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Daring Darleen #1
Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen
When a publicity stunt goes terribly wrong, twelve-year-old Darleen Darling, star of the silent film era, must defeat villains both on screen and off in this edge-of-your-seat adventure.
Lights! Camera! Kidnapping?
It's 1914, and Darleen Darling's film adventures collide with reality when a fake kidnapping set up by her studio becomes all too real. Suddenly Darleen finds herself in the hands of dastardly criminals who have just nabbed Miss Victorine Berryman, the poor-little-rich-girl heiress of one of America's largest fortunes. Soon real life starts to seem like a bona fide adventure serial, complete with dramatic escapes, murderous plots, and a runaway air balloon. Will Darleen and Victorine be able to engineer their own happily-ever-after, or will the villains be victorious?
Lights! Camera! Kidnapping?
It's 1914, and Darleen Darling's film adventures collide with reality when a fake kidnapping set up by her studio becomes all too real. Suddenly Darleen finds herself in the hands of dastardly criminals who have just nabbed Miss Victorine Berryman, the poor-little-rich-girl heiress of one of America's largest fortunes. Soon real life starts to seem like a bona fide adventure serial, complete with dramatic escapes, murderous plots, and a runaway air balloon. Will Darleen and Victorine be able to engineer their own happily-ever-after, or will the villains be victorious?
368 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2020
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354 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
April 11, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.
Daring Darleen is the kind of middle grade historical fiction novel I adored as a kid, and still love as an adult. It takes an oft-ignored time and place in history--early 1910s New York City and New Jersey, about the pre-Hollywood film hotspot of Fort Lee--and brings it to life with a vivid young heroine. The author absolutely did her research. The places feel real, and the details about the early silent era are spot-on. Women and girls played a huge role then--more so than they do even now--and this book demonstrates that without ever being preachy. I loved the surprise presence of a very-real early film powerhouse of a role model, too.
Darleen is a child star. Her theater family moved to doing photoplays early on, and Darleen has grown up on film. At age 12, she's the star of her own action serials, and does all of the stunts that her hare-brained family dreams up. However, she's not so sure when they resolve to drum up publicity by faking her kidnapping at one of her serial premieres. Even more bizarre, her fake kidnapping becomes real when she gets involved with the genuine kidnapping of an heiress her own age. The two become fast friends as they foil the kidnapping--for now--and discover a wider conspiracy that involves Darleen's own studio.
The book is a fast read thanks to loads of action plus twists and turns. Darleen is a great character. I was annoyed, though, that the vast majority of the adult characters are outright obnoxious, Darleen's family in particular. It becomes grating quite quickly when no adults listen to her, ever. The villains in the book are also lack all nuance, and even more, stand out because of the physical differences, such as having pointed ears and one-eye.
Even so, I highly recommend the book to young lovers of historical fiction. Here's hoping it provokes interest in silent movies!
Daring Darleen is the kind of middle grade historical fiction novel I adored as a kid, and still love as an adult. It takes an oft-ignored time and place in history--early 1910s New York City and New Jersey, about the pre-Hollywood film hotspot of Fort Lee--and brings it to life with a vivid young heroine. The author absolutely did her research. The places feel real, and the details about the early silent era are spot-on. Women and girls played a huge role then--more so than they do even now--and this book demonstrates that without ever being preachy. I loved the surprise presence of a very-real early film powerhouse of a role model, too.
Darleen is a child star. Her theater family moved to doing photoplays early on, and Darleen has grown up on film. At age 12, she's the star of her own action serials, and does all of the stunts that her hare-brained family dreams up. However, she's not so sure when they resolve to drum up publicity by faking her kidnapping at one of her serial premieres. Even more bizarre, her fake kidnapping becomes real when she gets involved with the genuine kidnapping of an heiress her own age. The two become fast friends as they foil the kidnapping--for now--and discover a wider conspiracy that involves Darleen's own studio.
The book is a fast read thanks to loads of action plus twists and turns. Darleen is a great character. I was annoyed, though, that the vast majority of the adult characters are outright obnoxious, Darleen's family in particular. It becomes grating quite quickly when no adults listen to her, ever. The villains in the book are also lack all nuance, and even more, stand out because of the physical differences, such as having pointed ears and one-eye.
Even so, I highly recommend the book to young lovers of historical fiction. Here's hoping it provokes interest in silent movies!
July 26, 2020
This fun middle grade novel is about the era of silent films, and involves a publicity kidnapping plot gone awry. There are lots of clever ideas behind this book, but I found it a bit lacking in the execution, and could never fully engage with it. The characters are totally one-dimensional, both heroes and villains alike, and parts of the story are too wordy, dragging out the action with unnecessary exposition.
If someone were totally new to the silent film era, they might enjoy this more than I did, but because I was already familiar with the techniques, tropes, limitations, and creative maneuvering of silent film production, I wanted a stronger story against this backdrop. The charm of the setting itself wasn't enough to hold my interest, and the characters seemed like simplistic props, never actual people. Darleen and Victorine are so self-consciously Cute and Clever that I couldn't suspend disbelief, and even though the author may have been trying to imitate common characterization tropes from the silent films she loves, this didn't work for a 368-page novel.
This book is a good choice for middle grade readers, but it does not have the depth or sophistication to appeal broadly beyond this demographic. Younger readers who are not yet familiar with silent film history or the predictable plot twists in this book may find it thrilling, and some older readers may want to read it for the unique setting, historical elements, and upbeat fun. However, readers who are looking for an unpredictable, emotionally complex story with meaningful character development are better off reading I Don't Know How the Story Ends. This book is also about early silent film development, and even though it is a serious novel, not a fun romp, it includes many of the same insights into early silent film development while being much more engaging and better-rounded as a novel.
If someone were totally new to the silent film era, they might enjoy this more than I did, but because I was already familiar with the techniques, tropes, limitations, and creative maneuvering of silent film production, I wanted a stronger story against this backdrop. The charm of the setting itself wasn't enough to hold my interest, and the characters seemed like simplistic props, never actual people. Darleen and Victorine are so self-consciously Cute and Clever that I couldn't suspend disbelief, and even though the author may have been trying to imitate common characterization tropes from the silent films she loves, this didn't work for a 368-page novel.
This book is a good choice for middle grade readers, but it does not have the depth or sophistication to appeal broadly beyond this demographic. Younger readers who are not yet familiar with silent film history or the predictable plot twists in this book may find it thrilling, and some older readers may want to read it for the unique setting, historical elements, and upbeat fun. However, readers who are looking for an unpredictable, emotionally complex story with meaningful character development are better off reading I Don't Know How the Story Ends. This book is also about early silent film development, and even though it is a serious novel, not a fun romp, it includes many of the same insights into early silent film development while being much more engaging and better-rounded as a novel.
May 24, 2021
Wow! Anne Nesbet has definitely become a favorite author at this point. I have loved everything I’ve read by her. It's 1914, & Darleen Darling's film adventures collide w/reality when a fake kidnapping set up by her studio becomes all too real. Suddenly Darleen finds herself in the hands of dastardly criminals who have just nabbed Miss Victorine Berryman, the poor-little-rich-girl heiress of 1 of America's largest fortunes. Soon real life starts to seem like a bona fide adventure serial, complete w/dramatic escapes, murderous plots, & a runaway air balloon. Will Darleen & Victorine be able to engineer their own happily-ever-after, or will the villains be victorious? This was full of charm, humor, adventure, theatrics, drama, family, friendship, danger, suspense, action, historic details, amazing setting, & more! Darleen is a silent-film star, & is used to doing daring, dangerous things on her many adventures acting(though the danger while filming always is very real for her it seems lol). But now she’s caught up in a real life dangerous adventure that’s seems to be playing before her eyes like a film. Each chapter is titled like it’s the next episode of this adventure, & many end on grand cliffhangers just like an episode would. So you HAVE to keep reading to see what happens! Lol Darleen & Victorine form a friendship out of the most unlikely circumstances. What a friendship too. I loved their dynamic, & what they brought out of each other. They accepted each other as is, & grew an intense bond almost immediately. They are both complete opposites in ways, & the same at heart. They balance each other. They both have my heart. I could hear Victorine in my head during her lines the way I imagined her sounding, & she would be someone I could listen to talk forever! So vibrant, excited, & engaging to say the least! I also learned so much about the film industry at the time-the silent film. Many facts of it in the book are actually fact, including the location & some of the people-the author pays homage to a female trailblazer of the industry & I loved that! I found that all fascinating when I read it in the authors note! It was wonderful seeing Darleen discover she really was a daring as the character she plays, & discover what truly makes her happy inside. What makes us happy might not always make others in our lives happy, but we have to do what’s best for us. We can’t live FOR other people. We only get 1 chance at this life. Such a great book. Highly recommend! Another STUNNING cover by Brett Helquist too!💜
July 2, 2020
I appreciated the idea behind this book more than the writing. It dragged.
February 12, 2021
The beginning of this is promising: the tone is slightly off-kilter, hammering home the historical not-quite-today aspect of it all. And the story is a little surprising, too, in its outrageous plotting and the places it goes - which is compounded by the tone of the narration.
But (maybe through no fault of its own) the plot line in a story needs to resolve, and the way this resolves is same old, same old. And that almost betrays the tone and surprise of the earlier storytelling. And so this stays a punchy setting and doesn’t really work for me as a story.
But (maybe through no fault of its own) the plot line in a story needs to resolve, and the way this resolves is same old, same old. And that almost betrays the tone and surprise of the earlier storytelling. And so this stays a punchy setting and doesn’t really work for me as a story.
November 5, 2023
Darleen is the star of silent films produced by her family's film company just outside New York City. As part of a publicity stunt, they set up a fake kidnapping to bring more attention to their films, but something goes terrible wrong. Darleen gets trapped in the middle of a real kidnapping with a wealthy heiress, Victorine Berryman. Now the two girls must discover who the kidnappers are and stage a daring escape.
I loved this wonderful adventure story! The plot takes a lot of twists and turns. I was surprised at every new development. There are a lot of complex layers to the story as we get to follow Darleen's family life, her acting career, and Victorine's difficult legal problems, and all their adventures together. I loved the hilarious writing style! It really captures that flavor of old-fashioned drama that you think of with a silent film.
Darleen strives to be a good daughter, a good actress, and a good friend. But deep inside her heart, she has a longing for adventure and danger. She isn't reckless, but she comes alive when something thrilling happens. She feels like she can't really be herself, because it will make her father too worried if she takes any risks. I loved the sweet relationship between father and daughter. They are so protective of each other.
Victorine is grieving over the death of her grandmother, which has left her a victim of horrible guardians who only care about her money. Victorine has a gentle nature, but she is strong and resourceful in difficult circumstances. I loved the friendship that quickly develops between Victorine and Darleen. They immediately trust each other, and together they make a great team.
One of the coolest things about this book is getting to learn real history about the silent film industry of this era. One of the side characters is even a real historical figure, the first woman to run her own film production company. It's really interesting to see how they organized filming and editing, and the cool tricks they would use to do special effects.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
I loved this wonderful adventure story! The plot takes a lot of twists and turns. I was surprised at every new development. There are a lot of complex layers to the story as we get to follow Darleen's family life, her acting career, and Victorine's difficult legal problems, and all their adventures together. I loved the hilarious writing style! It really captures that flavor of old-fashioned drama that you think of with a silent film.
Darleen strives to be a good daughter, a good actress, and a good friend. But deep inside her heart, she has a longing for adventure and danger. She isn't reckless, but she comes alive when something thrilling happens. She feels like she can't really be herself, because it will make her father too worried if she takes any risks. I loved the sweet relationship between father and daughter. They are so protective of each other.
Victorine is grieving over the death of her grandmother, which has left her a victim of horrible guardians who only care about her money. Victorine has a gentle nature, but she is strong and resourceful in difficult circumstances. I loved the friendship that quickly develops between Victorine and Darleen. They immediately trust each other, and together they make a great team.
One of the coolest things about this book is getting to learn real history about the silent film industry of this era. One of the side characters is even a real historical figure, the first woman to run her own film production company. It's really interesting to see how they organized filming and editing, and the cool tricks they would use to do special effects.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
April 27, 2024
This is such a fun story! I especially love the friendship between Darleen and Victorine. They have differing strengths that make them stronger together and help them to outwit the very tricky (and delightfully rogueish) situation they end in up together. It took me a bit to get oriented to the setting because I didn't realize that the earliest motion pictures were filmed in New Jersey. I kept thinking they were in California! This was likely due to my preconceived ideas more than anything else. The relationship between Darleen and her father is sweet too.
February 16, 2020
The last months, I've been a bit disappointed on the middle grade front. While there's been several books which were good and fun to read, none left me with the 'I love this book' feeling. This book finally breaks that streak.
Darleen Darling is a twelve-year-old actress in the 1914's and is the star of the very popular movie series Daring Darleen. But that doesn't make her life easy, on the contrary. The scenes and props cost almost more than they bring in, and she has to do all action stunts herself—how upset her father would be if he knew how dangerous some of them were! When the manager wants to stage a kidnapping as a publicity stunt, things take a terrible twist. Darleen happens across real kidnappers who mistake her for the sole heir of one of the richest (and deceased) women in New York. Not only is Darleen's life now truly at stake, but she's bound determined to help the real heir as well.
This book is nicely set in the 1914's and in the realm of black and white movies studios. The author does a wonderful job at bringing this ear to life and in such a way that young readers will easily sink into. I know some readers won't be familiar with the 'black-white' films, but anyone who's even cast a tiny glance at one in some way will have no trouble understanding what is going on. And while all appears to hold very true to the time period, Darleen is a character readers today can even identify with. She's a kid, acts like a kid, thinks like a kid, and has a huge sense of curiosity. She longs for adventure and is excited when she gets through something 'daring', but still is unsure and even scared when put in such a situation. She experiences the adventures kids dream of...then and now.
The pacing in this book was amazing. Every page held needed information or exciting moments or action pure. It was impossible to put down. The character depth is nicely done as Darleen and her friend have their own issues, which they need to work through. The author even allows the characters to speak in a way they might have in 1914, which brings wonderful authenticity, which is often forgotten (or seen as 'too difficult') in today's historical middle grade novels.
