Hope in a Ballet Shoe: Orphaned by war, saved by ballet: an extraordinary true story
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Hope in a Ballet Shoe tells the story of Michaela DePrince. Growing up in war-torn Sierra Leone, she witnessed atrocities that no child ever should. Her father was killed by rebels and her mother died of famine. Sent to an orphanage, Michaela was mistreated and saw the brutal murder of her favourite teacher.
Then Michaela and her best friend are adopted by an American couple, and Michaela begins to take dance lessons. But life in the States isn’t without difficulties. Unfortunately, tragedy can find its way to Michaela in America, too, and her past can feel like it’s haunting her. The world of ballet is a racist one, and Michaela has to fight for a place amongst the ballet elite, hearing the words ‘America’s not ready for a black girl ballerina.’
And yet . . . Today, Michaela DePrince is an international ballet star, dancing for The Dutch National Ballet at the age of nineteen. This is a heart-breaking, inspiring autobiography by a teenager who shows us that, beyond everything, there is always hope for a better future.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Faber & Faber, Main edition (4 Jun. 2015) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 272 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0571314473 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0571314478 |
| Reading age | 15 – 18 years |
| Dimensions | 19.7 x 1.9 x 11.8 cm |
by Rudi Affolter
This is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read. The autobiography of a woman who was born and living in terrible poverty in Africa, and was adopted at a young age by a kind US family and taken back to their home and brought up there. She was taken to see a ballet and decided she was going to be a world class ballerina. She was sent to ballet lessons by her family she she did indeed grow up to become a world class ballerina. I have bought a further 10 copies to give as Xmas presents this year. DO NOT MISS IT.
by Nia G.
Read this book whilst on holiday in Spain, I’ve always been a keen ballet dancer And had a massive love for it and this book captures the essence and importance of ballet in many peoples lives no matter the background. Such an inspiring book and would highly recommend to anyone who dances, has an interest in ballet or enjoys reading books about strong empowering and inspiring female lead roles.
by L. J. B.
Excellent biographical story, moving from death of parents, an orphanage in Africa, rebel army atrocities, to the escape, safety, healthcare and love of caring adoptive parents in the USA, from early childhood. The heroine is highly intelligent and very gifted. She was good at swimming and outstanding at ballet, and the pursuit of this as a career is explored. The difficulties of an African in a white ballet environment are explored, racism and tradition and the solutions make this a veryworthwhile tale. It is a good book to read with a (grand) child of 11/12y as there is a distressing killing early on.
by Regency Belle
I saw Michaela on a BBC Breakfast interview and immediately downloaded this book. I am so pleased that I did, what a life, what hope, what spirit. Sitting in my comfortable UK home, I was instantly transported to war torn Sierra Leone and to a better understanding of what effects war have on children, who have no-one to speak up for them. Her love of ballet and determination to overcome her past and the racism in the ballet world is inspiring. My greatest admiration is reserved for the woman who enabled all of this to happen. Michaela’s amazing adopted mother. This woman is also an inspiration to us all and through every challenge life has sent her she retained a massive well of love and faith. I am certain Michaela will go on to even greater things and I look forward to reading the next book about her life. She is a beacon of hope for many young women across the globe.
by Partridge
It’s simply written, in a very good way and probably because of the primary audience of younger readers. I found it well written and didn’t think it had been too sanitised for the age group and a society lucky enough to have not experienced the reality of civil war and anarchy. I have to confess that I did have to keep looking up all the technical ballet steps and positions and then watch her on uTube.
I think her adoptive parents are as amazing and perhaps they should write their memoire including all the children? They must be so proud of Teddy and his ability to integrate and reassure his new sisters. I truly hope that Michaela goes on to be a principle ballerina. Do check out her TED talk and BBC interview with Nic Higham, “Meet the Author”.
by Diana
Horrific. The book was purchased for a young teenage girl. I am so glad I vetted the book and realized it was unsuitable. The first 4 chapters make horrific reading describing graphically the civil war in Sierra Leone; atrocities of beatings, living in fear, bed wetting, and graphic description of calling odds – bets on a whether a young pregant teacher is carrying a boy or girl. The child ripped out of the mother’s stomach and thrown into the undergrowth. Eventually the child Mabinty and her friend of the same name are adopted and lived in U.S.A. I bought the book with good intentions of knowing it’s inspirational outcome. However, I had nightmares and found it all too much and horrific. Yes, the child survived against all odds, her strength, determination is truly inspirational. But due to the atrocities and violence did not send as a present.
by Sarah T. M. Bell
This is a wonderful, inspirational book. I ordered it yesterday and finished it this evening, tears running down my face. It is one of the greatest pleasures in life to meet people of courage who are faced with huge difficulties which they manage to overcome, and who then open their arms to the world and try to give something back. Michaela is one of these. I would absolutely love to read a biography of her American mother who adopted lots of children and gave them all a superbly warm home. A huge thank you to everyone involved in the production of this book which deserves to sit in pride of place on any bookshelf for anyone interested in reading a tale of great courage garnished with love and the beauty of ballet with its pain of bleeding toes and delicious fripperies of tutus! Buy it – for you and for giving!
by shadow
not what she expected