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This book is an absolute delight! Or should I say – Phantastic!
Meet Gracie and Rodney – two ghostly spirits (who also happen to be children of about twelve years old). This spectral duo have haunted the Amberwood Ballet School for Girls for approximately two centuries, where they (mostly) keep their mischief-making to a minimum (Rodney, who has been described as reminiscent of a “boisterous puppy”, being a bit of a wild card here!).
Making things go bump in the night; whooshing cold drafts on the backs of exposed necks and kneecaps; oozing through the rafters to make the “creepiest of sounds” ; and of course, making books or other objects float off their shelves, or hooks, or cupboards – it appears that “life” for our ghostly duo is pretty darn good.
All of this is about to change, however, as Gracie meets Lauren, a twelve year-old ballet dancer auditioning for a coveted spot in Amberwood, the “most sought after ballet school in the country”.
Lauren, with her chestnut hair and hazel eyes, is desperately unhappy, her behavior an unusual mass of contradictions and Grace (for reasons you will need to read more about in the book) is unable to resist the need to help Lauren achieve her dream – a goal that turns out to be remarkably difficult to achieve.
Lauren is a wonderfully drawn character – serious, thoughtful, compassionate, talented and troubled – and watching Gracie, with spirited (!) but well-intentioned help from Rodney, team up to do their best to “help” her is a wonderful treat. The author writes with great skill and seamless authenticity, which comes though in particular in the details drawn about ballet, and ballet schools, as well as the kindness, meanness and cliquiness of pre-teen girls competing in the hyper-competitive classical dance arena.
Along the way we learn that things are not always what they seem; that one persons dream is not necessarily that of another; that the voices in our head can be our biggest motivators (or detractors); and finally, that we all make our own choices, and are not responsible for anyone else’s chosen path but our own.
Most of all, the story highlights the importance of owning our dreams completely, and how these dreams become even more magical if they are shared, and supported by the others we care about. (Including perhaps, others who may have a less “tactile” form…)
Pre-teens, teens, young adults, adults: anyone who loves a good book will love this book, as will anyone with a sense of humor or mischief (this book is chuckle-worthy throughout!) as well as ballet lovers, and ghost lovers ( you get my drift. This is a wonderful book!)
A great big thank you to the author, Eleanor Dixon, for a review copy of this lovely book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts presented are my own.
