I've seen it so many times before in teen lit: Girl likes boy. Boy doesn't know girl exists. Girl does something amazing that catches boy's attention. Girl and boy live happily ever after. And, on some occasions, a vampire or werwolf is thrown into the mix.
Ho-hum.
Don't get me wrong, there are authors who have written about teen romance who are very talented writers. I'm just saying I've been looking for something different - and trust me, its not always an easy thing to find.
"Bunheads," a novel by debut writer Sophie Flack (who was also a professional ballet dancer), is a bit of fresh air. The story follows nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward, a dancer in the corps de ballet in the Manhattan Ballet Company. When Hannah falls for Jacob, a student at New York University, she gets a taste of the world outside the ballet theater. After discovering everything she's been missing outside ballet, Hannah struggles to have the best of both worlds...and will have to make a big decision in the end.
Obviously, "Bunheads" has its fair share of romance, and I don't mind one bit - I'm just glad the book isn't only about Hannah and Jacob's relationship. The story gives you a true peak in the the cutthroat world of professional ballet. Just as a heads up, I feel that I enjoyed it more having experience in ballet - Ms. Flack (or Hannah actually, since its in first person) uses ballet terms when describing the dancing, and being able to actually picture the steps she was talking about was helpful. The French ballet terms don't take over the entire book, however, so if you don't mind being oblivious to the difference between a plie and a pique, you should be fine.
So if you you're a dancer, simply admire the ballet world, or want a romance with a twist (no vampires included), this is for you. =)
For more about the author, visit http://sophieflack.com.
Ho-hum.
Don't get me wrong, there are authors who have written about teen romance who are very talented writers. I'm just saying I've been looking for something different - and trust me, its not always an easy thing to find.
"Bunheads," a novel by debut writer Sophie Flack (who was also a professional ballet dancer), is a bit of fresh air. The story follows nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward, a dancer in the corps de ballet in the Manhattan Ballet Company. When Hannah falls for Jacob, a student at New York University, she gets a taste of the world outside the ballet theater. After discovering everything she's been missing outside ballet, Hannah struggles to have the best of both worlds...and will have to make a big decision in the end.
Obviously, "Bunheads" has its fair share of romance, and I don't mind one bit - I'm just glad the book isn't only about Hannah and Jacob's relationship. The story gives you a true peak in the the cutthroat world of professional ballet. Just as a heads up, I feel that I enjoyed it more having experience in ballet - Ms. Flack (or Hannah actually, since its in first person) uses ballet terms when describing the dancing, and being able to actually picture the steps she was talking about was helpful. The French ballet terms don't take over the entire book, however, so if you don't mind being oblivious to the difference between a plie and a pique, you should be fine.
So if you you're a dancer, simply admire the ballet world, or want a romance with a twist (no vampires included), this is for you. =)
For more about the author, visit http://sophieflack.com.