To make sure I wasn't alone in my thoughts, I let my daughter dive into this one, and she loved it too. So, this one is the first on my 2020 Favorite Reads List.
I received an ARC copy and enjoyed this one so much more than I thought I would, and I'm leaving my honest thoughts.
Darleen Darling is a twelve-year-old actress in the 1914's and is the star of the very popular movie series Daring Darleen. But that doesn't make her life easy, on the contrary. The scenes and props cost almost more than they bring in, and she has to do all action stunts herself—how upset her father would be if he knew how dangerous some of them were! When the manager wants to stage a kidnapping as a publicity stunt, things take a terrible twist. Darleen happens across real kidnappers who mistake her for the sole heir of one of the richest (and deceased) women in New York. Not only is Darleen's life now truly at stake, but she's bound determined to help the real heir as well.
This book is nicely set in the 1914's and in the realm of black and white movies studios. The author does a wonderful job at bringing this ear to life and in such a way that young readers will easily sink into. I know some readers won't be familiar with the 'black-white' films, but anyone who's even cast a tiny glance at one in some way will have no trouble understanding what is going on. And while all appears to hold very true to the time period, Darleen is a character readers today can even identify with. She's a kid, acts like a kid, thinks like a kid, and has a huge sense of curiosity. She longs for adventure and is excited when she gets through something 'daring', but still is unsure and even scared when put in such a situation. She experiences the adventures kids dream of...then and now.
The pacing in this book was amazing. Every page held needed information or exciting moments or action pure. It was impossible to put down. The character depth is nicely done as Darleen and her friend have their own issues, which they need to work through. The author even allows the characters to speak in a way they might have in 1914, which brings wonderful authenticity, which is often forgotten (or seen as 'too difficult') in today's historical middle grade novels.
To make sure I wasn't alone in my thoughts, I let my daughter dive into this one, and she loved it too. So, this one is the first on my 2020 Favorite Reads List.
I received an ARC copy and enjoyed this one so much more than I thought I would, and I'm leaving my honest thoughts.
June 12, 2021
2.5 stars
In 1914 Fort Lee, New Jersey is the center of the silent filmmaking industry and eleven-year-old Darleen is proud of her family's Matchless Studios but sometimes feels conflicted about her starring role as Daring Darleen. While her uncles see nothing wrong with dangling Darleen off a cliff, Darleen's beloved Papa wants Darleen to keep her feet on the ground. His dream is to return to the simple, quiet life of farming once money is better. Darleen wants to please her Papa and take care of him but sometimes... sometimes... she likes the sensational feeling of NOT having her feet on the ground. What's a girl to do? When Darleen's aunt cooks up a plan to have real life mirror the photoplay and plans go awry, Darleen finds herself the heroine of a real life adventure, costarring with heiress Victorine Berryman who has been cruelly treated by distant cousins and kidnapped for her fortune. How can two young girls outwit some nasty villains and save the day? After all, Daring Darleen isn't real! Victorine relies on Darlene to save her but finds unexpected layers of her own personality coming unpeeled.
I think the author's intent was to have the story resemble an early silent film. As a film serial or maybe even a story serial, it would have worked but as a novel (and a long one), it didn't work for me. It took Darleen the whole book to figure out what I realized pretty much on the first page. In the tradition of Lemony Snicket, the adults are all so two-dimensional and the villains cartoonish. I didn't care for that and had a hard time getting through the book. The adventure starts and stops a lot and finally picks up in the last few chapters. I liked learning about the history of the early film industry but the story was bogged down by too many technical details about how movie magic works. Isn't it better to preserve some of the magic, especially for children? The movie portions were too repetitive for me and the adventure portions were too silly but I'm not the target audience. I didn't share this with my niece because I knew she wouldn't even open it. "No pictures! Too much text! Too long! BORING!"
Darleen is a fun character. She tries really hard to be good and do as her Papa wants- keep her feet on the ground. They're both emotionally scarred from her mother's death several years earlier. Mama was a tightrope walker and dancer who retired to marry Papa and raise a family. Papa is worried he'll lose his beloved Darleen too. Yet Darleen is naturally spunky. She's a bit sassy, inquisitive and intelligent too. Darleen loves her Papa yet she struggles to do what he asks. Her insights come at different moments throughout the book and I think they're a little too pointed and mature for a young girl. I'd rather the reader learn something from Darleen's adventures on their own. I like Victorine better. While she appears to be a proper young lady, she possesses a spirit of adventure like Darleen. She's also resourceful and has some esoteric knowledge that comes in handy sometimes. She tries to honor her pledge to her grandmother and be true to her upbringing but I think she has the same dream as Darleen. I like her character growth and her journey. Her career goal is amazing and yes there IS a need for a world-wandering librarian! Perhaps in a balloon?
The adults are (mostly) just AWFUL! Darleen's papa is obviously loving and caring but he's aged since his wife's death and as a peaceful person can't stand up to his siblings. Uncle Dan and Uncle Charlie only care about making movies. Dan is the quiet one and seems passionate about filmmaking but Charlie is more about money. Aunt Shirley cares more for Darleen than the uncles do but even she puts the studio first. She's not very kind or empathetic. The adults continually endanger Darleen and fail to see when she's genuinely in trouble! Time after time, the uncles just ignore everything and Aunt Shirley isn't much better. She mostly only cares about the studio finances. No one bothers to ask Darlene if she's OK or what happened. Only her Papa cares about her but his way of caring is to smother her. Victorine's grandmother seemed pretty cool for a Victorian/Edwardian lady. She took her granddaughter on adventures and taught her all kinds of unusual and useful things. I believe she truly loved her granddaughter and had the girl's best interests at heart. There's only ONE truly caring adult in the story who takes the time to listen and understand what's going on. She alone doesn't see the world in black and white and cares about the well-being of a child. Plus she's one amazing woman and a real life figure too!
The villains are sooo cartoonish! First we meet Jasper Lukes who is part of the Matchless family. His parents were part of a theater company with the Darlings until they cruelly abandoned him. For some reason he's nasty to Darleen and loathes the Darlings. Perhaps if he had more depth he would be jealous of Darlene's success and resent the Darlings for forcing him to appear as the villain in the photoplay? As written, he lacks motive for being so cruel to Darleen. Victorine's relatives, the Brownstones are motived by greed plain and simple. Even Victorine can see that.
This book is fun but just not for an adult reader or a reluctant kid reader. It would be better published as a newspaper serial for schools or even as a Netflix series. I think tween girls would love to watch it.
In 1914 Fort Lee, New Jersey is the center of the silent filmmaking industry and eleven-year-old Darleen is proud of her family's Matchless Studios but sometimes feels conflicted about her starring role as Daring Darleen. While her uncles see nothing wrong with dangling Darleen off a cliff, Darleen's beloved Papa wants Darleen to keep her feet on the ground. His dream is to return to the simple, quiet life of farming once money is better. Darleen wants to please her Papa and take care of him but sometimes... sometimes... she likes the sensational feeling of NOT having her feet on the ground. What's a girl to do? When Darleen's aunt cooks up a plan to have real life mirror the photoplay and plans go awry, Darleen finds herself the heroine of a real life adventure, costarring with heiress Victorine Berryman who has been cruelly treated by distant cousins and kidnapped for her fortune. How can two young girls outwit some nasty villains and save the day? After all, Daring Darleen isn't real! Victorine relies on Darlene to save her but finds unexpected layers of her own personality coming unpeeled.
