'The Time Traveling Fashionista' - a book review and giveaway

I was given the chance to read and review a new book -  'The Time Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky - which is due to be published April 5th.

It's the story of Louise, a 12 year old girl from Connecticut. She loves vintage clothing, even though her Mother, her best friend and the kids at school don't get her interest in old used clothing. She studies vintage fashions and designers and she dreams of filling her closet with fabulous vintage pieces and living a glamorous life some day.

One day she receives a mysterious invitation to a 'Traveling Fashionista Vintage Sale'. She thinks that it will be the perfect chance to find a dress to wear to the upcoming school dance.
She goes to the address on the invite, which takes her to a dark old dusty shop, and the only people there are the two odd and mysterious old ladies who own the shop -  Marla and  Glenda.
She chooses a beautiful bright pink gown to try on - Marla and Glenda are a little nervous about her putting on the dress (which smells oddly like the ocean) asking if she is sure she wants to do this.

Louise puts on the dress, and then she passes out. When she wakes up, she finds herself in the year 1912, and she is in the body of 17 year old actress Alice Baxter, who is traveling across the Atlantic in a luxury ship. She tries to fit in with the wealthy and famous passengers who all think that she is the famous Alice Baxter. She dresses up in Alice's beautiful clothing (and tight laced corsets) and finds out that the pink gown which brought her back in time was a 'Lucille' - made specially for Alice, and that it's designer Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon and her husband are on board the ship. Then of course Louise/Alice finds out that she's on the Titanic and panics, trying to warn passengers and the captain of the danger ahead.

How will she get home? Will she go down with the ship? Will anyone believe that the Titanic will sink? Why are Marla and Glenda also on the ship and who exactly are they? Should she go to the dance with Todd?

This was a fun book, a nice casual read. It is aimed at young adult readers, but I think that it could be enjoyed by any vintage clothing lover like me. Fabrics, descriptions of clothing details, designer names and historical names are mentioned, which are relateable and enjoyable. Even descriptions of the Titanic are recognizable. At first I thought - 'I've already been on the Titanic' - but this book is fun and  more lighthearted than the movie. Another thing that I enjoyed were the pretty illustrations in the book done by Sandra Suy (I like pretty pictures in books) I liked Louise and her love of vintage. Oh, I hated Dr.Hastings, I wanted her to kick him!

This is Bianca Turetsky's first book and it looks like it will be the first in a series of the Time Traveling Fashionista. Cool. I look forward to reading more vintage adventures.


Places to find The Time Traveling Fashionista -
Website
on Facebook
On Twitter



Book Giveaway!
The book was sent to me to read and to review if I chose to (I was not paid to review it) I did enjoy it, and now I am going to pass the book on to someone else to enjoy.
Leave a comment to enter to win the book. A winner will be chosen from entrants here and on the Vintage Bulletin - on March 17th!


***UPDATE! Thanks to everyone who entered. The winner is Jenny B.