I didn't realize how hard but eventful Michaela life had been til i read this book, i have so much more respects for her. Trigger warnings: war, death of a parent, violence, graphic death, gore, death of a sibling, grief, racism, mentions of HIV. Her chance then eventually came when an American family decided to adopt her and her best friend from the orphanage. there is just so much competition in the African Memoir genre, that this unfortunately pales a little in comparison to others that I have read, therefore the lowish rating.

Hope in a Ballet Shoe is the emotively uplifting, coming of age autobiography of ballerina Michaela DePrince. For as John Donne, the English poet once wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself…” In other words, you can’t make it alone in life. While she is studying ballet in America racist behaviours are touched on but they are not the focus, so the memoir is very hopeful and inspiring as a result. T]he story she tells … is one of almost unimaginable turmoil and out-of-the-blue good fortune, much like the fairy-tale dances she now performs … [H]ere is where another hero of this book appears. 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.After finding hope and dreams just from seeing a picture of a ballerina in a magazine while living in an orphanage Mabinty was adopted and lived in a large multicultural family full of love, support, and a belief that she could become anything that she wanted. The only slight downside to the book was that it was quite simply written, and although the author used descriptive language, parts of it seemed more suitable for a younger age group.

The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. An easy read but a touching one, and I am interested to learn what Michaela has achieved since writing this memoir at only 17.I questioned myself on what I can give while jotting down names I'm sure I will enjoy in the future. The cultural differences, as well as the impact that war and abuse had on both girls created fears that would appear unfounded to the onlooker, and that were overcome, in time, by the help of their family. We wouldn't even know that at least her mother and perhaps her father were Jewish, if Hannukah presents weren't mentioned just in passing. I reccommend this book if you are in to dance, or even if you're not, you might enjoy this true story of a girl who followed her dream. And then Michaela and her best friend are adopted by an American couple and Michaela can take the dance lessons she's dreamed of since finding her picture.

By the age of 17 she is world renowned and has received incredible international honours and acknowledgement from the UN. Throughout the early part of the book she talks about hiding her feelings and loving dance because she can become another person.I don’t dwell on the story in this review because I don’t wish to steal any of the joy of your own discoveries. And it's because of her that I recommended First Position to everyone who loved Pointe, but also might appreciate a bit of relevant cheering-up after reading it.

I did feel that after Michaela grew up and had adjusted to life in America, and began to be recognized as a great dancer that the story was told with a lot of rose-tinted glasses. A heart-breaking, inspiring autobiography by a teenager who shows us that, beyond everything, there is always hope for a better future.Simply, yet compellingly written, this is an inspiring story of hope, courage and believing in one's dreams. Fast forward 15 years and Mabinty, now Michaela, is an international ballet star dancing for the Dutch National Ballet. Incredibly, today Michaela is an international ballet star, dancing for The Dutch National Ballet at the age of 19. Sitting in my comfortable UK home, I was instantly transported to war torn Sierra Leone and to a better understanding of what effects war have on children, who have no-one to speak up for them. Then Michaela and her best friend are adopted by an American couple, and Michaela begins to take dance lessons.