Being a writer who is perfect at crafting stories in a single genre is already remarkable, but what is even more astounding is when a writer can excel equally at various genres. Adriana Trigiani surely comes in the category of writers who can ace several of them simultaneously.
This particular talent of hers is especially visible through the many wonderful series she has written so far in her career, exploring everything from literary fiction and women’s fiction to young adult fiction. The Viola series is the ideal example of the author being able to create books for a younger audience.
The series contains two books, namely Viola in Reel Life and Viola in the Spotlight, which were released in 2009 and 2011, respectively. Although it was the first time that Trigiani had written for the teenage crowd, she managed to perfectly portray their mannerisms, thereby widening her circle of readers.
Dealing with the themes of friendship, family, and self-discovery, this coming-of-age series is enjoyable no matter what age you’re at in life.
In this article, we will be exploring the summaries of the Viola series, the characters of the books, and also the quotes penned down by the talented author.
Table of Contents
The Chronological List of Viola Series
Summary of The Viola Series
Since there are two books in the Viola series, we will get into each novel’s summaries separately. Let’s get right to it.
| Sr. No. | Title | Publication Date | Print Length | Publisher | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Viola in Reel Life | February 1, 2011 | 304 pages | HarperTeen | |
| 2 | Viola in The Spotlight | April 10, 2012 | 288 pages | HarperTeen |
1. Viola in Reel Life
The readers are introduced to the protagonist, Viola Chesterton, who is a 14-year-old teenager living in New York. One day, her parents announce that they will be sending her off to boarding school.
They’re both documentary filmmakers who need to head off to Afghanistan for a project, which is why this decision seems plausible to them. Viola, however, is thoroughly disappointed with this development, and she has no idea how she’s going to survive out of Brooklyn and away from her best friends.
Being an aspiring filmmaker, she decides that she will spend all her time hiding behind her camera so she doesn’t have to face these new circumstances. As for her friends, she believes she can keep in touch with them through emails, messages, and video chats.
However, once she reaches the Prefect Academy in South Bend, Indiana, she realizes that things may not be as bad as she feared, even though the ambiance is completely different from what she’s used to.
She learns that she will be sharing a room with three other girls, Suzanne Santry, Romy Dixon, and Marisol Carreras. Despite her fears, she becomes close to her roommates and the rest of the school year ends up becoming an adventure brimming with positive discoveries.
In between the roller coaster ride of emotions, Viola also won an award for a film she had been working on throughout the year. She records all her boarding school experiences in a video diary, and the readers get to know everything from her perspective.
2. Viola in The Spotlight
In the second book, we see Viola returning to Brooklyn for the summer after being at boarding school for a year. She’s immensely excited to return to her friends, but all her summer plans come crashing down when she learns that Caitlin has a job and Andrew will be away at camp.
In order to occupy her days, she takes up a job as a lighting intern, which keeps her busy while she’s running errands all around New York. We also get to see more of her grandmother in this particular novel in the duology.
She works on a production of Arsenic and Old Lace, and a love triangle forms when the director’s son falls for Viola, whereas her friend, Caitlin, falls for the director’s son. Viola’s friendship with Andrew goes through a weird patch on its own when he suddenly kisses her one day.
Since she misses her roommates from boarding school, she makes a plan to have them visit her. They all come down to New York, and her parents accompany Suzanne.
The second and final novel in the series navigates through budding friendships and romantic feelings while also providing vivid descriptions of New York that will make you want to pack your bags and plan a vacation to the Big Apple.
Review of The Viola Series
When it comes to series, we as readers want books that have a quick pace and are stories that we can get through in a few sittings. The Viola series by Adriana Trigiani has exactly that quality and so much more.
She gives us a protagonist who is extremely likable. She’s not flawless; instead, she learns of her shortcomings, accepts herself how she is, and attempts to grow further. Trigiani doesn’t keep her caged in a box and rather gives her the freedom every teenager deserves in order to explore themselves.
Even though the series is meant for young adults and is primarily filled with younger characters, the author doesn’t discard their situations or issues as trivial. She deals with them with subtle maturity and gives importance to their predicaments.
The discussions that take place regarding relationships and dating too aren’t immature or cringey. In fact, they are quite age-appropriate and show that one’s romantic feelings are valid no matter how old they are.
Trigiani doesn’t just focus on romantic bonds in the series but also gives major importance to the significance of friendship in a young person’s life. For example, the bond between the girls is heartwarming and relatable and portrayed quite realistically.
Characters in The “Viola Series”
The Viola series is filled with interesting characters. Some of the ones we meet in the books include.
1. Viola Chesterton
Viola is the 14-year-old protagonist of the series. Although she starts as a girl who doesn’t want to go to a boarding school and away from New York, she ends up having quite an enlightening journey. She discovers herself, makes wonderful new friends, and emerges as a strong main character.
2. Andrew
Andrew is a close friend of Viola’s from New York. His friendship with Viola goes through certain changes from the first book to the second.
3. Caitlin
Caitlin is yet another best friend of Viola’s. She takes on a job in the second novel and has a journey of her own.
4. Suzanne Santry
Suzanne is one of Viola’s three roommates at Prefect Academy. When we meet her initially, we feel like she’s hiding something, the revelation of which takes place later on in the series.
Quotes
Trigiani is an expert when it comes to witty dialogues and memorable quotes. A couple of them from the Viola series that will grab your attention are as follows:
“We hang out, we help one another, we tell one another our worst fears and biggest secrets, and then just like real sisters, we listen and don’t judge.”
“I like it when my mother smiles. And I especially like it when I make her smile.”
“I don’t settle in any other area of my life when it comes to excellence, so why should I lower my standards when it comes to boys?”
“There’s nothing an artist needs more – even more than excellent tools and stamina – than a deadline.”
“This is where men and women are different, we can put aside petty competition for relationships – they can’t. It interferes.”
“A higher goal is always reached by overcoming fear.”
“Energy has to be fed from a source. If you don’t feed the source, it dissipates entirely. Same is true of liking a boy. If you cut off the thoughts, if you stop pinning, you’re free to find a boy who is attainable.”
“This should tell you everything you need to know about guys. They only go after what they know they can get. We girls, on the other hand, aim really high.”
Conclusion
At times we just want to lose ourselves in a fictional world longer than usual, which is when series come in super handy, and when it’s a series as entertaining as the Viola duology, the experience becomes even better.
The writer also weaves in the element of family in these novels and shows just how vital it is for young kids to have understanding and supportive parents who encourage their dreams and help them become a reality.
Trigiani peppers the novels with funny banter and hilarious exchanges that will have you laughing out loud while also discussing imperative topics that are pertinent to both kids and adults.
Whether you’re a devoted Trigiani fan or someone who is discovering her books for the first time, the Viola series is the ultimate one to pick up for any occasion.
So, the next time you’re looking for something to take on your beach vacation or are just searching for some fast-paced reads, do give these novels a try.
