Hope in a Ballet Shoe
Orphaned by war, saved by ballet: an extraordinary true story
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4.2 • 27 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
Hope in a Ballet Shoe tells the story of Michaela DePrince. Growing up in war-torn Sierra Leone, she 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 teacher.
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.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Professional ballerina Michaela DePrince overcame unfathomable odds to achieve her lifelong dream. After her biological parents’ tragic deaths and a harrowing stint in an orphanage in Sierra Leone, Michaela was adopted by a family in New Jersey and given the support, care and love to blossom into a poised, focused, and eloquent young woman. Working from journals she kept with her adoptive mother, Hope in a Ballet Shoe charts a mind-boggling journey of survival. Readers of all ages will be moved by Michaela’s courage, determination and uncrushable hope.
Customer Reviews
Hope in a Ballet Shoe
Wow, how beautiful michaela deprince's soul is, which was both born into her as well as continually helped along with amazing role models like her sisters,parents & teddy. Her story is amazing,inspiring and so beautiful, I cried with such happiness through a lot of it, as her courage and strength has been written through every page! Highly recommend this book, inspirational young women whom had a dream and whilst achieved it also stayed incredibly humble.