V Is for Victorine - by Anne Nesbet

Book Synopsis

In this exciting sequel to Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen, a young heiress in hiding and her film star best friend go on a quick-paced caper through early Hollywood.

It's 1915, and "missing" heiress Victorine Berryman is living incognito as "Bella Mae Goodwin" with her best friend, Darleen Darling, star of the exciting photoplay serials adventure-loving audiences crave. When the girls travel cross-country to set up roots in Hollywood, California, home of the developing film industry, they find themselves mixed up in a plot as dramatic as anything on the screen, involving switched luggage, stolen artifacts, and nefarious characters hot on their tails. But the stakes are entirely too real! As brave and resourceful Victorine tries to escape the villains' clutches, she meets a slew of early Hollywood Who's Whos and experiences the magic of the movie business--as well as its problems, including the harmful prejudices that can be perpetuated by popular films. Can Victorine thwart the bad guys--and figure out who she truly wants to be? Filled with hijinks, humor, and heart, this edge-of-your-seat sequel to Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen will have fans both old and new cheering "Bravo!"

Review Quotes

The sidekick in Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen (2020) takes center stage in this silent film-era sequel. . . . Nesbet once again introduces an abundance of early film history. . . A clever peek at early Hollywood exploring themes that still resonate today.
--Kirkus Reviews

This story is captivating and fun; Nesbet imbues the exciting plot with history surrounding film, filmmaking, and old Hollywood. . . . This sequel is a great recommendation for any fan of old Hollywood, historical fiction, and adventure.
--School Library Journal

About the Author

Anne Nesbet is the author of the historical middle-grade novels Cloud and Wallfish, The Orphan Band of Springdale, and Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen, as well as three middle-grade fantasy novels. Her books have received numerous accolades, including multiple starred reviews and appearances on many best book and notables lists. A professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Anne Nesbet lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area.