06/23/2014
Sabel debuts with an enticing combination love story and murder mystery set against the backdrops of Hollywood and Mexico during Day of the Dead celebrations. Vivian, a 16-year-old movie star, has been heartbroken since her actress mother was kidnapped and killed six months earlier. Yet Vivian remains resilient even after her father's botched suicide attempt and her boyfriend kisses her best friend on national TV. Vivian has bigger problems: she receives an anonymous letter that tells her "This is how you die," along with a video depicting her death. Vivian's bodyguard insists that she transform her appearance and travel to Mexico for protection. On her way, Vivian meets Nick, who challenges her spoiled behavior and understands the loss of her mother. When they are separated, Vivian has to learn to make her own way through the unfamiliar terrain and face the self-defeating aspects of her personality. Sabel's story moves forward with cinematic force, the sometimes-outrageous plot swerves in keeping with the full-throttle pace and ample suspense. Ages 13–up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (June)
Vivian Divine Is Dead
Narrated by Roxanne Hernandez
Lauren SabelUnabridged — 7 hours, 0 minutes
Vivian Divine Is Dead
Narrated by Roxanne Hernandez
Lauren SabelUnabridged — 7 hours, 0 minutes
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Overview
With the mystery and suspense of the Pretty Little Liars series, the Hollywood drama of Lauren Conrad's L.A. Candy, and the creepiness of Michelle Hodkin's The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Vivian Divine Is Dead will thrill fans of emotionally charged, fast-paced, contemporary fiction.
Teen celebrity Vivian Divine has had a rough six months-her movie-star mother was murdered, and her boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend. Through it all, she's had to smile for the camera-this is the stuff the tabloids live for, after all.
When a death threat arrives with her fan mail, Vivian decides to run to Mexico, hoping to escape whoever it is who wants her dead. There, she finds an ally in the mysterious and charming Nick, but even he seems like he can't be trusted.As Vivian travels deeper into Mexico, she finds herself asking a horrifying question: If she can't hide from the paparazzi, what makes her think she can elude a madman?
Filled with surprising twists, poignant moments, and the snark of a Hollywood starlet suddenly on her own, Vivian Divine Is Dead brings a fresh new voice to contemporary fiction.
As New York Times bestselling author of the Beautiful Creatures series Kami Garcia says, Vivian Divine Is Dead is ""a heartbreaking and magical story about love, second chances, and finding yourself.""
Editorial Reviews
A enticing combination love story and murder mystery set against the backdrops of Hollywood and Mexico. Sabel’s story moves forward with cinematic force. — Publishers Weekly
“Sabel keeps the focus on action and does it well...Good, escapist entertainment.” — Kirkus Reviews
“There are thrills and chills, both scary and romantic, as Vivian finds out the truth behind the glossy lies and falls for a darkly handsome stranger. The danger piles on fast and hard and feels real and chilling.” — ALA Booklist
“The teenage movie star novel isn’t new, but debut author Sabel adds a new spin to the shiny plastic movie world by revealing a gritty, violent underbelly.” — ALA Booklist
“A heartbreaking and magical story about love, second chances, and finding yourself.” — Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Beautiful Creatures series and Unbreakable
“Vivian Divine is Dead is a book that’ll leave you turning page after page and struggling to find that just right place to stick a bookmark in.” — Turning Pages blog (www.theturningpages.com)
“Vivian Divine is Dead is an exciting thrill ride through the life of one child star just trying to stay alive. It has betrayal, mystery, and love on every other page, seamlessly threading together into an amazing novel.” — Dark Faerie Tales blog (www.darkfaerietales.com)
There are thrills and chills, both scary and romantic, as Vivian finds out the truth behind the glossy lies and falls for a darkly handsome stranger. The danger piles on fast and hard and feels real and chilling.
Vivian Divine is Dead is an exciting thrill ride through the life of one child star just trying to stay alive. It has betrayal, mystery, and love on every other page, seamlessly threading together into an amazing novel.
Vivian Divine is Dead is a book that’ll leave you turning page after page and struggling to find that just right place to stick a bookmark in.
A heartbreaking and magical story about love, second chances, and finding yourself.
05/01/2014
Gr 8 Up—Someone is after Hollywood's "it" girl. Teen film star, Vivian Divine, has always followed in her famous mother's footsteps—but this time, she'd rather not. Her mother was murdered six months ago, and when Vivian receives a mysterious death threat with alarming parallels to her mother's tragic end, she flees incognito to Mexico. The Hollywood princess is on her own and out of her element, trying to stay alive while unraveling the mystery of who's chasing her and why. Her odds of survival increase when she meets the attractive Nick—but he may not be who he seems. This action-packed novel is enjoyably quirky, though ambitious—there's a lot going on, and characterization takes a backseat to plot. The writing shines in the scenes of a richly described Día de los Muertos celebration, and Vivian's journey through rural Mexico will keep readers in suspense as the heroine faces danger at every turn. In the end, though, there's heavy reliance on coincidence. The story's climax plays out like a melodrama—or, perhaps, given the setting, it's a self-aware reference to the plot twists of a telenovela, with shocking betrayals and dramatic reveals. It's hard to tell whether the book's tone is meant to be sincere or tongue-in-cheek. Still, this will appeal to readers looking for a fast-paced romp with suspense, action, and romance—with an encouraging message of self-actualization as Vivian learns she's capable of more than she knew.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA
2014-04-09
Thrills and action follow a teenage movie star as she tries to escape a shadowy figure who has threatened to kill her.Vivian knows the threat to her life is real, since her movie-star mother was murdered just six months ago despite protection from the police, so she heads into Mexico to escape the killer. Her bus breaks down, and someone steals her handbag with her passport and money, leaving her stranded on the side of the road, in disguise but wearing Gucci sneakers. Nick, a drop-dead-handsome, English-speaking boy from the bus takes her under his wing, and they find themselves running from both the FBI and a frightening thug working for the local gangster boss. At first, Vivian acts the spoiled movie star, but as Nick ridicules her privileged outlook, she struggles to overcome it and begins to learn how real people live. Although the book contains a standard chick-lit-romance theme (why else would Nick be so gorgeous?), Sabel keeps the focus on action and does it well as Vivian tries to stay one step ahead of the bad guys. The villains seem cartoonish and the escapes impossible, but realism isn't the point. The author also includes a goodly amount of well-written Spanish phrases, most of which she translates.Good, escapist entertainment. (Thriller. 13-18)
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940173757883 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Publishers |
| Publication date: | 06/03/2014 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Age Range: | 12 - 17 Years |
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