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catcervone's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great book that I’m so glad I finally got the chance to read! It was really well-written, which you sometimes don’t see with memoirs or autobiographies like this. Her story was inspiring and she has the most wonderful attitude throughout it all.
One thing I did miss was that she never mentioned the incredible amount of privilege she had getting adopted into the family she did that could support her ballet studies. I know she recognized it; she made some mention about her parents retiring at one point and illustrated the process of making her beautiful competition tutus instead of buying them. She also received many scholarships throughout her time studying. Still, as someone who grew up in ballet around the same time as her, I know how much these things cost. I would have appreciated a mention or statement realizing how her parents were able to provide for her in that way to receive the educational opportunities she did.
One thing I did miss was that she never mentioned the incredible amount of privilege she had getting adopted into the family she did that could support her ballet studies. I know she recognized it; she made some mention about her parents retiring at one point and illustrated the process of making her beautiful competition tutus instead of buying them. She also received many scholarships throughout her time studying. Still, as someone who grew up in ballet around the same time as her, I know how much these things cost. I would have appreciated a mention or statement realizing how her parents were able to provide for her in that way to receive the educational opportunities she did.
reddyrat's review against another edition
4.0
A few years ago, I watched the wonderful documentary First Position. It features a group of kids, ranging from about 10 to 18 who are competing at the Youth America Grand Prix for ballet. The featured kids are very diverse, in terms of race, socio-economic class, where they live, family situations, etc. What they all share in common is that they are immensely talented ballet dancers. If you haven't watched the documentary yet, I can't recommend it enough. It's on Netflix.
One of the most compelling stories was Michaela DePrince. At the time of the documentary, she was 14 and she was auditioning for ballet scholarships. Now she is 18 or 19 years old and is a professional ballet dancer for the Dutch National Ballet. But what makes her compelling is how Michaela began.
Michaela's memoir begins with her early childhood in Sierra Leone. She was in a loving family who, unlike most people in her country, valued girls. But her father was shot by the rebels when she about about 3 and her mother died soon thereafter from illness. Michaela was, in a sense, lucky that her abusive uncle hated girls and tossed her off to an orphanage where she was groomed for adoption by loving American parents when she was 5.
The book does not skimp on the horrors of the war in Sierra Leone. Michaela had people violently killed right in front of her and was lucky to escape death herself. The book also emphasizes that the effects of such trauma lingered long after she came to America, and still lingers at least a little today. It was both horrifying and grimly fascinating to read.
In some ways, if not for Michaela's childhood in Sierra Leone, her rise to ballet stardom would not be as significant. On the other hand, the rise of any black dancer to the professional rank is significant and this book tackles many of the stereotypes and racism that Michaela has faced throughout her ballet career. Apart from that, Michaela appears to have been raised in a loving family who sacrificed and pulled together for her ballet dreams.
I actually enjoyed reading more about Michaela's family than I did about her life as a dancer. Her parents are amazing people. They adopted 6 girls from war-torn West Africa, 3 hemophiliac boys who later died, and had two biological children. I loved reading about Michaela's relationship with her siblings, particularly her sister Mia, with whom she was best friends at her orphanage in Sierra Leone.
It's a very fast, compelling read. I got through it in a few hours. My only complaint is that I'm guessing her memories of her childhood in Sierra Leone are embellished a little. For example, she remembers many things her father and mother would say to her that doesn't sound normal to remember at 3 years old. My guess is she had vague memories and they wrote in quotes and anecdotes to fit accordingly. Calling it a complaint is a little strong. It working narratively and I'm guessing was in the spirit of the truth, but it was blatant enough that it pulled me out of the story. But who knows - maybe she really does remember it all.
Regardless, I definitely recommend Taking Flight. It's a beautiful, compelling story of a strong, determined girl rising from literally the worst situation in the world to become a beautiful person and an extremely talented dancer.
Recommendation: Buy if you're really into ballet; borrow otherwise.
One of the most compelling stories was Michaela DePrince. At the time of the documentary, she was 14 and she was auditioning for ballet scholarships. Now she is 18 or 19 years old and is a professional ballet dancer for the Dutch National Ballet. But what makes her compelling is how Michaela began.
Michaela's memoir begins with her early childhood in Sierra Leone. She was in a loving family who, unlike most people in her country, valued girls. But her father was shot by the rebels when she about about 3 and her mother died soon thereafter from illness. Michaela was, in a sense, lucky that her abusive uncle hated girls and tossed her off to an orphanage where she was groomed for adoption by loving American parents when she was 5.
The book does not skimp on the horrors of the war in Sierra Leone. Michaela had people violently killed right in front of her and was lucky to escape death herself. The book also emphasizes that the effects of such trauma lingered long after she came to America, and still lingers at least a little today. It was both horrifying and grimly fascinating to read.
