A childhood favorite that I have decided to let travel on, this book follows a ten-year-old ballet student as she takes classes, auditions for a production, and then performs in The Nutcracker. There are many black and white photographs throughout which bring the first-person narrative to life.

Having not read this for many years, this time through I was most impressed by the amount of dedication and attention to detail that everyone involved with the performance gave to their role. It actually sent me off on a rather philosophical train of thought about what the Internet and streaming media are doing to us. Are we now so driven to distraction that we can no longer focus on a demanding project in intense detail? I’m sure that elite dancers today do give a great deal of time and attention to their craft, but somehow I can’t help but feel that something has been lost since the publication of this book in the mid-1970s. From casting to costumes to props to the choreography of intricate dance moves, everything was given the utmost care and attention!

I hope this book finds its way to another reader who will appreciate it as much as I have over the years.

Donating to the used bookstore. I really hope it finds an appreciative reader!