If unfocused teen fiction is your thing, Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson is a must read. If you enjoy compelling characters and an advancing plot, however, feel free to pass it up.
Henderson introduces Violet Routledge, an English art major, staring at a painting that is the mirror image of herself. The painting is of a girl from an Old Italian Royal Family dated back to the eighteen hundreds. Violet is quick to explain that her mother is a tall, lean Norwegian ex-model and her father came from an Irish family. With her short and voluptuous figure and dark features she cannot help but wonder if there is more to her history than she thought and that maybe it connects with the painting.
She sends herself off to a summer long Italian Culture program in the beautiful Italian countryside that just happens to be held right around the Castello di Vesperi, the ancient castle of the family that commissioned the portrait.
When she arrives she meets the three other girls that are participating in the program, another English girl named Kelly with bright orange hair that had to work all year for the tuition to attend, an athletic American girl named Paige with a very carefree attitude, and a to be American model Kendra. Violet is mesmerized by the American girls confidence and carefree spirits, and Henderson’s description of the American girls (although somewhat stereotypical) is right on point and is something to laugh at if you are or know American girls.
As the girls get to know each other they go through stages of friendship, beginning with the “Swim Suit Beauty Parade” and ending with their initial hatred of the program directors snobby daughter Elisa. Henderson characterizes almost every type of teenage girl and things the way they think through Violet’s point of view
While learning the language, culture, and everything to know about Italian wine, the girls get the chances to flirt with gorgeous Italian boys! Enter Luca di Vesperi. The rude, gorgeous Italian boy with the last name of Violet’s look-a-like portrait, and Violet cannot stay away even when he is insulting her. With everything going on in the novel, the portrait is nearly forgotten as Henderson focuses on Violet and Luca’s confusing relationship.
With everything a young adult novel has to offer, growing up, falling in love, and finding oneself amongst impossible situations Henderson creates a perfect novel for teen girls.
As a sophomore in high school I would have been in love with Flirting in Italian. But as a more experience reader and writer myself, I find the plot line under developed and lacking focus. The character development, description and imagery are all beautifully written but as the story line forks into two different directions I cannot help but wonder exactly where Henderson is going with her story.
With the sequel, Kissing in Italian, set to come off in March 2014 I am hoping that Henderson can focus her plot a little more as Violet decides weather to trust Luca or not, and weather her look-a-like portrait is still as important to her as it once was.
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Collection of Articles
Non-FictionHere is a collection of the articles I have written for various reasons. Some are actually for published submissions and then some are simply just articles I had to write for my journalism class.
