In Paris during the 1880s there
aren’t many choices for poor young girls wanting to bring income to their
families. Most hope for a place in the
ballet. The ballet is an opportunity for
even the poorest girls to excel and catch the eye of wealthy patrons who will
lavish gifts upon them and give them a life of luxury. Marie is a promising dancer. She is dedicated and kind and pushes herself
to bring money to the family taking a morning job as a baker’s assistant and
modeling for Monsieur Degas a few afternoons a week. Her world starts to come apart when her older
sister falls for a man Marie feels is no good for her and Marie starts to
question what fate has in store.
This historical novel is alternately
told by two sisters: Marie, the aspiring dancer, and Antoinette, her older
sister who failed as a ballerina but does what she can to bring money to her
family. This novel is a great glimpse
into the time, the ballet and the lives of those barely scraping by day to day.
If you have ever looked at the bronze statue Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen by Degas and wondered about her – this is her story.
