Book: Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph
Rating: 4 Stars
Summary:
High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out — doing mock broadcasts for Miami’s hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T — and to everyone’s shock, she’s a hit! Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ’s awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest — and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize — Sweet T’s dream could turn into Tere’s worst nightmare….

Overall:

Teresa Adams is painfully shy. Her shyness is almost a sickness. Most people assume that there is something wrong with her because she can speak yet she won’t. The only time she can really open up is when she is alone in her bedroom doing fake broadcasts along with the radio.

Tere knows that she is a disappointment to her mom and an embarrassment to be seen in public with. She knows that her mom always wanted a daughter that was pretty and popular and she knows that that will never be her. She and her mom never get along but at least now Tere has her new stepfather, Rob, to help out when things start to get bad.

Rob is the only man that seems to be able to actually hold her mom’s interest and treat Tere as an actual daughter. When one of his DJ’s quits Tere asks if she could possibly fill in for him until the station can find someone new. Rob agrees and Tere starts working in the station as an intern and as Sweet T, her radio name.

At first, she doesn’t think she can do it but as the days progress she really starts to get into the whole job of being a DJ. As long as nobody knows that it is her she is completely comfortable. Everything seems to be going great until the station decides that they should hold a contest with a date with Sweet T as the prize.

Tere knows that there is no way out but will she be able to come out of her shell enough to do this? Or will she back out at the last minute? And who could her mystery date possibly be?

Shrinking Violet is a wonderful debut novel by Danielle Joseph. The author manages to get right into the teenage mind, full of insecurities and doubts. I loved the character of Tere and felt like I could really relate to what she was going through. I would definitely recommend this book for any teenage girl who has ever lost confidence in herself for any reason.