I think the author's intent was to have the story resemble an early silent film. As a film serial or maybe even a story serial, it would have worked but as a novel (and a long one), it didn't work for me. It took Darleen the whole book to figure out what I realized pretty much on the first page. In the tradition of Lemony Snicket, the adults are all so two-dimensional and the villains cartoonish. I didn't care for that and had a hard time getting through the book. The adventure starts and stops a lot and finally picks up in the last few chapters. I liked learning about the history of the early film industry but the story was bogged down by too many technical details about how movie magic works. Isn't it better to preserve some of the magic, especially for children? The movie portions were too repetitive for me and the adventure portions were too silly but I'm not the target audience. I didn't share this with my niece because I knew she wouldn't even open it. "No pictures! Too much text! Too long! BORING!"
Darleen is a fun character. She tries really hard to be good and do as her Papa wants- keep her feet on the ground. They're both emotionally scarred from her mother's death several years earlier. Mama was a tightrope walker and dancer who retired to marry Papa and raise a family. Papa is worried he'll lose his beloved Darleen too. Yet Darleen is naturally spunky. She's a bit sassy, inquisitive and intelligent too. Darleen loves her Papa yet she struggles to do what he asks. Her insights come at different moments throughout the book and I think they're a little too pointed and mature for a young girl. I'd rather the reader learn something from Darleen's adventures on their own. I like Victorine better. While she appears to be a proper young lady, she possesses a spirit of adventure like Darleen. She's also resourceful and has some esoteric knowledge that comes in handy sometimes. She tries to honor her pledge to her grandmother and be true to her upbringing but I think she has the same dream as Darleen. I like her character growth and her journey. Her career goal is amazing and yes there IS a need for a world-wandering librarian! Perhaps in a balloon?
The adults are (mostly) just AWFUL! Darleen's papa is obviously loving and caring but he's aged since his wife's death and as a peaceful person can't stand up to his siblings. Uncle Dan and Uncle Charlie only care about making movies. Dan is the quiet one and seems passionate about filmmaking but Charlie is more about money. Aunt Shirley cares more for Darleen than the uncles do but even she puts the studio first. She's not very kind or empathetic. The adults continually endanger Darleen and fail to see when she's genuinely in trouble! Time after time, the uncles just ignore everything and Aunt Shirley isn't much better. She mostly only cares about the studio finances. No one bothers to ask Darlene if she's OK or what happened. Only her Papa cares about her but his way of caring is to smother her. Victorine's grandmother seemed pretty cool for a Victorian/Edwardian lady. She took her granddaughter on adventures and taught her all kinds of unusual and useful things. I believe she truly loved her granddaughter and had the girl's best interests at heart. There's only ONE truly caring adult in the story who takes the time to listen and understand what's going on. She alone doesn't see the world in black and white and cares about the well-being of a child. Plus she's one amazing woman and a real life figure too!
The villains are sooo cartoonish! First we meet Jasper Lukes who is part of the Matchless family. His parents were part of a theater company with the Darlings until they cruelly abandoned him. For some reason he's nasty to Darleen and loathes the Darlings. Perhaps if he had more depth he would be jealous of Darlene's success and resent the Darlings for forcing him to appear as the villain in the photoplay? As written, he lacks motive for being so cruel to Darleen. Victorine's relatives, the Brownstones are motived by greed plain and simple. Even Victorine can see that.
This book is fun but just not for an adult reader or a reluctant kid reader. It would be better published as a newspaper serial for schools or even as a Netflix series. I think tween girls would love to watch it.
July 26, 2023
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Darleen comes from a long line of entertainers; her father and his siblings are all part of Matchless Studios, a silent film concern trying to stay in business in 1914. Darleen has gone from being "darling" as a child film star to being "daring" in her tween years, and is the star of a serial in which she is a princess trying to find her father. In order to drum up more interest, and perhaps make more money, her aunt comes up with a great idea: film Darleen being kidnapped at the opening of a new theater, so fans can read about the "real life" episode in the paper. On the night of the event, Darleen is ready, but ends up in the wrong car... with the subject of an actual kidnapping. Victorine Berryman is the orphan heiress of a railroad fortune. Her only relatives, the Brownstones, are cruel to her, so once she and Darleen escape, she is loathe to turn herself in. Both kidnappings seem to be tied together through one particularly unpleasant actor, and the girls try to figure out the mystery. Along the way, they get involved in lots of escapades, including going up in a hot air balloon. They also meet Madame Blanche, the owner of rival Solax studios, who helps the girls figure out the problem with Victorine's inheritance, and encourages them to continue their work in film.
Strengths: The early 1900s are ripe for all manner of interesting historical fiction, and there's very little that I've come across. The early days of motion pictures is a great place to start! The alliance of the two girls from different backgrounds is charming, and I enjoyed Victorine's plight as the "poor little rich girl". The fact that Darleen dangles over cliffs and has adventures makes it even better.
Weaknesses: This could have been about 100 pages shorter if some of the plot elements had been simplified, and would have made for a more exiting story.
What I really think: I will purchase this because I love the era and the topic, but I'm not sure how well it will circulate. Readers who picked up Tubb's Selling Hope (2011), Cheaney's I Don't Know How the Story Ends,(2015)or Fleming'ss Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen (2018) will find this another fascinating foray into early films.
Darleen comes from a long line of entertainers; her father and his siblings are all part of Matchless Studios, a silent film concern trying to stay in business in 1914. Darleen has gone from being "darling" as a child film star to being "daring" in her tween years, and is the star of a serial in which she is a princess trying to find her father. In order to drum up more interest, and perhaps make more money, her aunt comes up with a great idea: film Darleen being kidnapped at the opening of a new theater, so fans can read about the "real life" episode in the paper. On the night of the event, Darleen is ready, but ends up in the wrong car... with the subject of an actual kidnapping. Victorine Berryman is the orphan heiress of a railroad fortune. Her only relatives, the Brownstones, are cruel to her, so once she and Darleen escape, she is loathe to turn herself in. Both kidnappings seem to be tied together through one particularly unpleasant actor, and the girls try to figure out the mystery. Along the way, they get involved in lots of escapades, including going up in a hot air balloon. They also meet Madame Blanche, the owner of rival Solax studios, who helps the girls figure out the problem with Victorine's inheritance, and encourages them to continue their work in film.
Strengths: The early 1900s are ripe for all manner of interesting historical fiction, and there's very little that I've come across. The early days of motion pictures is a great place to start! The alliance of the two girls from different backgrounds is charming, and I enjoyed Victorine's plight as the "poor little rich girl". The fact that Darleen dangles over cliffs and has adventures makes it even better.
Weaknesses: This could have been about 100 pages shorter if some of the plot elements had been simplified, and would have made for a more exiting story.
What I really think: I will purchase this because I love the era and the topic, but I'm not sure how well it will circulate. Readers who picked up Tubb's Selling Hope (2011), Cheaney's I Don't Know How the Story Ends,(2015)or Fleming'ss Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen (2018) will find this another fascinating foray into early films.
