Sophie Flack

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

I love when authors write about what they know as it tends to be the most realistic way to learn about a topic. Sophie Flack is particularly qualified to write this book and it would not be nearly as realistic if the author did not have Sophie’s ballet background. While the complaint of many reviews I read was that the book was littered with too many French, dance-specific terms, to the extent that it detracted from the story, I disagree – this is an exceptional and unique look into the lives of young professional dancers.

Hannah reminds me a great deal of one of my own protagonists, Natalie, my goalie girl. Hannah debates the merits of dedicating her life to ballet, a career that will last a decade, if she’s lucky, or following the path of most nineteen-year-olds in New York City and enrolling in college. My character, Natalie, debates following the seemingly impossible dream of becoming a professional goalie or going to college like most girls her age. In addition, the themes of Bunheads are marvelously true to life – so true that I found myself often wondering if Bunheads is semi-autobiographical. Hannah’s relationship with Jacob is completely recognizable as it is filled with confusion and muddled emotions and feelings – common identifying aspects of most relationships of actual young adults.

There’s a thought that crosses most young adults’ minds more than once during their college years, “Did I make the right choices so far in my life or is it time for a change?” While I found Bunheads in the young adult section of Barnes and Noble, it really embodies the new “New Adult” genre and fuels my dream to see more books about actual young adults and college-age girls trying to figure their lives out on the book shelves of my local book store.… (meer)

The author's background in ballet fully informs this intimate look at the rarefied and competitive world of ballet. Dance aficionados and casual fans will thrill at being privy to Hannah's harried life backstage with the Manhattan Ballet and her ambition to be promoted within the company. The beauty and stage glamour of dance life comes through vicariously, but so do the warts and all: the extreme dieting, constricted lifestyle, physically punishing rehearsals, catty friendships and judgmental professionals. Hannah's growing ambivalence about her career points out the need for life balance. Hannah is 19 but this book can also be enjoyed by sophisticated middle schoolers. There are a few f- and s-bombs and some suggestive scenes and dialogue between Hannah and her romantic interests Jacob and Matt. However, Hannah describes herself as socially inexperienced, which likely sidesteps her from risky situations, making this novel appropriate for younger but mature teens.… (meer)

This book has been on my TBR pile for some time. This was an okay read, the story is pretty typical YA contemporary fiction and the writing is okay but could have flowed better.

This was a quick read about a girl named Hannah who dances at the Met as a ballet dancer. It was an interesting look into the grueling and rigorous career of a ballet dancer.

Even though Hannah is older (19) this is very much a coming of age story and is YA appropriate. When Hannah meets a young musician named Jacob she starts to question her dedication to ballet and begins to wonder what other things she is missing by being trapped in rehearsals and productions all day and night.

It is an interesting look at how total dedication to be great at one thing can completely strip away everything else in your life. While this does provide some food for thought I thought the book was a bit bland and predictable.

The writing is okay but not great. It doesn't flow as well as it could and I had some trouble picturing the settings. The characters are engaging if somewhat stereotypical.

Overall it was an okay read and an interesting look into the world of dance. However, it's pretty predictable and was a bit boring at points.… (meer)