Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen
Anne Nesbet’s middle-grade novel Daring Darleen: Queen of the Screen is a thrilling romp through the early days of the silent film era in 1914.
Darleen Darling is the 12-year-old heroine of the serial adventure movies produced by her family’s debt-ridden studio in Fort Lee, New Jersey. To build excitement for the newest release, Darleen’s uncles conceive an idea that can’t possibly go wrong: A fake kidnapping that will rivet the attention of the movie-going public and sell more tickets. Instead of a flawless performance, however, bona fide villains with nefarious intent use the cover of the fake kidnapping to carry out their real abduction of Victorine Berryman, America’s poor little rich girl. Darleen is used to climbing cliffs and jumping off bridges in the movies, but now she finds herself in the perilous position of helping protect the life of a stranger in trouble. Together, Darleen and Victorine take risks and find courage as they evade the kidnappers and try to figure out who wants to harm the lonely young heiress. Twin themes of friendship and family intertwine as the two girls use imagination and intellect to escape the snares that entrap them.
The history of the early age of silent movies is intriguing in this story. Author Anne Nesbet is a college professor who teaches film, and she does an excellent job relaying factual background in an entertaining, exciting way. What is most notable about Nesbet’s writing, however, is her consummate voice. The second person point-of-view grabs the reader in the opening paragraphs, seemingly plunking the reader right into the exhilarating action of a serial adventure episode. Young readers will certainly enjoy the danger and daring of this story. Kid-lit authors wanting to study voice will certainly find Daring Darleen to be an outstanding mentor text.
