, I cried--it was very touching! I loved Dani's rock solid relationship with and her loyalty to her mother).

The characters--all of them--are so fully realized. And Dani is definitely not someone's idea of a thirteen-year-old girl. Dani is a thirteen-year-old girl. Suma gives her targeted audience credit, stepping back and letting Dani tell her story and the way she tells it--let's just say I would read any book narrated by Dani Callanzano (and I will read every book written by Nova Ren Suma). I truly feel readers across the age spectrum are going to adore this novel for its protagonist and find much to relate to in Dani. And they will LOVE cheering her on. I was every single moment.

And Dani Noir is page-turner. Make that page-turner to the Nth degree. Once I started, I only stopped once--and that was to make POPCORN. Seriously, this book made me want popcorn something fierce so I made it (at like 3 in the morning) and then I read it while I ate the popcorn and it was magical, so I highly recommend doing that when you pick this one up. MAKE POPCORN. Also, that segues into my next favourite thing about Dani Noir: this book tickled my senses, it was so alive. The settings, the descriptions--wow. I could smell the movie theatre, I could feel it. The small town vibe and being able to understand every nook and cranny of the place through Dani's eyes--it was so vivid. And the ending was perfect.

And! And! And! The movies--the love for the movies, their stars. Oh, what Would Rita Hayworth Do? I'll tell you what Rita Hayworth would do.

She would LOVE this book.

I know I did.

Don't you dare miss it.(less)

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3 comments

02/19/09

Will rated it:

I don't read a lot of YA fiction, in fact this is only my second foray into the rather loose genre- but if Suma's DANI NOIR (and also Courtney Solomon's CRACKED UP TO BE) is indicative of the genre, than I have been sorely remiss in not delving further into the world of young adult fiction.

That said, I don't think I'd be happy if I did. I think I'd be horribly dissapointed. DANI NOIR is such a vibrant book, crackling with character and wit- and pathos- and it kept me hooked and tur...more

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04/22/09

Monica Edinger rated it:

Read in June, 2009

What a good book! What a very good book! And what a lovely surprise too. I knew nothing about it when a publicist asked me if I wanted an ARC. I said sure and am so glad I did. Review on my blog here.

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