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blakehalsey's review against another edition
5.0
A great classic tale of 3 sisters and their coming of age. A must for any gal at any age.
kchernowski's review against another edition
5.0
I love how each of the sisters vows to become the very best at whatever their unique talent is. Of course, there is the usual sibling rivalry, but the sisters really respect their differences!
mrswelborn's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I read this aloud to my 8 and 10 yr olds, and we thought it was fine. I wanted there to be more action, and more introspection or character growth? It really felt like one long theater rehearsal after another. But the relationships between the sisters was sweet, and we enjoyed the way things wrapped up in the end.
theghostintheattic's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
danaetkiss's review against another edition
4.0
ballet shoes is a book from one of my favourite genres - poor british orphans from the 1800s- early 1900s. as someone who was read a lot of these kind of books throughout their life, ballet shoes truly has stuck with me. i believe that if you write a childrens book that is forgettable, it’s a failure. ballet shoes was not that and something absolutely perfect for anyone hoping for a fast paced novel that will cheer them up and will be easy to read. whilst the protagonists struggle and endure the hardships of poverty during the depression, there is always a undertone of hope. i burst into tears at the end of it simply because i didn’t want it to end. one of the books that will stick with me forever
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p.s. pauline is my favourite
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p.s. pauline is my favourite
poachedeggs's review against another edition
4.0
A really cute book about three orphan girls who were adopted by a fossil collector, 'Gum', and who are sent to a ballet/acting school to start earning their keep and help their guardian (Gum's niece, 'Garnie') make ends meet.
I would really have enjoyed this as a child - there is a bit of a Mary Poppins feel to it somehow. As an adult, I find myself enjoying the parts where Pauline lets fame and popularity get to her head, and where Petrova keeps running off to fix cars. Posy's single-minded passion for ballet is also fascinating - very much 'a portrait of the artist(e) as a young woman'.
I would really have enjoyed this as a child - there is a bit of a Mary Poppins feel to it somehow. As an adult, I find myself enjoying the parts where Pauline lets fame and popularity get to her head, and where Petrova keeps running off to fix cars. Posy's single-minded passion for ballet is also fascinating - very much 'a portrait of the artist(e) as a young woman'.
zusy's review against another edition
5.0
Review by 5yo (I completely agree with the star rating--wholesome, lovely, mentoring, sibling relationships, growing up, following your mission)
I liked the part where she changed her mind because she really actually didn't wanted to be the prince of Wales. (Actually her specific words were "the prince of all whales". Great time for a discussion on Wales vs Whales.) The funniest part was "And I! And I! And I!" It makes me giggle and laugh. (Truth! It made her laugh and laugh and laugh.)
I liked the part where she changed her mind because she really actually didn't wanted to be the prince of Wales. (Actually her specific words were "the prince of all whales". Great time for a discussion on Wales vs Whales.) The funniest part was "And I! And I! And I!" It makes me giggle and laugh. (Truth! It made her laugh and laugh and laugh.)
elle4352's review against another edition
5.0
The Ballet Shoes is an adorable and endearing tale of three young girls sure to warm the hearts of readers young and old.
Pauline, Petrova and Posy are all three young girls made to be sisters when their guardian, GUM, brings all of them home under strange circumstances. The book follows the girls from infancy to their early to late teen lives as GUM is away on some unspoken voyage and the girls are raised their guardian Sylvia her governess Nana, and eventually the house boarders that come to live with them when they are financially pressed. The girls eventually begin to take dance lessons at a dance academy nearby and the story is generally about each girl finding her passion in life
The story is told in an episode-like way. Little snippets of their experiences performing as well as memorable moments in their lives move our story along and, personally, I love books that take this approach to story telling. Fans of books like A Little Princess, Little House on the Prairie, and the Penderwicks will love to watch the girls succeed on the stage, to watch their falls, their trials, and their triumphs.
My only grievance with the novel is Posy. While the two older girls are rather selfless and embody a spirit of determination, drive and compassion, Posy is self absorbed and rather oblivious to anyone’s wants, desires, or feelings other then her own. By the end of the book I found myself warmed by the older girls prospects in life, but truly Posy’s character experiences no growth and no sense of remorse for being unfeeling, thus making her seem very cold and putting a rather unpleasant damper on what is otherwise is a whimsical, vintage fairytale
Pauline, Petrova and Posy are all three young girls made to be sisters when their guardian, GUM, brings all of them home under strange circumstances. The book follows the girls from infancy to their early to late teen lives as GUM is away on some unspoken voyage and the girls are raised their guardian Sylvia her governess Nana, and eventually the house boarders that come to live with them when they are financially pressed. The girls eventually begin to take dance lessons at a dance academy nearby and the story is generally about each girl finding her passion in life
The story is told in an episode-like way. Little snippets of their experiences performing as well as memorable moments in their lives move our story along and, personally, I love books that take this approach to story telling. Fans of books like A Little Princess, Little House on the Prairie, and the Penderwicks will love to watch the girls succeed on the stage, to watch their falls, their trials, and their triumphs.
My only grievance with the novel is Posy. While the two older girls are rather selfless and embody a spirit of determination, drive and compassion, Posy is self absorbed and rather oblivious to anyone’s wants, desires, or feelings other then her own. By the end of the book I found myself warmed by the older girls prospects in life, but truly Posy’s character experiences no growth and no sense of remorse for being unfeeling, thus making her seem very cold and putting a rather unpleasant damper on what is otherwise is a whimsical, vintage fairytale
llereads's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s a different type of book than I normally read, but it was such a cute thing with the three little sisters and seeing their development and all that hehe