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Summary
Summary
A vibrant and absorbing novel about the competitive world of professional ballet, written by a former New York City Ballet dancer.
As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances, and complicated backstage relationships. But when she meets a spontaneous and irresistibly cute musician named Jacob, her universe begins to change.
Until now, Hannah has happily followed the company's unofficial mantra, "Don't think, just dance." But as Jacob opens her eyes to the world beyond the theater, Hannah must decide whether to compete against the other "bunheads" for a star soloist spot or to strike out on her own.
Don't miss this behind-the-scenes look at the life of a young professional ballet dancer, written by an insider who lived it all.
Author Notes
Sophie Flack danced with the New York City Ballet from 2000 to 2009. She lives and writes in New York City, and has contributed to the Boston Globe , the Wall Street Journal , the Weekly Standard , O Magazine , and Ballet Review. Bunheads is her first novel.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Exhilaration and drudgery, passion and exhaustion, exist side by side for dancers in the exalted Manhattan Ballet, a world unto itself, which Flack (a former New York City Ballet dancer) brings vividly to life in this strong debut. Supported by her parents, Hannah moves to Manhattan alone at age 14 to pursue her dream; by 19 she is a senior corps dancer. Hannah finds gratification in the self-discipline and relentless cycle of rehearsals and performances, all in pursuit of perfect beauty, presentation, and a possible solo. However, she's also frustrated with her insular life. The ballet's dependence on wealthy patrons offers a window into the lives of the super-rich, which depresses Hannah, and the physical demands of her work take a toll on her ("To anyone on the outside... I look thin and willowy.... But in the world of the Manhattan Ballet, my figure is apparently unacceptable"). After meeting Jacob, an NYU student and musician, Hannah feels increasingly torn between her love for ballet and the temptations of normal life. Readers, both dancers and "pedestrians" (the corps' term for nondancers), will find Hannah's struggle a gripping read. Ages 15-up. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Nineteen-year-old Hannah is torn between her demanding, sequestered life as a ballet dancer and the wider world outside the theater. Two very different love interests, a wealthy balletomane and a passionate musician, embody her options. Hannah's journey to self-actualization and her determination to choose her own destiny are relatable regardless of readers' familiarity with the high-pressure ballet world. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
What little girl hasn't dreamed of being a ballerina? Nineteen-year-old Hannah has been with the Manhattan Ballet for five years, and now it looks as if starring roles are in her future. But as fame comes tantalizing nearer, Hannah begins to realize how much she has sacrificed for dancing. From the eye-catching cover a kaleidoscopic overhead shot of tutu-clad ballet dancers this first-person account of the difficult life a ballerina faces will enthrall readers. Flack, a former dancer herself at the New York City Ballet, ably captures the exhilaration that comes with flying around the floor while an audience goes wild with applause. There is also some surprising inside dope: most dancers in a company dislike the repetition that comes with dancing The Nutcracker throughout the Christmas season. Romance plays a part here, too, as Hannah tries to figure out what she wants, but guys have less to do with her (inevitable) decision than does finding out who she is.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-Hannah Ward is a 19-year-old dancer with the Manhattan School of Ballet. She moved to New York City and joined the company when she was 14, and her one goal is to be promoted to soloist from corps dancer. Readers see that the life of a ballerina is physically grueling and all-consuming; there is no time for anything else. With performances almost every night and dance classes every day, Hannah rarely sees her parents, never eats as much as she would like, and spends all her time in the company of other dancers who are competing for the same coveted spots. Still, the beauty and physicality of dance have always made the sacrifices worthwhile. On a rare night out, the teen meets Jacob and begins to question her dedication. Does she have what it takes to be a soloist? Does she even want it anymore? Flack, who danced with the New York City Ballet for nine years, has written Hannah's story with an insider's knowledge and expertise. The result is an entertaining read, shedding light on a world most readers know nothing about. After the success of the Oscar-winning Black Swan, this title will appeal to dancers and those with two left feet.-Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Hannah has always dreamed of becoming a ballerina and living "the most amazing, wonderful, and crazy life."Now 19 and a corps member of the Manhattan Ballet (read: New York City Ballet), she is determined to be promoted to soloist. Her life revolves around company class, rehearsals and performances during the fall, winter and spring seasons that she chronicles. Foodor how little of it to eatis a constant topic of conversation, and exercise classes fill whatever free time remains. Two new boyfriends, one a downtown musician and the other an uptown patron, raise conflicts in her mind. The realization that she has never been kissed or seen anything of Manhattan outside Avery Center (read: Lincoln Center) begins to trouble her. The author danced with City Ballet for several years before being let go in a budget downsize. She excels at label-dropping, describing friendships tinged with jealousy and detailing every step required to break in toe shoes. More to the point, she brilliantly captures the arc from soaring ballerina to exhausted dancer collapsing in a pool of sweat and the crushing disappointment of not becoming a soloist, forever doomed to dance corps roles. Details have been changed, but fans of ballet will nonetheless relish the inside scoop.A multi-layered and absorbing good read by a promising debut novelist. (Fiction. 13 up)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
