Showtime!

February 1, 2014

Gr 3-6-This first title in a new series features a dance team made up of five tweens and a seven-year-old gymnast-turned-dancer. The story revolves around the group's internal bickering and friendships and an external rivalry between its director, Miss Toni, and her former co-dancer/archenemy whose team is the Divas's greatest competition. There are stereotypical aspects to the characterization-the requisite stage moms, an Asian mother who threatens to pull her daughter out of competition if she doesn't keep up with her schoolwork, the ultramean studio director, and a sabotaging competitor. Also, there's no mention of male dancers, and fathers don't play a prominent role. The unique plot twists and detailed descriptions of the world of choreography, including actual steps and costume design, will appeal to young performers, whether they simply love the art or participate in similar competitions. In an unlikely turn of events, a dancer joins her stage-fright-stricken sibling during her very first solo, and they end up winning a duet prize. The rest of the novel, which centers on the team's failings and successes, is quite realistic and plausible. Despite its minor flaws, the book's easy, fluid writing and relatable characters will make it a satisfying read.-Maralita L. Freeny, District of Columbia Public Library

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