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.