Caitlin wants to be a diva. That's not what it sounds like, though. She doesn't want to be a stuck-up rich girl or a pop star, but an opera singer—a real diva. Sure, it's an unusual dream for a high school girl, but Caitlin's not your average teenager. Opera as her main interest doesn't exactly help Caitlin to fit in at her preppy high school.

As if that isn't hard enough, Caitlin is having a difficult time dealing with the past. Painful memories are brought up every day at school when she sees her ex-boyfriend, Nick, who physically and emotionally abused her while they were together.

To escape her shallow friends and her ex-boyfriend, Caitlin auditions for the Miami High School of the Arts. She goes through a lot of trouble to get there, but it's what she wants. She's going to be a diva, no matter what she has to do to get there. Caitlin still isn’t particularly confident, and she isn't sure she has what it takes.

DIVA is a brilliantly written and unpredictable book that readers are sure to love. Don't be put off by the cover of this book, which doesn't really represent the story. Caitlin is an awesome character to whom readers will be able to relate, and she is a great example in that she follows her dreams, even if the people around her aren't always supportive.

This novel is a companion to Alex Flinn's BREATHING UNDERWATER, but one doesn't need to have read that to enjoy DIVA. Alex Flinn does a great job of creating three-dimensional characters and telling an interesting, original story. Caitlin's love for opera is what sets her apart, and her original voice is what makes this story a hit, certain to capture readers' attention from the very first page.

Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce
10/18/2006

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