The Girl Who Wanted to Dance

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Book Summary

Clara wants to be a dancer. In fact, dancing is in her very soul and her grandmother tells her it's no surprise since her mother -- whose absence isn't explained at first -- also loved to dance. But her taciturn father doesn't like to see her dancing or hear the lilting songs her grandmother plays on the piano. When Clara's grandmother dies, she is left alone to deal with her grief and her father's continued distance. Then one day a dancing troupe arrives in town and Clara wants to join them. Will the performer she meets let her become a dancer, too?

Is It Any Good?

One can't help but wonder if the author of the book was so caught up in her romantic, fairy tale tone that she missed the story's ending, which basically says that parents have a right to emotionally and physically leave their children if their needs are great. Instead of a conclusion that acknowledges and resolves Clara's abandonment, the "happy" ending is that Clara is left alone again only now with the understanding that to dance matters more than family ties; certainly not a message to send to kids whether their own families are intact or not.

Clara's losses are never really addressed. Better to read the book with a critical eye to the story and use it to discuss values around family obligations and explore ways we can meet our professional and personal goals without hurting the people we love the most.