Synopses & Reviews
Ten-year-old Ellie Brown is an American girl living in London. For Ellie, ballet isn't just a dream, it's become a way of life. She's danced for almost as long as she can remember and started ballet lessons when she was four. Now Ellie is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime-a chance to audition for a spot to dance with the Royal Ballet. But Ellie knows that even if she won a place, it would mean moving to London and leaving her ill-stricken mother behind with no one to care for her. When the day of the audition finally arrives, Ellie must decide between pursuing her dreams or sacrificing her goals of joining the Royal Ballet to be with her mother. What will Ellie do?
Ten-year-old Ellie Brown is an American girl living in London. For Ellie, ballet isn't just a dream, it's become a way of life. She's danced for almost as long as she can remember and started ballet lessons when she was four. Now Ellie is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime-a chance to audition for a spot to dance with the Royal Ballet. But Ellie knows that even if she won a place, it would mean moving to London and leaving her ill-stricken mother behind with no one to care for her. When the day of the audition finally arrives, Ellie must decide between pursuing her dreams or sacrificing her goals of joining the Royal Ballet to be with her mother. What will Ellie do?
Review
"A feast for the eye for all readers. . . . Ballet lovers will relish the behind-the-scenes look at this land of enchantment." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"A fascinating book for young ballet students and a fresh introduction to that perennial favorite, The Nutcracker." Booklist
Review
"Ballet lovers and wannabe performers will enjoy this backstage look at a young dancer’s journey . . . A lively look at a production for aspiring dancers."
School Library Journal
Review
"Friedman . . . has an endless store of delicious details and insights. Dowdle’s photographs, the result of extraordinary access to the production, immerse readers in the hard work of rehearsals and backstage life." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Young dancers will be entranced by the fascinating details of rehearsals, costuming, and staging, while Nutcracker fans will treasure this intimate view of a beloved holiday tradition." The Horn Book
Review
"Becoming a Ballerina, geared for ages 7 and up, paints a vivid portrait of Wada-Gill's artistic life, the years of balancing intensive dance training with homework demands and social activities." The Boston Globe
Synopsis
The perfect holiday gift for every young ballet fan
Go backstage at the ballet with real-life thirteen-year-old dancer Fiona. Dozens of gorgeous, full-color photographs welcome readers into Fiona's world, as she goes from auditions, to rehearsals, to opening night playing Clara, the lead child's role in Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker. Experience the nerves, the hard work, and ultimately the thrill of performing on the big stage with a professional company. This is a beautiful holiday gift that young dancers will cherish all year round.
About the Author
Lise Friedman is the author, in collaboration with photographer Mary Dowdle, of the Junior Library Guild selection Becoming a Ballerina: A Nutcracker Story. She is a former dancer with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and the coauthor of Letters to Juliet, which inspired the 2010 film of the same title. She is also the author of a number of other dance books for young readers. She is an adjunct professor at New York University's Gallatin School and was editor of the award winning quarterly Dance Ink and the dance writer for Microsoft's New York Sidewalk, a website focused on arts and culture. Lise lives in New York City.