Hope in a Ballet Shoe: Orphaned by war, saved by ballet: an extraordinary true story

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Michaela DePrince (Author) Elaine DePrince

Hope in a Ballet Shoe

Orphaned by war, saved by ballet: an extraordinary true story

Michaela DePrince (Author), Elaine DePrince

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English

Faber Children's Books
29 July 2015

Ballet; Autobiography: arts & entertainment; True stories of heroism, endurance & survival; Children's & Educational; True stories (Children's&YA); Dance, ballet (Children's&YA)

Growing up in war-torn Sierra Leone, Michaela DePrince witnesses atrocities that no child ever should. Her father is killed by rebels and her mother dies of famine. Sent to an orphanage, Michaela is mistreated and she sees the brutal murder of her favourite teachers.

But there is hope: the Harmattan wind blows a magazine through the orphanage gates. Michaela picks it up and sees a beautiful image of a young woman dancing. One day, she thinks, I want to be this happy.

And then Michaela and her best friend are adopted by an American couple and Michaela can take the dance lessons she's dreamed of since finding her picture.

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 is an international ballet star, dancing for The Dutch National Ballet at the age of 19.

A heart-breaking, inspiring autobiography by a teenager who shows us that, beyond everything, there is always hope for a better future.

By: Michaela DePrince (Author), Elaine DePrince
Imprint: Faber Children's Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Main
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 17mm
Weight: 226g
ISBN: 9780571314478
ISBN 10: 0571314473
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 29 July 2015
Recommended Age: From 15 to 18 years
Audience: General/trade , Young adult , ELT Advanced , Preschool (0-5)
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Michaela DePrince was born in 1995 in Sierra Leone. After the deaths of her parents, she moved to an orphanage from which she was adopted and taken to the US in 1999. Elaine DePrince, her new mother, noticed Michaela's obsession with ballet and allowed her to begin lessons. Michaela is now a professional ballerina, who danced principal with The Dance Theatre of Harlem, in guest principal roles in South Africa and The Netherlands, and is now just starting with The Dutch National Ballet.