Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker


Book Description

A retelling of the classical story of E.T.A. Hoffman's Nutcracker ballet, featuring in an African-American context.




Life in Motion


Book Description

Determination meets dance in this middle grade adaptation of the New York Times bestselling memoir by the first female African-American principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre history, Misty Copeland. Misty Copeland has been breaking down all kinds of barriers in the world of dance, becoming the first African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. But when she first started dancing--at the late age of thirteen--no one would have guessed the shy, underprivileged girl would one day make history in her field. Her road to excellence was not easy. A challenging home life was a stark contrast to the control and comfort she found on stage. And when her home life and incredible dance promise began to clash, Misty had to learn to stand up for herself and navigate complex relationships with her family and the dance world, while pursuing her ballet dreams. Life in Motion is a story for all the kids who dare to be different, dream bigger, and aspire to break stereotypes in whatever they do.




Misty Copeland


Book Description

Misty Copeland is probably the most famous ballerina in the world. She didn't begin dancing until age thirteen, but she quickly surpassed all her peers to be declared a prodigy. Her hard work and talent have landed her the career of a lifetime. Through engaging text and quotes from the dancer, readers will learn about Copeland's life, hardships, and accomplishments. Full-color photos from throughout Copeland's life will give readers insight into the dancer's personal life and career. The glossary helps readers learn new vocabulary, while Further Reading encourages deeper exploration into the world of dance.




Don't Think, Dear


Book Description

‘Don’t think, dear’ said Balanchine. ‘Just do.’ For centuries, being a ballerina has been synonymous with being beautiful, thin, obedient and feminine. It is the crucible of womanhood, together with the harassment, physical abuse and eating disorders endemic at top schools. Can we abide this in a post #MeToo world? Weaving together her own time at America’s most elite ballet school with the lives of renowned ballerinas throughout history, Alice Robb interrogates what it means to perform ballet today. She confronts the all-consuming nature of the form: the obsessive and dangerous practices to perfect the body, the embrace of submission and the idealisation of suffering. Yet ballet also gifts its dancers ‘brains in their toes’, a way to fully inhabit their bodies and a sanctuary of control away from the pressures of the outside world. Perhaps it is time to reimagine its liberating potential.




Misty Copeland


Book Description

It isn't very often that late bloomers are called prodigies, but Misty Copeland is an extraordinary case. At the age of 13, she began her formal ballet training, which is considerably later than most children begin ballet. In 2015, Copeland was promoted from soloist to principal at American Ballet Theatre, one of the world's premiere ballet companies. She has written a memoir and a children's book, and starred in the screen adaptation of her memoir. She advocates for inclusivity in the classical ballet world and as well as body positivity for young women.




Nutcracker and Mouseking


Book Description




Life in Motion


Book Description

Profiles the life and career of the professional ballerina, covering from when she began dance classes at age thirteen in an after-school community center through becoming the only African American soloist dancing with the American Ballet Theatre.




The Football Girl


Book Description

For every athlete or sports fanatic who knows she's just as good as the guys. This is for fans of The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen, Grace, Gold, and Glory by Gabrielle Douglass and Breakaway: Beyond the Goal by Alex Morgan. The summer before Caleb and Tessa enter high school, friendship has blossomed into a relationship . . . and their playful sports days are coming to an end. Caleb is getting ready to try out for the football team, and Tessa is training for cross-country. But all their structured plans derail in the final flag game when they lose. Tessa doesn’t want to end her career as a loser. She really enjoys playing, and if she’s being honest, she likes it even more than running cross-country. So what if she decided to play football instead? What would happen between her and Caleb? Or between her two best friends, who are counting on her to try out for cross-country with them? And will her parents be upset that she’s decided to take her hobby to the next level? This summer Caleb and Tessa figure out just what it means to be a boyfriend, girlfriend, teammate, best friend, and someone worth cheering for. “A great next choice for readers who have enjoyed Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s Dairy Queen and Miranda Kenneally’s Catching Jordan.”—SLJ “Fast-paced football action, realistic family drama, and sweet romance…[will have] readers looking for girl-powered sports stories…find[ing] plenty to like.”—Booklist “Tessa's ferocious competitiveness is appealing.”—Kirkus Reviews “[The Football Girl] serve[s] to illuminate the appropriately complicated emotions both of a young romance and of pursuing a dream. Heldring writes with insight and restraint.”—The Horn Book




Winterspell


Book Description

Darkly romantic and entirely enchanting, this reimagining of "The Nutcracker" brims with magic, love, and intrigue. "New York Times"-bestselling author Marissa Meyer ("Cinder") says "this is not your grandmother's "Nutcracker" tale."




White Chocolate


Book Description

White Chocolate is a send up on the bedevilled black, upper-middle class in affluent Westchester County. Events cause Charlie, to take stock of her life: a philandering husband, morally bankrupt social group and a vulnerable daughter. Charlie's newly minted teenager is caught in the external class and color driven divide, as well as internal family tensions. Sex, class and competition foment as mother and daughter make choices and undergo a transformative journey where they learn to survive and finally accept themselves and their needs.