Shrinking Violet

Where would children’s literature be without twins? Lily and Violet are identical physically but while Lily is loud, outgoing and confident, Violet is the exact opposite.

This is also a classic epistolary novel. Shrinking Violet finds herself a pen friend and through their letters and the stories and articles they make up for an invented magazine, the two get to know each other and of course themselves.

Letters not email? It’s explained. At times the author has tried to be up to the minute with references to current pop bands and TV programmes but it could well be the letter writing that proves harder for editors of the future to modernize. Let’s hope the book survives because the story is timeless, the descriptions of the girls and their relationship spot on and it does a great job selling the empowering nature of language and story.