Diva

In Diva, the companion to Alex Flinn’s YA novel Breathing Under Water, Caitlin is dealing with a lot. She’s living through the aftermath of an abusive relationship, she has a youth-obsessed mother who just doesn’t understand her, and she’s on a constant yo-yo diet to live up the standards of her nitpicking friends.

All Caitlin wants is to escape her not-so-glamorous life and pursue her dream of becoming a singer, but when she’s accepted into the Miami High School of the Arts, her life doesn’t magically become perfect. Yet despite some struggles to keep up with her competitive classmates and the distraction of cute new crush, Caitlin never loses her sense of humor and eventually gains the confidence to achieve her goals.

Perfect for fans of such books as Carolyn Mackler’s The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things.

This realistic and witty story navigates a stage full of challenges—both in and out of the spotlight.

• A Complicated Mother-Daughter Relationship: Caitlin's mother is more concerned with staying young and finding a husband than understanding her daughter's dreams.
• Realistic High School Story: From navigating new friendships with quirky classmates to struggling through dance class, Caitlin’s new school is no easy encore.
• Body Image and Self-Confidence: After losing thirty-five pounds at fat camp, Caitlin is still struggling with a yo-yo diet and the pressure to be perfect in a world that judges every pound.
• Surviving an Abusive Relationship: As Caitlin works to heal from a toxic past with her ex-boyfriend Nick, she learns that the hardest songs are about finding the strength to move on.

Sometimes the only one a girl can confide in is her blog!

Fresh Start

Listening to: Medea (the opera named for the mythological woman who killed her kids just to bug her ex-husband . . . reminds me of my mother!)
Feeling: Anticipation
Weight: 112 lbs.

For most people, the word "diva" means brilliant, talented, over-the-top, and glamorous. I, however, seemed to be trapped in the not-very-glamorous life of a cheerleader wannabe with serious ex-boyfriend issues and a permanent yo-yo diet. At least until the day I auditioned for Miami High School of the Arts—and got in! All I had to do was convince my mother, the cosmetics salesperson with epically bad taste in clothes and men, that going downtown to hang with the music geeks was a good idea. I had to blackmail her to be able to do it, but I'm here—a diva-in-training—and I'm not so sure I can cut it. Now what?

Praise for Breathing Underwater: “This highly recommended book should be required reading for all teenagers.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“Realistic and thoughtful.” - Kirkus Reviews

“[Caitlin] sets an excellent example as someone who follows her dreams, despite other people’s opinions.” - KLIATT

“Flinn turns a fine eye on the seemingly never-ending mother-daughter dance, in which someone is always out of step. A fast read, but there’s meat here, too.” - Booklist