December 30, 2019
I received an Advanced Reading Copy from Candlewick Press and a special thank you to them.
This is a middle grade read that will be released in April 2020. It is set in Fort Lee, NJ which predates Hollywood as the capital of the moving pictures industry using both fictional and real characters in a fictional setting. It is well written and the author is an expert on the period.
While the story concerns Daring Darleen, a fictional heroine of the old serial adventures I enjoyed growing up to at Pops Theater in Chicago's South Side. While I never saw those put out by Ft. Lee in the early days (pre world war 1) I saw the likes of Buck Rogers and Nyoka the Jungle girl. This read brought back those memories. Highly recommended for middle school readers and up, especially if they want to know how movies got started.
This is a middle grade read that will be released in April 2020. It is set in Fort Lee, NJ which predates Hollywood as the capital of the moving pictures industry using both fictional and real characters in a fictional setting. It is well written and the author is an expert on the period.
While the story concerns Daring Darleen, a fictional heroine of the old serial adventures I enjoyed growing up to at Pops Theater in Chicago's South Side. While I never saw those put out by Ft. Lee in the early days (pre world war 1) I saw the likes of Buck Rogers and Nyoka the Jungle girl. This read brought back those memories. Highly recommended for middle school readers and up, especially if they want to know how movies got started.
May 24, 2020
From about 1908 through the teens, young women were the action stars of the silent screen. The most famous serial was The Perils of Pauline staring Pearl White. But there were many others.
Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen by Anne Nesbet is historical middle grade fiction set contemporaneously with Perils and is written with the enthusiasm and panache of girls adventure fiction, such as Ruth Fielding by Alice B. Emerson.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm...
FF3399 - orphan rural labyrinth
Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen by Anne Nesbet is historical middle grade fiction set contemporaneously with Perils and is written with the enthusiasm and panache of girls adventure fiction, such as Ruth Fielding by Alice B. Emerson.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm...
FF3399 - orphan rural labyrinth
June 30, 2020
Tremendously Entertaining
This book really does have it all. We're in the early 1900's, in the midst of small studios making silent films, which is novel, and allows for all sorts of interesting and colorful hijinks. We have a twisty plot that's still easy enough for a young reader to follow. And we have not one, but two, bright, resourceful, and spunky heroines who complement each other and develop into the sort of team that moves this book smoothly into buddy action/comedy territory.
But here's the best part. This could have been dry and a little too eager to show off the author's research, historical chops, and movie trivia knowledge. But no. We just hop into a "Perils of Pauline" sort of world, and get to enjoy it from the inside, from the movie maker's point of view, without that seeming at all unnatural or forced.
And even better still, the whole project is suffused with a gentle good humor that buoys the narrative and allows us to wholeheartedly root for our two heroines. The real, rich, proper kidnappee, Victorine Berryman joins the book late and starts out as a shy and timid presence, but she soon develops he sterner side. From the outset, Daring Darleen has captured us with her style, wit, and spunk. A lot of the humor here comes from Darleen's dry and deadpan view of the world - think of it as "cheerfully jaded" - and that fits in very well with accidentally being kidnapped along with Victorine Berryman. Along the same lines, Darleen's moviemaking is a family affair, (everyone at Matchless Studios is a relative of some sort), and every member of her extended family is given a unique personality and yet treated with great affection.
So, there's humor and action, and strong girl buddy stuff, and a gentle hand, and a nice helping of historical accuracy. What a great find.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This book really does have it all. We're in the early 1900's, in the midst of small studios making silent films, which is novel, and allows for all sorts of interesting and colorful hijinks. We have a twisty plot that's still easy enough for a young reader to follow. And we have not one, but two, bright, resourceful, and spunky heroines who complement each other and develop into the sort of team that moves this book smoothly into buddy action/comedy territory.
But here's the best part. This could have been dry and a little too eager to show off the author's research, historical chops, and movie trivia knowledge. But no. We just hop into a "Perils of Pauline" sort of world, and get to enjoy it from the inside, from the movie maker's point of view, without that seeming at all unnatural or forced.
And even better still, the whole project is suffused with a gentle good humor that buoys the narrative and allows us to wholeheartedly root for our two heroines. The real, rich, proper kidnappee, Victorine Berryman joins the book late and starts out as a shy and timid presence, but she soon develops he sterner side. From the outset, Daring Darleen has captured us with her style, wit, and spunk. A lot of the humor here comes from Darleen's dry and deadpan view of the world - think of it as "cheerfully jaded" - and that fits in very well with accidentally being kidnapped along with Victorine Berryman. Along the same lines, Darleen's moviemaking is a family affair, (everyone at Matchless Studios is a relative of some sort), and every member of her extended family is given a unique personality and yet treated with great affection.
So, there's humor and action, and strong girl buddy stuff, and a gentle hand, and a nice helping of historical accuracy. What a great find.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
December 31, 2019
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
“Daring Darleen” is a fun middle grade action story that follows the adventures of silent movie heroine Darleen Darling. The story takes place in 1914 and Darleen’s family runs a silent movie studio which produces the popular “Daring Darleen” film serials which Darleen stars in. Her family comes up with a publicity stunt to stage a fake kidnapping of Darleen that they will film for an upcoming episode, but it goes horribly wrong when Darleen ends up getting kidnapped for real along with young, rich heiress Miss Victorine Berryman. What follows is a fast-paced, fun adventure that involves the girls escaping their captors, runaway hot air balloons and solving the mystery of who’s really behind Victorine’s kidnapping. The main character Darleen is smart and spunky who reminded me of characters like Pippi Longstocking or Little Orphan Annie. The story also gives readers some background on the history of the silent movie industry which they may not even know existed! I recommend this to any middle grade reader who enjoys adventure stories. *Three and 1/2 stars*
“Daring Darleen” is a fun middle grade action story that follows the adventures of silent movie heroine Darleen Darling. The story takes place in 1914 and Darleen’s family runs a silent movie studio which produces the popular “Daring Darleen” film serials which Darleen stars in. Her family comes up with a publicity stunt to stage a fake kidnapping of Darleen that they will film for an upcoming episode, but it goes horribly wrong when Darleen ends up getting kidnapped for real along with young, rich heiress Miss Victorine Berryman. What follows is a fast-paced, fun adventure that involves the girls escaping their captors, runaway hot air balloons and solving the mystery of who’s really behind Victorine’s kidnapping. The main character Darleen is smart and spunky who reminded me of characters like Pippi Longstocking or Little Orphan Annie. The story also gives readers some background on the history of the silent movie industry which they may not even know existed! I recommend this to any middle grade reader who enjoys adventure stories. *Three and 1/2 stars*
August 5, 2020
This book tried to check all of the boxes for a adventure story, but didn’t quite make it. The story was nice, and the characters were great, but the mystery was unclear at times and not well thought out. I would not read this again, but I might recommend this to my friends.
January 9, 2021
When a publicity stunt goes terribly wrong, twelve-year-old Darleen Darling, star of the silent film era, must defeat villains both on screen and off in this edge-of-your-seat adventure.
Lights! Camera! Kidnapping?
