Reviews
See what people are saying about Dani Noir…
Reviewers are saying:
“[Dani's] imagination, angry determination, and cinematic narration propel the story. Suma’s watertight debut displays an expert balance of the realities of teenage life, humor, and intrigue.”—Publishers Weekly
“Narrator Dani—and first-time author Suma—have a gift for setting scenes, whether in Dani’s overactive imagination or in her small upstate New York town. Dani is a believably flawed character; her authentic voice conveys how betrayed and abandoned she feels.”—The Horn Book
“Smart and witty. . . . Dani never fails to be an entertaining protagonist. Her long-suffering friends and family are portrayed with nuance and charm.”—Kirkus Reviews
“This terrific first novel combines humor, suspense, and insights about growing up. (This book may inspire you to rent some old black-and-white movies!)”—The Buffalo News
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Blogs are saying:
“A gem of a first novel. . . . What a voice! Fresh, noirish as only a thirteen-year-old could be, I was quickly and completely drawn in.”—Monica Edinger on Educating Alice
“This delightful debut novel had me at hello, with Dani’s snarky and endlessly quotable narration that begged to be Twittered. . . . I welcome this original voice with open arms, and I can’t wait to see what Nova Ren Suma does next.”—Reading Rants! Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists!
“I’d read more stories featuring Dani in a heartbeat. Dani’s a star in the making.” —Shelf Elf
“Far more than middle-grade readers have been able to expect, Dani Noir is the voice of one ticked-off kid who would really like the world—and, more specifically, her parents—to acknowledge that just maybe sometimes kids deserve some respect. . . . The family emotion really gets under your skin. Add references to Gilda, Laura, Casablanca, and more, and you’ve got an unexpected read that respects its readers from start to finish.”
—Bookslut
“Conjuring up everything from Gilda to Double Indemnity, this Rita Hayworth-obsessed heroine finds a mystery of her own and sets out to solve it. But are all mysteries meant to be solved? And what happens when uncovering the crime makes you more culpable than the people committing it? . . . If you’re looking for a book that will get kids talking, I think this one has your number.”—Elizabeth Bird on Fuse #8
“I will recommend this book to anyone who will listen to me. You don’t need to be a fan of film noir to enjoy Dani Noir, but it definitely doesn’t hurt. Dani’s voice is so strong in this novel that I just wanted to jump into the book, give her a hug, and watch some film noir together.” —Sharon Loves Books and Cats
“It’s hard to believe that Suma isn’t a teen herself, the dialogue is that accurate, that real. You’ll see a little bit of yourself and other people you know in the characters, and although Dani may be thirteen, the situations in her life—friendship, divorce, big city dreams in a small town, etc., will resonate with you. In the end, there’s only one mystery left to Dani Noir, and that one is for the reader: why didn’t a book like this arrive sooner?”—BriMeetsBooks
“I adored Dani, and I loved spending time with her: facing up to challenges her way, with her own noir twist.”—Susan Adrian
“A total snarky delight from start-to-finish. With a very thoughtful and caring hand, Suma explores Dani’s world candidly and honestly and the narrative is charming, hilarious and heartbreaking all at once. . . . This is not just the kind of book you read and enjoy in the moment, it’s the kind of book you treasure and love and pass along. So do that. Don’t you dare miss this one.”—BookChick
“A thought-provoking journey into the mysteries of modern adolescent life. Suma skillfully navigates a course through the most turbulent waters—divorce, infidelity, abandonment, and hypocrisy—in a story that opens a window into the mind of a finally honest teen.”—In the Weird
“Dani Noir is totally awesome, adorable, and made me want to go rent a Rita Hayworth movie.”—Frenetic Reader
“Dani Noir is a great novel and definitely one that can be enjoyed by all ages. I recommend this book if your looking for something light, fun, and exciting to read.”—A Passion for Books
“Dani Noir is . . . enlivened by the noir atmosphere and the references to film and film history and by Dani’s voice, which is snarky and vulnerable at the same time, like a femme fatale.”—Semicolon
“Although Dani’s dealing with situations that have been done (divorce, changes in friendship, etc.), it all feels fresh because Dani’s seeing it through this film noir lens and comparing her own life to the movies she loves. . . . I’d highly recommend this book for tweens that are looking for a little something different.”
—Abby (the) Librarian
“Nova Ren Suma did not shy away from making Dani misbehave in the way teenagers do and, as a result, created a well-rounded character. While the reader may sometimes disagree with Dani’s choices, there is no reason for questioning her motifs. One could accuse Dani of insensitivity and selfishness, but never for acting out of character.”
—Teen Fiction/suite101
“Dani Noir is one of those books you wish was around when you were a tween. . . . Perfect for tweens and teens (and older ones too!) who want something humorous, fresh, and a little bit stylish.”
—My Fluttering Heart
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My mom is saying:
“Saying I love it doesn’t come close to expressing my joy. I love every word and have read it three times. The first time I read it straight through without stopping, the second I savored each word, and the third I read it almost like I would a regular book written by a random author, which was so hard to do when I am so very proud and in awe of Nova’s talent. I love the characters. Seeing them through Dani’s thirteen-year-old voice is like having a chance to get to know my daughter better. I love Dani, she is Nova and not Nova, but so real.”—my really proud mom, Arlene
