Dare You to Dance
(A Graphic Novel)
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected Jul 28, 2026
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- $11.99
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- Pre-Order
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
From the award-winning illustrator of The Four Points series comes a heartfelt middle grade graphic novel about a small-town ballerina attending a prestigious dance workshop. Determined to push herself, she picks the best dancer in class to compete against—only to discover that what her rival really needs is…friendship.
Gracie is ready to take on the ballet world -- starting with the Young Dancer Summer Workshop in New York! It's a two week summer course, and while she misses her family in Ohio, she is ready to show this ballet school that she has what it takes.
Too bad none of the other students got the memo and now Gracie feels like she's already being left in the dust! Luckily, she knows the best way to get herself motivated is with a good rival and who better to pick than the star of the class, Sariah!
Except Sariah doesn’t seem interested in a fun competition with Gracie. In fact, she's so serious that it seems like she barely enjoys dancing at all? Can Gracie break through to Sariah and find the exciting rival she wants? Or is this rivalry, and Gracie's future in ballet, both doomed before it can even start?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Mock (Salt Magic) considers the intersection of talent and drive in her intimate, behind-the-scenes graphic novel debut about young ballerinas. Gracie, a talented, pale-skinned ballet dancer, heads from small-town Ohio to New York City for the prestigious Youth Dance Summer Workshop. Staying with her godmother Dani in a cramped apartment shared with three energetic dogs, Gracie struggles to adjust to the city's noises and pace. Her focus quickly narrows to dance—and to her self-proclaimed rivalry with gifted, brown-skinned peer Sariah—while she forms a close friendship with petite, red-haired Jaz. Though the workshop's strict instructors are mindful of the girls' growing bodies, they also push the dancers to their physical limits. As the girls endeavor to come together as a corps for the end-of-session showcase, the intensity of the training and the strain of interpersonal dynamics marred by cliques and bullying heighten both the stakes and the drama. Gracie is portrayed as a dancer with the confidence and focus of an elite performer, tempered by a relatable naivete regarding the metropolitan setting compared to her hometown. Her determination propels her through challenges, giving readers a glimpse of the sweat, triumph, and occasional heartbreak behind ballet's refined surface. Fluid linework and a pastel palette evoke the strength and grace of the dancers, resulting in an eloquent and movement-filled portrait of ambition and self-discovery. Ages 8–12.
