One Perfect Pirouette

One Perfect Pirouette by Sherryl Clark (UQP)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN 978-070223841-3

Reviewed by Jo Burnell

One Perfect Pirouette is about so much more than just ballet. I’m not into tutus and frills, but I believe in pursuing your dream. Brynna relentlessly pursues hers, but she is painfully aware that her ambition comes at an enormous cost to her family. Just how far would you go to achieve your dream?

You don’t have to be rich to achieve your goals, but toughness and persistence are ‘must haves’. Friendships are lost as progress is made, but what about enemies? Should you let others walk all over you just to keep the peace? The consequences can be more devastating than you could ever imagine.

Sheryl Clark always does her research and then makes the nitty gritty details a seamless part of the story. Apart from tortuous hours of boring repetition, the artistic demands of a ballerina’s schedule were brought to life. However, the height of perfection is possible only for a very small number. There are many who resent not making it. I wasn’t prepared for the lengths people could go to, just to stop others from achieving their dream.

I walked away from One Perfect Pirouette with a deep awareness of the trials faced when working to develop elite skills – not only in ballet. In this politically correct world of report cards that outline abilities but not weaknesses, Sheryl’s clear depiction of rejection is a revelation. What happens when your dream crumbles and years of practice lead to a dead end? It was something I’d never considered.

As always, Sheryl Clark’s tale has layers of meaning hidden between the pages. Some of these insights take time to surface. A week after finishing reading, I realised that just like Brynna, there are many things my parents never told me.

Anyone with a burning desire to achieve their dream will love One Perfect Pirouette, even if they aren’t into ballet. However, be warned. There is so much more hidden between these pages than you will have bargained for.

Speech Pathologist Jo Burnell is passionate about igniting a love of reading, especially in struggling and reluctant readers. 

Dogs Don’t Do Ballet

Dogs Don’t Do Ballet by Anna Kemp, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie (Simon & Schuster)
PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 9781847384744
Reviewed by Di Bates

Billy Elliot was well known for his dancing. Less well known is Biff, a white dog with a dark patch over its right eye. Biff doesn’t do the usual dog things, like weeing on lamp posts: he’s bred for the finer things in life such as enjoying music and walking on his tiptoes. And, oh yes, his life dream is to become a ballerina with his name in lights!

Biff belongs to a small girl who is learning ballet, and of course Biff wishes he could learn as well. The girl doesn’t see Biff as he sneaks after her on her way to dancing class. When Biff tries to join the class, he is turned away by Miss Polly, the teacher. Consequently Biff falls into depression and refuses to eat. However, when the girl goes to ballet, Biff finds an opportunity to fulfill his dreams.

What small girl who loves dogs and dancing and has an active imagination wouldn’t be amused, even entranced by this charming picture book created by first time author and illustrator, both from the UK? The text is tightly written and well paced, while the book design and colourful illustrations lend themselves to page turning. Ideal for girls aged four to eight years of age.