In some ways, if not for Michaela's childhood in Sierra Leone, her rise to ballet stardom would not be as significant. On the other hand, the rise of any black dancer to the professional rank is significant and this book tackles many of the stereotypes and racism that Michaela has faced throughout her ballet career. Apart from that, Michaela appears to have been raised in a loving family who sacrificed and pulled together for her ballet dreams.
I actually enjoyed reading more about Michaela's family than I did about her life as a dancer. Her parents are amazing people. They adopted 6 girls from war-torn West Africa, 3 hemophiliac boys who later died, and had two biological children. I loved reading about Michaela's relationship with her siblings, particularly her sister Mia, with whom she was best friends at her orphanage in Sierra Leone.
It's a very fast, compelling read. I got through it in a few hours. My only complaint is that I'm guessing her memories of her childhood in Sierra Leone are embellished a little. For example, she remembers many things her father and mother would say to her that doesn't sound normal to remember at 3 years old. My guess is she had vague memories and they wrote in quotes and anecdotes to fit accordingly. Calling it a complaint is a little strong. It working narratively and I'm guessing was in the spirit of the truth, but it was blatant enough that it pulled me out of the story. But who knows - maybe she really does remember it all.
Regardless, I definitely recommend Taking Flight. It's a beautiful, compelling story of a strong, determined girl rising from literally the worst situation in the world to become a beautiful person and an extremely talented dancer.
Recommendation: Buy if you're really into ballet; borrow otherwise.
ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
She’s currently a soloist at the Dutch National Ballet!
I can’t help but wish this memoir was published later in her life. The entire book feels like a beginning. You have a truly astonishing story of her childhood and the amount of work and dedication it takes to simply train as a ballet dancer. It keeps building to something and it just ends on the mention that she is soon to be joining the Dutch National Ballet as a member of their corps. Her memoir essentially ends at the start of her ballet career.
A part of me wishes that I could have read about her life in a European Ballet company or about her thoughts on advancing through the ranks. There are some things that I would really love to know her thoughts and feelings on in long and agonizing detail. Did she ever feel like her career had been stalling at some point or any have any worries about potentially career ending injuries? Does she frequently think about her life after ballet? Does she feel that the ballet world has improved upon their diversity problem?
I suppose this is prime material for a second book.
She’s currently a soloist at the Dutch National Ballet!
I can’t help but wish this memoir was published later in her life. The entire book feels like a beginning. You have a truly astonishing story of her childhood and the amount of work and dedication it takes to simply train as a ballet dancer. It keeps building to something and it just ends on the mention that she is soon to be joining the Dutch National Ballet as a member of their corps. Her memoir essentially ends at the start of her ballet career.
A part of me wishes that I could have read about her life in a European Ballet company or about her thoughts on advancing through the ranks. There are some things that I would really love to know her thoughts and feelings on in long and agonizing detail. Did she ever feel like her career had been stalling at some point or any have any worries about potentially career ending injuries? Does she frequently think about her life after ballet? Does she feel that the ballet world has improved upon their diversity problem?
I suppose this is prime material for a second book.
j_ritt02's review against another edition
5.0
I found this story very inspiring. I am a dancer and have watched First Position before. When I heard about this book I had to read it. I am very glad I did. It is very inspiring, and I would recommend it to anyone.
perilous1's review
5.0
Originally reviewed for YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yanonfiction/19451-taking-flight-from-war-orphan-to-star-ballerina
Extraordinary!
TAKING FLIGHT is both potent and potentially worldview-expanding. Whether you’re interested in ballet or not, this YA memoir is a stirring must-read.
Let me start out by saying that this reader, personally, has no particular interest in dancing of any kind. But when I came across a news article several years ago detailing some of Michaela DePrince’s life, I was immediately drawn in. Her background and force of personality were uniquely captivating, and her physical ability was ethereal. I had to know more about her. This memoir provided exactly the resource I was hoping for to that end.
Micheala DePrince’s life story begins in a war-torn Sierra Leone—a brilliant, headstrong child born to doting parents who are in the severe cultural minority in regard to their value for the female gender. Tragically losing both of her parents proves to be only the beginning of her hardships. Micheala’s spotted skin pigmentation marks her as a “devil child” and she suffers tremendous abuses at the hands of cruel and superstitious caretakers—beginning with her own uncle and continuing on as she becomes the least-favorite child at the orphanage she is sold to. She somehow survives horrific war violence, trauma, neglect, starvation, disease, abuse, and the brutal misogyny of Sharia Law—before being adopted by a big-hearted American couple at the age of 4. And a chance encounter with a magazine cover (featuring a prima ballerina) becomes an unlikely focalpoint that hones her new life.