It’s 1914, and Darleen Darling’s film adventures collide with reality when a fake kidnapping set up by her studio becomes all too real. Suddenly Darleen finds herself in the hands of dastardly criminals who have just nabbed Miss Victorine Berryman, the poor-little-rich-girl heiress of one of America’s largest fortunes. Soon real life starts to seem like a bona fide adventure serial, complete with dramatic escapes, murderous plots, and a runaway air balloon. Will Darleen and Victorine be able to engineer their own happily-ever-after, or will the villains be victorious?
Out April, 2020
368 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
You have to love middle-grade books like this. Edgy, fast-paced, creative, exhilarating, thrilling and wildly entertaining.
Set in the early 1900s, in New York and New Jersey, our character finds herself in Fort Lee, a visionary hot-spot pre-Hollywood. Lots of excellent research went into this book, making the setting bold, realistic and perfect for a kidnapping.
Silent film before “talkies” used women and girls far more than they do even today. Many of the crazy action scenes included women defying safety and gravity. Sexism, although present, wasn’t a pressing mechanism for control and role availability. It was a time for fun, adventure and risk.
Our heroine, Darleen, twelve going on 40, is an action film star who reluctantly agrees to a fake kidnapping to promote her films and becomes suddenly involved in a real-life kidnapping of an heiress who is also twelve. Luckily it is foiled but not before becoming fast friends with the heiress. There’s a conspiracy and villains and action-packed scenes that hurl the book to a great ending.
I love how Darleen is fully fleshed out and quirky, energetic, and thoroughly enjoyable. The adult characters, although I think a bit over-written to the point of being annoyingly depictable. All in all, it’s a good fun read and I recommend it to all middle-graders and adults alike. A great historical factor is included so this book would make a great school read.
Lights! Camera! Kidnapping?
It’s 1914, and Darleen Darling’s film adventures collide with reality when a fake kidnapping set up by her studio becomes all too real. Suddenly Darleen finds herself in the hands of dastardly criminals who have just nabbed Miss Victorine Berryman, the poor-little-rich-girl heiress of one of America’s largest fortunes. Soon real life starts to seem like a bona fide adventure serial, complete with dramatic escapes, murderous plots, and a runaway air balloon. Will Darleen and Victorine be able to engineer their own happily-ever-after, or will the villains be victorious?
Out April, 2020
368 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
You have to love middle-grade books like this. Edgy, fast-paced, creative, exhilarating, thrilling and wildly entertaining.
Set in the early 1900s, in New York and New Jersey, our character finds herself in Fort Lee, a visionary hot-spot pre-Hollywood. Lots of excellent research went into this book, making the setting bold, realistic and perfect for a kidnapping.
Silent film before “talkies” used women and girls far more than they do even today. Many of the crazy action scenes included women defying safety and gravity. Sexism, although present, wasn’t a pressing mechanism for control and role availability. It was a time for fun, adventure and risk.
Our heroine, Darleen, twelve going on 40, is an action film star who reluctantly agrees to a fake kidnapping to promote her films and becomes suddenly involved in a real-life kidnapping of an heiress who is also twelve. Luckily it is foiled but not before becoming fast friends with the heiress. There’s a conspiracy and villains and action-packed scenes that hurl the book to a great ending.
I love how Darleen is fully fleshed out and quirky, energetic, and thoroughly enjoyable. The adult characters, although I think a bit over-written to the point of being annoyingly depictable. All in all, it’s a good fun read and I recommend it to all middle-graders and adults alike. A great historical factor is included so this book would make a great school read.
May 30, 2021
REVIEWED March 1, 2020
Rating: Recommended
Recommended Grade Levels: 3-8
Darleen Darling, a child actor living in 1914, has been acting in silent films long enough that she has grown out of the "Darling Darleen" cinematic persona of her youth into the "Daring Darleen" persona of her present-day. During a publicity stunt suggested by Aunt Shirley, Dar finds herself in the middle of a kidnapping. She and intended victim Victorine Berryman must work together to get themselves out of danger and back home safely in this tale of adventure. Nesbet has woven together an intriguing story, filled with composite characters and real people drawn from film history, with many twists and turns along the way. Darleen herself is a strong female character—quick on her feet and very independent—often using the same means to get herself out of trouble that she employs in her action movies. Victorine turns out to be her perfect naïve foil as the two girls work as a team to acquire their freedom. Readers will need to suspend their disbelief at times as the daring girls escape and evade their captors with limited help from adults. Convoluted examples of this include the girls' efforts at tying together sheets and spider-climbing a brick building in order to get to a nearby fire escape; hiding Victorine in plain sight as a movie extra; and bringing the kidnappers and a not-too-surprising accomplice to justice. Many adult characters in the story are shallow stereotypes, though most are relegated to the background. While this story is full of action and characterized by a fairly predictable plot, it is also full of detail that paints a vivid picture of what being a child star in the past might have been like. Nesbet, a university professor of film and media studies, draws from her research a wealth of historical detail about film production at the time. An excellent suggestion for precocious readers and film history buffs alike.
Rating: Recommended
Recommended Grade Levels: 3-8
Darleen Darling, a child actor living in 1914, has been acting in silent films long enough that she has grown out of the "Darling Darleen" cinematic persona of her youth into the "Daring Darleen" persona of her present-day. During a publicity stunt suggested by Aunt Shirley, Dar finds herself in the middle of a kidnapping. She and intended victim Victorine Berryman must work together to get themselves out of danger and back home safely in this tale of adventure. Nesbet has woven together an intriguing story, filled with composite characters and real people drawn from film history, with many twists and turns along the way. Darleen herself is a strong female character—quick on her feet and very independent—often using the same means to get herself out of trouble that she employs in her action movies. Victorine turns out to be her perfect naïve foil as the two girls work as a team to acquire their freedom. Readers will need to suspend their disbelief at times as the daring girls escape and evade their captors with limited help from adults. Convoluted examples of this include the girls' efforts at tying together sheets and spider-climbing a brick building in order to get to a nearby fire escape; hiding Victorine in plain sight as a movie extra; and bringing the kidnappers and a not-too-surprising accomplice to justice. Many adult characters in the story are shallow stereotypes, though most are relegated to the background. While this story is full of action and characterized by a fairly predictable plot, it is also full of detail that paints a vivid picture of what being a child star in the past might have been like. Nesbet, a university professor of film and media studies, draws from her research a wealth of historical detail about film production at the time. An excellent suggestion for precocious readers and film history buffs alike.
May 14, 2020
Darleen has grown up in the movie industry, first appearing as a baby and now at age twelve as “Daring Darleen” in a series of silent films. It is 1914 and the trend is to have the worlds of film and real life converge, so Darleen’s uncles make a plan for her to be kidnapped from outside a movie theater while being filmed by them. Everything seems to be going to plan until Darleen is snatched by the wrong kidnappers and discovers that she has been taken along with Victorine, a girl just her age who is an heiress. The two must figure out how to escape, using Darleen’s natural penchant for heights and daring moves that her dead mother also had. Still, she had promised her father to keep her feet on the ground, but that’s hard to do as her adventures continue almost like being in a real screenplay.
There is so much to love here! Nesbet creates the daring and inventions of early film-making in this middle-grade novel. The chapters are meant to be episodes, some offering a great cliffhanger until the next installment. The series of adventures makes for a page-turner of a book with two girls at its center who form a grand friendship along the way and adore one another for being just who they are.
