An Unlikely Ballerina
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
Young Lily Marks loves to stand on her tiptoes. When her parents notice weakness in her legs, her doctor suggests dancing lessons to strengthen them. Lily falls in love with ballet—but can this fragile girl ever become a serious dancer? When the famous ballerina Anna Pavlova comes to town, Lily just has to meet her. Maybe Pavlova—small, delicate, and Jewish like Lily—hold the key to Lily's future.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
As a child, Lily Marks's legs required straightening. Faced with the prospect of wearing uncomfortable and unsightly leg braces, Marks and her parents were intrigued by a doctor's suggestion to instead try dancing lessons. As her legs gained strength, Marks's natural talents emerged. Goddu (a PW reviewer) describes the young dancer's admiration for Anna Pavlova, another Jewish ballerina of her time, who kindly invites Marks to perform for her and offers words of encouragement words Marks never forgets en route to becoming ballerina Alicia Markova. Kawa's art conjures the grace of a ballet performance, and Marks and other figures have an ethereal, nymphlike presence on the page. An afterword offers photographs of Marks in plain clothes at age 13 and in costume as an adult. A gentle portrayal of an artist undeterred by physical limitations. Ages 5 10.
