September 1, 2021
An exploration of one girl's changing relationship with ballet. Fans of the author's 2006 graphic memoir, To Dance, will enjoy revisiting her life. As a girl in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1974, Siena began taking ballet classes, reveling in the strength and freedom she found in the art form. Eventually, she auditioned for a spot at the School of American Ballet and began training in New York City, where she made friends, relished the opportunity to immerse herself in ballet, and dreamed of dancing for the New York City Ballet. But as Siena grew older, her attitude toward ballet was no longer so uncomplicated, straining her relationships with her friends and her mother, who was embroiled in her parents' bitter divorce, and causing her to question what her future would really hold. Through straightforward prose and narration, this work shows many of the highs and lows of ballet. While the narrative never veers into the melodramatic, it nevertheless portrays the complicated feelings that come with early dedication to this craft, including issues with body image, injury, and more. Small moments, such as mastering a step--but only on one side of the body--ring especially true. Evocative, purple-toned illustrations bring to life both the dynamism of ballet and the fearful images lurking within Siena's head. Siena's father came from Cuba; her mother's ethnicity is not specified. An understated and utterly believable account of a personal and creative journey. (Graphic memoir. 12-18)
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October 11, 2021
The husband-and-wife team behind graphic memoir To Dance returns with another rich tale, delving into Siena’s experiences at the School of American Ballet in the late 1970s and early ’80s. Opening with young Siena’s cartwheels on the beach in her native Puerto Rico, the author recounts her acceptance to SAB at 12 and moving to Manhattan with her mother, whose ethnicity is unspecified, as her Cuban-born father stays in San Juan, and her beloved older brother attends boarding school and then college in Boston. Siena grows increasingly passionate about ballet classes, rehearsals, and performances; by 15, dance inspires “majestic,” “radiant” feelings. Siegel movingly describes these joys as well as the despair of growing too tall for certain roles, and a dancer’s ultimate nightmare: injury. As “all the joy of dancing was seeping out of me,” Siena must decide how to reroute her life. Siegel’s digital drawings—done in a cool-toned blue and purple palette—add gravity to Siena’s journey, emphasizing dynamism and shifting emotions. Ballet lovers and aspiring and established dancers will particularly appreciate this deep dive into the ballet world, and revel in the faithful renderings of dancers—including some legendary figures—at work, at ease, and performing. Ages 12–up. Agent: Tanya McKinnon, McKinnon McIntyre Literary.
October 1, 2021
Gr 9 Up-In this introspective memoir, the author explores the ups and downs of pursuing her childhood dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer. Her dance journey begins at a young age in Puerto Rico with her mother and Cuban father. When her parents start to have marital problems, her mother encourages her to apply to the School of American Ballet in New York. Siena quickly becomes infatuated with the city and life as a dancer, and she devotes her energy to realizing her goal of joining the New York City Ballet-until an injury causes her to question her relationship with ballet and whether dance can be a part of her life even without the New York City Ballet. This story portrays the joys and heartaches of dance, from the "royal feeling" of mastering the perfect pose to the struggle of pushing one's body to the limits. Beautiful descriptions of different dancers and performances offer an inside look at the nuances of ballet and work in tandem with the striking black lined and purple shaded illustrations that capture the movement of the dancers. VERDICT A notable addition to graphic novel collections for readers who enjoy performance art memoirs.-Amanda Melilli, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas
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