Darleen is a heroine through and through from her day job in front of the camera but even more so in real life as she skillfully figures out puzzles, finds ways to escape, and does it all with real courage. In many ways, Victorine is her opposite. She wants to tell the truth at all costs, knows all sorts of facts and loves books and travel. The two together form an unstoppable force. It is also great to see Nesbet pay homage to Alice Guy Blache by having her as a secondary character in the novel.
A grand adventure of a novel that will have readers enthralled. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
There is so much to love here! Nesbet creates the daring and inventions of early film-making in this middle-grade novel. The chapters are meant to be episodes, some offering a great cliffhanger until the next installment. The series of adventures makes for a page-turner of a book with two girls at its center who form a grand friendship along the way and adore one another for being just who they are.
Darleen is a heroine through and through from her day job in front of the camera but even more so in real life as she skillfully figures out puzzles, finds ways to escape, and does it all with real courage. In many ways, Victorine is her opposite. She wants to tell the truth at all costs, knows all sorts of facts and loves books and travel. The two together form an unstoppable force. It is also great to see Nesbet pay homage to Alice Guy Blache by having her as a secondary character in the novel.
A grand adventure of a novel that will have readers enthralled. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
August 26, 2020
Darleen Darling is Daring Darleen on the silver screen (try saying that five times fast!). It's 1914, silent movies are incredibly popular, and Daring Darleen, star of short movie serials, is ready for a real adventure. Darleen has dazzled audiences with her courage and her latest episode will feature a kidnapping by her arch nemesis, the Salamanders! Unfortunately, the actor is tangled into a real kidnapping during filming and must now escape with her look-alike, an heiress named Victorine, in tow. The pair soon discover secrets and danger in unlikely places and must rely on each other to clear the muddied waters and find a happy ending.
Nesbet's choice of setting fits the narrative perfectly as everything works together to create an atmosphere that encompasses readers within the history of early cinema and the feel of living in the 1910s. The inquisitive Darleen narrates the behind-the-scenes tricks of film, engaging readers with a separate layer of story and history and keeping things plenty interesting between our heroines running and planning. In addition to a surprisingly intricate plot, the cast is charming with Darleen and Victorine taking the lead and experiencing fantastic character development while forming an unbreakable friendship and coming up with more and more clever ways to outsmart their foes.
The many elements that come together to create this one story will give the book wide appeal to already ravenous readers. You have strong and clever leads, a fantastic friendship, nefarious villains and their mysterious plot, a heaping helping of history, a touch of adventure.
Nesbet's choice of setting fits the narrative perfectly as everything works together to create an atmosphere that encompasses readers within the history of early cinema and the feel of living in the 1910s. The inquisitive Darleen narrates the behind-the-scenes tricks of film, engaging readers with a separate layer of story and history and keeping things plenty interesting between our heroines running and planning. In addition to a surprisingly intricate plot, the cast is charming with Darleen and Victorine taking the lead and experiencing fantastic character development while forming an unbreakable friendship and coming up with more and more clever ways to outsmart their foes.
The many elements that come together to create this one story will give the book wide appeal to already ravenous readers. You have strong and clever leads, a fantastic friendship, nefarious villains and their mysterious plot, a heaping helping of history, a touch of adventure.
March 11, 2020
A cute, fun adventure with the feel of a classic.
There's much to love about DARING DARLEEN. Following a young silent film star, Anne Nesbet has crafted a breathlessly paced novel complete with kidnappings, balloon shenanigans, lost heiresses, and oodles of bravery. I loved how well-researched the film aspect was; it's always great when readers can learn about history in a way that doesn't impede the fun!
Nevertheless, DARING DARLEEN came off a little ... dry, I suppose. It almost overplayed the whole classic feel. Nothing felt particularly new or fresh; the villains were cartoonishly villainous, the heroes were blindingly heroic, and the "rescuing a rich orphan from scheming family members" came across as tired and cliched. Darleen and Victorine's friendship was sweet enough to give me a tooth ache, and although I think there's plenty of room for sweet, genuine friendships between girls in MG, their constant fawning over how delightfully brave/talented/refined/clever etc. the other was became a bit tiresome. As much as I loved the historical aspects, I wish DARLING DARLEEN had subverted expectations even slightly, or offered something new for contemporary young readers who are likely aware of plot conventions. Because the characters didn't feel fully real to me, and the ending was 100% expected, I struggled to engage.
It's certainly a solid entry to the genre of MG historical adventures, and I could see it working in a classroom setting where film/the early 19th century/ storytelling tropes might be discussed.. 3/5.
There's much to love about DARING DARLEEN. Following a young silent film star, Anne Nesbet has crafted a breathlessly paced novel complete with kidnappings, balloon shenanigans, lost heiresses, and oodles of bravery. I loved how well-researched the film aspect was; it's always great when readers can learn about history in a way that doesn't impede the fun!
Nevertheless, DARING DARLEEN came off a little ... dry, I suppose. It almost overplayed the whole classic feel. Nothing felt particularly new or fresh; the villains were cartoonishly villainous, the heroes were blindingly heroic, and the "rescuing a rich orphan from scheming family members" came across as tired and cliched. Darleen and Victorine's friendship was sweet enough to give me a tooth ache, and although I think there's plenty of room for sweet, genuine friendships between girls in MG, their constant fawning over how delightfully brave/talented/refined/clever etc. the other was became a bit tiresome. As much as I loved the historical aspects, I wish DARLING DARLEEN had subverted expectations even slightly, or offered something new for contemporary young readers who are likely aware of plot conventions. Because the characters didn't feel fully real to me, and the ending was 100% expected, I struggled to engage.
It's certainly a solid entry to the genre of MG historical adventures, and I could see it working in a classroom setting where film/the early 19th century/ storytelling tropes might be discussed.. 3/5.
May 27, 2020
Daring Darleen pulled me in immediately and I know my students will love it as well. Within the first two paragraphs, Darleen is dangling off of a cliff edge while being threatened by the villain. And so the book progresses with dastardly deeds and feats of daring-do.
Twelve-year-old Darleen Darling is an early 20th century girl whose extended family makes silent films. Because the film makers need someone to act in their movies, Darleen has gone from being Darling Darleen in her youth to Daring Darleen as she edges toward her teen years.
The parallels of Daring Darleen's movie plot lines and Darleen Darling the every day girl who happens to be an actress move the story forward. As I read, the story rolled in my mind like its own black and white film.
I found the author's note particularly interesting as well. I would pair Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen with Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candice Fleming. Both books deal with the age of silent films and involve a mystery.
Twelve-year-old Darleen Darling is an early 20th century girl whose extended family makes silent films. Because the film makers need someone to act in their movies, Darleen has gone from being Darling Darleen in her youth to Daring Darleen as she edges toward her teen years.
The parallels of Daring Darleen's movie plot lines and Darleen Darling the every day girl who happens to be an actress move the story forward. As I read, the story rolled in my mind like its own black and white film.
I found the author's note particularly interesting as well. I would pair Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen with Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candice Fleming. Both books deal with the age of silent films and involve a mystery.