Michela DePrince’s mere survival defies all probability. The fact that she has also excelled in drive and discipline to the point where she is currently a renowned classical ballerina with the Dutch National Ballet is beyond inspiring—bordering on the miraculous.
DePrince’s writing is strong, straightforward, and devoid of frills—effective and sometimes blunt in conveyance. She lays out her story like dance steps. Precise and intentional, acknowledging pain without faltering or dwelling on it any longer than necessary. The first 70 pages are dedicated to sharing her pre-adoption childhood, and while the content is often difficult to read, it makes her current triumph all the more sweet. Her challenges don’t end simply because she’s given 1st-world opportunities. Instead they change form—appearing in her initial struggles with adapting to her adoptive country, in the heartbreak of losing a beloved sibling, in the effects of residual PTSD, in her own self-consciousness over her skin condition, and eventually in confronting the many faces and forms of racism in everyday life as well as the realm of professional ballet.
I’ve noted some reviewers take issue with the credibility of DePrince’s memories from the age of 3-4 while she was still in Sierra Leone. But considering she could read and write by age 3 and spoke five languages (thanks to both her biological parents’ attentiveness and the nature of their merchant livelihood), the degree of trauma she endured, and her exceedingly advanced talent and aptitude in spite of all odds, this reader can’t see any reason to find fault with her recollections. If anyone is a clear exception to the norm, it is this astounding young woman.
Highly Recommended For: Anyone and everyone.
Don’t wait to get a hold of this book. Come and dance a mile in this girl’s pointe shoes.
DePrince’s story doesn’t merely fly, it soars.
Extraordinary!
TAKING FLIGHT is both potent and potentially worldview-expanding. Whether you’re interested in ballet or not, this YA memoir is a stirring must-read.
Let me start out by saying that this reader, personally, has no particular interest in dancing of any kind. But when I came across a news article several years ago detailing some of Michaela DePrince’s life, I was immediately drawn in. Her background and force of personality were uniquely captivating, and her physical ability was ethereal. I had to know more about her. This memoir provided exactly the resource I was hoping for to that end.
Micheala DePrince’s life story begins in a war-torn Sierra Leone—a brilliant, headstrong child born to doting parents who are in the severe cultural minority in regard to their value for the female gender. Tragically losing both of her parents proves to be only the beginning of her hardships. Micheala’s spotted skin pigmentation marks her as a “devil child” and she suffers tremendous abuses at the hands of cruel and superstitious caretakers—beginning with her own uncle and continuing on as she becomes the least-favorite child at the orphanage she is sold to. She somehow survives horrific war violence, trauma, neglect, starvation, disease, abuse, and the brutal misogyny of Sharia Law—before being adopted by a big-hearted American couple at the age of 4. And a chance encounter with a magazine cover (featuring a prima ballerina) becomes an unlikely focalpoint that hones her new life.
Michela DePrince’s mere survival defies all probability. The fact that she has also excelled in drive and discipline to the point where she is currently a renowned classical ballerina with the Dutch National Ballet is beyond inspiring—bordering on the miraculous.
DePrince’s writing is strong, straightforward, and devoid of frills—effective and sometimes blunt in conveyance. She lays out her story like dance steps. Precise and intentional, acknowledging pain without faltering or dwelling on it any longer than necessary. The first 70 pages are dedicated to sharing her pre-adoption childhood, and while the content is often difficult to read, it makes her current triumph all the more sweet. Her challenges don’t end simply because she’s given 1st-world opportunities. Instead they change form—appearing in her initial struggles with adapting to her adoptive country, in the heartbreak of losing a beloved sibling, in the effects of residual PTSD, in her own self-consciousness over her skin condition, and eventually in confronting the many faces and forms of racism in everyday life as well as the realm of professional ballet.
I’ve noted some reviewers take issue with the credibility of DePrince’s memories from the age of 3-4 while she was still in Sierra Leone. But considering she could read and write by age 3 and spoke five languages (thanks to both her biological parents’ attentiveness and the nature of their merchant livelihood), the degree of trauma she endured, and her exceedingly advanced talent and aptitude in spite of all odds, this reader can’t see any reason to find fault with her recollections. If anyone is a clear exception to the norm, it is this astounding young woman.
Highly Recommended For: Anyone and everyone.
Don’t wait to get a hold of this book. Come and dance a mile in this girl’s pointe shoes.
DePrince’s story doesn’t merely fly, it soars.
keeyoh's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, War, and Death of parent
drlisak's review against another edition
5.0
I often struggle with memoir, because often--in my opinion--the memoirs themselves don't make connections with larger messages, with the stories that connect us as humans. TAKING FLIGHT, however, was one of the first that I read in a long time which made me say, "I get this one." While Michaela's story is unique to her, it is also such a powerful story of hope and possibility that I plan to have my own daughter read it soon.