About This Book
Reach for this book if your daughter is starting to feel the intense pressure of a competitive hobby or is struggling to balance a passion with the desire to just be a normal kid. It is an honest look at the sacrifices required for elite performance and the internal conflict that arises when those sacrifices start to feel like too much. Ellie is a talented thirteen-year-old dancer at a prestigious ballet academy. While the story centers on the studio, the real focus is on her evolving identity and the tension between her love for dance and her growing interest in the world outside of it. It beautifully handles themes of body image, changing friendships, and the courage it takes to define oneself apart from a parent's expectations. This is a grounded, realistic choice for the middle school years when interests and priorities naturally begin to shift.