March 14, 2020
Darleen is part of a silent film studio that her family operates. She is the biggest star (only) on the lot and creates larger than life harrowing adventures. Her biggest adventure takes place not on the screen but in real life when a publicity stunt goes wrong and she finds herself kidnapped along with a wealthy orphan girl. Darleen and Victorine become friends working together to save each other, stop Vitorine's evil relatives from grabbing her inheritance and saving Darleen's family studio. Fun real adventures that mimic the choreographed stunts seen in the old silent picture, this is the perfect book for kids that enjoy historical fiction with non-stop action. The best part is that more of Daring Darleen's adventures will be coming to a bookshelf near you soon. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
May 13, 2021
Generations ago people watched silent thrillers such as the Perils of Pauline. Now middle school readers can thrill to the daring do’s of twelve-year old Darleen. She dangles from cliffs and soars through the air in balloons. All of this is make-believe as her family in 1914 creates adventures in their studio in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Fantasy takes on real life as Darleen tries to help a lost heiress, Victorine, who is beset by villainous, phony relatives who only want her money. Now Darleen must use her talents and quick thinking to save Victorine and her family.
Long before the glamor of Hollywood the fledgling film industry had its start in New York and rural New Jersey. Nesbet creates a thrilling tale as well as subtly informs the reader about film making history and the tricks of the trade. (Now called special effects)
Long before the glamor of Hollywood the fledgling film industry had its start in New York and rural New Jersey. Nesbet creates a thrilling tale as well as subtly informs the reader about film making history and the tricks of the trade. (Now called special effects)
March 6, 2020
It’s 1914, and silent serials are all the rage at movie houses. Fort Lee, New Jersey, is the filmaking hotspot, and 12-year-old Darleen is the star of Matchstick Studios’s adventure serial, Daring Darleen. The studio, run by Darleen’s father, uncles, and aunt, churn out serials where Darleen faces bad guy after bad guy while searching for her dear papa, but the dangers she faces onscreen are nothing compared to the turn her real life takes when a publicity stunt goes haywire and Darleen finds herself kidnapped – FOR REAL – alongside a young heiress. Darleen and Victorine, a “poor little rich girl”, quickly bond and work on a way to escape their captors and keep Victorine safe from her money-hungry relations.
Daring Darleen is a great piece of historical fiction, with a rich background of the early filmmaking industry and Fort Lee’s place in it (an author’s note touches on the industry and real characters who cameo in the story). Darleen is a smart, spunky young heroine and Victorine is her protege; the two have a remarkable chemistry that comes together on the page and makes them a formidable duo. Victorine blossoms as Darleen’s daring rubs off on her, and Darleen is always working to keep one step ahead of everyone else. Two strong female heroines, a good supporting cast of characters, and a well-paced, plotted story make Daring Darleen a book to have on your shelves. Will Daring Darleen have more adventures? Like the silent serials of old, we just have to wait and see!
Daring Darleen: Queen of the Screen has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus.
Daring Darleen is a great piece of historical fiction, with a rich background of the early filmmaking industry and Fort Lee’s place in it (an author’s note touches on the industry and real characters who cameo in the story). Darleen is a smart, spunky young heroine and Victorine is her protege; the two have a remarkable chemistry that comes together on the page and makes them a formidable duo. Victorine blossoms as Darleen’s daring rubs off on her, and Darleen is always working to keep one step ahead of everyone else. Two strong female heroines, a good supporting cast of characters, and a well-paced, plotted story make Daring Darleen a book to have on your shelves. Will Daring Darleen have more adventures? Like the silent serials of old, we just have to wait and see!
Daring Darleen: Queen of the Screen has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus.
December 29, 2020
Set in 1914, Darleen Darling is a 12 year old film star who makes daring silent films with her family. In effort to create more publicity for the films, her family stages a fake kidnapping at the opening of the Strand Theatre. Instead of it being fake though, she is kidnapped alongside the famous young heiress Miss Victorine Berryman. The girls stage a daring escape but only after recognizing one of the kidnappers. Once free Miss Berryman chooses not to rejoin her mean guardians whom the girls believe may have been behind the kidnapping. This title is filled with action and gives a look at what filming was like in early silent films. This is a fun historically fiction title that looks at a seldom discussed time and events. I would encourage the purchase of this title for most public and school libraries.
June 17, 2022
Fun! Reads like an old-fashioned movie serial. Set in 1914, when movies were very young and silent only. Darleen Darling, 12, has been a movie star for a few years, acting in films her family's studio produces. She does all the action, hanging off cliffs, tied to railroad tracks, etc. When her staged kidnapping--to drum up publicity for the studio--goes haywire and she's kidnapped FOR REAL, along with an heiress girl her age, the action ramps up off the screen too. It's really cute, the girls gain self-confidence and form a friendship as they try to outfox the shifty relatives who want a ransom for the heiress girl, who happens to look a lot like Darleen. Great look at the early history of silent moviemaking, when movies were still made in New Jersey and not in Hollywood California.
January 1, 2020
It’s 1914, and Daring Darleen is the twelve-year-old star of the silent screen adventures. Unexpectedly, her film studio ploy for publicity goes wrong, and Darleen is kidnapped, along with rich orphan Victorine Berryman. Now Darleen and Victorine must use everything they have learned, Darleen from her work in movies, and Victorine from her life of privilege, to escape from their captors and bring the wicked to justice.
Daring Darleen is a dip into the past, and it’s quite well done, with vividly complex characters and wild leaps from windows and a fascinating setting in the world of early film.
Daring Darleen is a dip into the past, and it’s quite well done, with vividly complex characters and wild leaps from windows and a fascinating setting in the world of early film.
December 27, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
4.5/5 STARS
GENRE: Middle Grade Historical Mystery
This is a cute story set in the early 1900s during the start of silent films. It’s about a young girl who stars in her father’s films where she is a dare devil! She gets caught up in a nefarious kidnapping plot where she meets another girl set to inherit a fortune. Bad people are after the wealthy girl and Darleen tries to help her.
This has action and the recurring theme where the adults do not listen to the children that are right. I loved the history of film originating in NJ but moving to Hollywood because it was warmer.
I will be reading the sequel!
4.5/5 STARS
GENRE: Middle Grade Historical Mystery
This is a cute story set in the early 1900s during the start of silent films. It’s about a young girl who stars in her father’s films where she is a dare devil! She gets caught up in a nefarious kidnapping plot where she meets another girl set to inherit a fortune. Bad people are after the wealthy girl and Darleen tries to help her.
This has action and the recurring theme where the adults do not listen to the children that are right. I loved the history of film originating in NJ but moving to Hollywood because it was warmer.
I will be reading the sequel!
December 2, 2020
An entertaining and engaging trip back to the age of silent films and Photoplays, with heroes and villains trying to outwit one another. Darleen Darling is one of the young stars who finds herself in real-life danger as she tries to outwit kidnappers, deceptive guardians, and save the life of her new friend Victorine. An action packed, fast-paced peek at the early days of film making. A story full of heart.
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February 16, 2021Darleen is the star of the silent films doing her own stunts and making it all believable. Darleen is only 12 and it is 1914. She is breaking the mold on everything connected with being a girl in the time. A staged kidnapping becomes real and Darleen with the help of others works to stop the bad guys from ruining a young lady's life and hurting her family. This story gives you a great insight into the begin of film making.
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