To Dance: a memoir by Siena Cherson Siegel, illustrated by Mark Siegel

It seems to me that graphic novels are not usually written for the girls, but, without wishing to enforce a stereotype, I am guessing there would only be a little bit of interest in To Dance for the boys.

Siena Cherson Siegel was born in Puerto Rico, always loved to dance and was enrolled in dance classes in an effort to help her flat feet. The book chronicles her increasing love of ballet. She auditioned and was accepted for the School of American Ballet (one of the two big New York ballet companies – the other was (is?) American Ballet Theatre) when she was eleven, her professional involvement continuing for another 12 years.

I feel like I am peeking from backstage when names such as George Blanchine, Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland come up as part of Siena’s daily life.

While ballet is certainly young Siena’s main focus in life, there are also lovely little scenes from her life as just an ordinary girl – cycling with her walkman (the new “thing”), watching football. And I felt surprisingly moved by the story and pictures of Giselle and the tribute to George Balanchine by the ballet company.

Mark Siegel’s drawings are full of movement and very pink – understandable for a book about ballet.

When I was a girl doing ballet (and even when I had finished doing ballet!) I would have absolutely loved this book and I think it will be a winner (with girls especially) from age 7 or 8 and older.

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers