In praise of Ballet Shoes

[el_staplador]

So far, I have one niece, and she is not reading yet. When she does, and hits the age of seven or so, Auntie Staps will be buying her Ballet ShoesIt is not really about ballet - well, it is, but it is as much about Shakespeare, and Meccano, and family, and hard work and ambition. It is about women who just get on with things. It is about girls who

Comments

[inkvoices]

Whenever my cousins' kids, or any girls I have an excuse to buy a book, reach about 7 or 8 they get Ballet Shoes :D

[innie_darling]

This is such a great pimp for this fandom - I've loved the book since I was very young, but had never articulated to myself why it seemed so different from the other books I was reading.

[lothy]

Ballet Shoes was one of my favourite books as a child. I agree with all you said about it, though I hadn't really thought that closely about it before.

Most of what I read as a child was pretty feminist, now that I come to think about it. Maybe I should be grateful to my parents for introducing me to so many novels/series with strong, well-written, independent female characters.

[feather_ghyll]

Yes, one always felt that Streatfeild grounded the wish fulfilment elements and was realistic about the work required in this, and her other books, in the performing arts. The variety of her girls and women here are great, too.