The Strength of Ballerinas
by Nancy Lorenz
YA Contemporary
Paperback, 256 Pages
September 9th 2014 by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
Paperback, 256 Pages
September 9th 2014 by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
Summary
All Kendra wants to do is dance for the Manhattan Dance Company. So when her family’s forced to move to California, her dreams of auditioning are shattered. Still determined to dance, Kendra faces social isolation and family pressures in her new home. But when she’s diagnosed with a debilitating illness, Kendra must decide which dreams are worth fighting for.
My Review
The Strength of Ballerinas is a story about a teen who is striving to become a prima ballerina. A family who becomes uprooted when they have to move cross-country. New challenges, possible friendships, and a debilitating illness. It's a story about a girl who has a dream and her choices when that dream may be lost.
What I found most poignant about this story was how the author really let the MC, Kendra, go through all the emotions that a teenager would feel in her situation. She is selfish at points, angry, rebellious, sad, vulnerable, upset, and goes through denial. She also is selfless towards her autistic brother, loving towards her family and friends, willing to stay true to who she is, responsible, strong, driven, and open to guidance. There were parts where Kendra frustrated me. She is a teenager. There were other parts where she made me proud.
Beyond just focusing on Kendra's emotional journey, the story also discussed some tough topics with autism, multiple sclerosis, and single parenthood. It also showed how much work ballerinas put into their art and the amazing toil on their bodies. It amazes me every. Single. Time.
The Strength of Ballerinas was a sweet and heartwarming story about the struggle of one girl to reach her dream and those around her. It was a story of friendship, family, and strength. I'm looking forward to seeing what this author writes next.
Content: Clean
Source: I would like to thank Cedar Fort for my complimentary copy, which did not affect my review in any way.
What I found most poignant about this story was how the author really let the MC, Kendra, go through all the emotions that a teenager would feel in her situation. She is selfish at points, angry, rebellious, sad, vulnerable, upset, and goes through denial. She also is selfless towards her autistic brother, loving towards her family and friends, willing to stay true to who she is, responsible, strong, driven, and open to guidance. There were parts where Kendra frustrated me. She is a teenager. There were other parts where she made me proud.
Beyond just focusing on Kendra's emotional journey, the story also discussed some tough topics with autism, multiple sclerosis, and single parenthood. It also showed how much work ballerinas put into their art and the amazing toil on their bodies. It amazes me every. Single. Time.
The Strength of Ballerinas was a sweet and heartwarming story about the struggle of one girl to reach her dream and those around her. It was a story of friendship, family, and strength. I'm looking forward to seeing what this author writes next.
Content: Clean
Source: I would like to thank Cedar Fort for my complimentary copy, which did not affect my review in any way.
About the Author
Nancy Lorenz currently teaches as an English adjunct at several colleges. She worked in publishing, public relations and in network television. She studied ballet in New York City at numerous studios, including open level classes at American Ballet Theater in the 1980’s, and continues to study ballet for the sheer love of it. She recommends that you love what you do, but also to branch out to the many subjects out there yet to discover. The more you learn, the more you can bring back into your art.
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I really love how realistic the story sounds and that family was a large part of the story.
ReplyDeleteWow....two and four were pretty easy, but one and three were a little trickier! Good job!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found them. I tried to find pieces that showed a picture of some sort and not just a partial something. :)
ReplyDeleteThe family was a huge part of this story. I could have used a little more romance, but it wasn't the focus of the story.
ReplyDeleteI am never good at these I got one and that was it. :(
ReplyDeleteGreat review. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I couldn't get one... the rest were fairly easy. I would say it was difficult. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, bummer. I tried to give enough hints that the covers could be found fairly easily on the shelf. Maybe more hints...
ReplyDeleteSorry! I tried to make it easy with leaving the bookshelf to look at. A guess still gets you an entry. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteI went to the shelf, but the pics are small. I probably didn't try hard enough. :)
ReplyDeleteYou know I always didn't like this one from other RAT's, but I thought it would be easy if I picked certain books. Haha. It's probably the hardest one I host. I skipped doing all the spine poetry or any poetry or anything like that. And the pics are small. Thanks, Lisa! :)
ReplyDeletegot em all! yay, Tressa, can you check to make sure the correct answers were on mine, the other day I got all confused and accidentally did the challenge with the other days answers
ReplyDeleteHurray! Don't worry about it. :) I'll verify the winners and I'll also post the answers to these at the end too.
ReplyDeleteok I just wanted to make sure all my answers were the correct ones, and not the ones from last night LOL I know I found em all and I got em all right I just know it I feel it in muhbonez.
ReplyDeleteI need to have this book. It makes me think of little girl me. I wanted to be a ballerina. but then my dad had an affair with my ballet teacher and they ran off and got married, and after that I was kinda over it, because of stuff.. my poor dreams. that blurb just kinda brought it all back, lol wow. only I wasn't a teenager, but I still want to have this book so I can read it.
ReplyDeleteLol! I believe you. :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a really good book.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite a story/experience with ballet! I think I would be over it too at that point. Man! I hope you do enjoy this one if you get a chance to read it! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was good. Plenty of drama, but also emotional.Those are kind of the same thing, huh? Lol!
ReplyDeleteThis was easy for me. Fun challenge! :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I "know" what three of them are, although the one... I'm not confident in the title, though I recognize it. Cheating, anyone...!? ;)
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it. :) I'll post the answers on Sunday.
ReplyDelete2 of them were easy, 1 was medium and the last one i almost gave up on but finally figured it out. Fun hunt!
ReplyDeleteWhich one was the hardest? #1?
ReplyDeleteYep. You know me well :)
ReplyDeleteThat book isn't as well known, but it was really good. :)
ReplyDelete