Title: Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You Author: Dorian Cirrone
ISBN: 0060557028 Pages: 213
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 2005
Readers Annotation:
Kayla finally has a chance to star in the upcoming ballet, but her large chest lands her a second-rate part. To make matters worse, a classmate finds a threatening note in a pair of red ballet shoes, the same color shoes that she's supposed to wear in the ballet!
Kayla finally has a chance to star in the upcoming ballet, but her large chest lands her a second-rate part. To make matters worse, a classmate finds a threatening note in a pair of red ballet shoes, the same color shoes that she's supposed to wear in the ballet!
Author Information:
Dorian Cirrone has an MA in English, and started her career in writing as a journalist. Since then, she has written both children's and young adult books. Her debut adolescent novel, Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You, has been recognized as an ALA Teen's Top Ten Nominee 2005, an ALA Popular Paperback for Young Adults 2007, and is part of the Amelia Bloomer List for Feminist Fiction 2006. Dorian's latest young adult novel is Prom Kings and Drama Queens.
Dorian was a ballet dancer as a child, which gave her the inspiration for Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You. As Dorian got older, she continued to study ballet, tap, and jazz dance. Currently, Dorian lives in South Florida with her husband and two kids.
http://www.doriancirrone.com/about.html
Dorian was a ballet dancer as a child, which gave her the inspiration for Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You. As Dorian got older, she continued to study ballet, tap, and jazz dance. Currently, Dorian lives in South Florida with her husband and two kids.
http://www.doriancirrone.com/about.html
Plot Summary:
Kayla has been a ballet dancer since she was four years old. In fact, that's where she met her best friend Joey, who happens to be gay. Now that Kayla's in eleventh grade at the magnet school Florida Arts High School, she is hoping that her ballerina talents and her extra practicing over the summer will get her the lead role in the upcoming ballet, Cinderella. When Kayla checks the posting of the assigned roles, she is crushed to find that her name is under 'ugly stepsister'.
Miss Alicia, Kayla's ballet teacher, takes Kayla aside to tell her that a large chest does not conform to the typical ballet dancer, and that she should consider getting breast reduction surgery. To top it all off, blood red Pointe shoes start showing up all over school, with threatening notes attached to them. This especially scares Kayla, since her ballet costume includes red ballet shoes. Kayla goes through a year of self doubt and discovery, aided by her friend Joey and her new boyfriend Gray.
Kayla has been a ballet dancer since she was four years old. In fact, that's where she met her best friend Joey, who happens to be gay. Now that Kayla's in eleventh grade at the magnet school Florida Arts High School, she is hoping that her ballerina talents and her extra practicing over the summer will get her the lead role in the upcoming ballet, Cinderella. When Kayla checks the posting of the assigned roles, she is crushed to find that her name is under 'ugly stepsister'.
Miss Alicia, Kayla's ballet teacher, takes Kayla aside to tell her that a large chest does not conform to the typical ballet dancer, and that she should consider getting breast reduction surgery. To top it all off, blood red Pointe shoes start showing up all over school, with threatening notes attached to them. This especially scares Kayla, since her ballet costume includes red ballet shoes. Kayla goes through a year of self doubt and discovery, aided by her friend Joey and her new boyfriend Gray.
Critical Evaluation:
The author of this fiction piece skillfully combines dramatic and comedic elements, producing an entertaining work. Despite the lighthearted nature of the book, many authentic issues are addressed by the characters. Kayla deals with a potential life altering decision, struggling with her desire to be a ballerina versus her desire to leave her body unaltered. Kayla's sister Paterson has an end of the year art project that is unfairly censored by the school board. Joey is openly gay and determined to be a professional dancer but is worried about hurting Kayla's feelings. All of these topics are sure to resonate with the adolescent reader. As the author is intimately familiar with ballet, she gives the main character room to express her feelings through delightful ballerina jargon. Though readers may at times find the ballet references difficult to understand, the emotions of the female protagonist come through clearly.
The author of this fiction piece skillfully combines dramatic and comedic elements, producing an entertaining work. Despite the lighthearted nature of the book, many authentic issues are addressed by the characters. Kayla deals with a potential life altering decision, struggling with her desire to be a ballerina versus her desire to leave her body unaltered. Kayla's sister Paterson has an end of the year art project that is unfairly censored by the school board. Joey is openly gay and determined to be a professional dancer but is worried about hurting Kayla's feelings. All of these topics are sure to resonate with the adolescent reader. As the author is intimately familiar with ballet, she gives the main character room to express her feelings through delightful ballerina jargon. Though readers may at times find the ballet references difficult to understand, the emotions of the female protagonist come through clearly.
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Ballet
Curriculum Ties: English - Censorship
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Kayla is uncomfortably self-conscious about her larger than normal chest, and considers surgery to help her fit in. Would you choose to change your own physical appearance to fit in?
2. Joey has been Kayla's best friend since they were very young, but never took the relationship further as a result of Joey's homosexuality. Do you have any friends that have a different sexual orientation than you?
1. Kayla is uncomfortably self-conscious about her larger than normal chest, and considers surgery to help her fit in. Would you choose to change your own physical appearance to fit in?
2. Joey has been Kayla's best friend since they were very young, but never took the relationship further as a result of Joey's homosexuality. Do you have any friends that have a different sexual orientation than you?
Reading Level/Interest Age: 13+
Challenge Issue: Nudity, Homosexuality
- This book has been awarded with an ALA Teen's Top Ten Nominee 2005, an ALA Popular Paperback for Young Adults 2007, and is part of the Amelia Bloomer List for Feminist Fiction 2006
- Compilation of teen reviews and the average reader reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com
- Library policy
- This book has been awarded with an ALA Teen's Top Ten Nominee 2005, an ALA Popular Paperback for Young Adults 2007, and is part of the Amelia Bloomer List for Feminist Fiction 2006
- Compilation of teen reviews and the average reader reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com
- Library policy
Why I chose this item: I wanted to include a book about fitting in, and the idea that a homosexual boy was a main character in the story line was also appealing. I also was intrigued by the booktalk from our class readings. Lastly, this book is a great addition for adolescent ballet lovers.
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