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happylilkt's review
4.0
Great upper elementary school fiction with a Syrian ballet-dancing assylum seeker in the UK. Handles difficult themes gently and with hope.
chelseamh98's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
maf99's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
carolineroche's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book, even though ballet has never done anything for me personally, this book though is all about passion and overcoming difficulties. Aya is a Syrian asylum seeker who loves ballet and used to dance in Syria. She had to overcome many terrible things to come to England, only to be stuck in endless queues for her mother's application for asylum to be accepted. Meanwhile, in the centre, she hears ballet music going on upstairs, and creeps upstairs to peep in on the class. What follows next is a beautiful tale of healing and acceptance. A great book to have on your shelves.
nicki_in_nz's review
5.0
Wow. One of the best children's books I've read for a long time.
This is the tale of Aya, an asylum-seeking ballet dancer who has escaped from war-torn Syria to England. There is a reasonable bit of ballet in it, but it should appeal to kids who aren't interested in ballet too as the main story is about how Aya's life has been changed from a regular girl enjoying regular things to that of a refugeee.
It really tugs at the heart-strings and I cried my way through a fair bit of it.
Very much recommended as a modern children's war story.
This is the tale of Aya, an asylum-seeking ballet dancer who has escaped from war-torn Syria to England. There is a reasonable bit of ballet in it, but it should appeal to kids who aren't interested in ballet too as the main story is about how Aya's life has been changed from a regular girl enjoying regular things to that of a refugeee.
It really tugs at the heart-strings and I cried my way through a fair bit of it.
Very much recommended as a modern children's war story.
em_may01's review
5.0
I really don’t know where to start with this book, it is so beautifully written and I absolutely loved it from the first page!
The story follows Aya on her new life in England with extracts written following her journey from Syria to England. The minute you start this book you have so much sympathy for Aya and want nothing but good things to happen to her but life isn’t that easy, which Aya soon realises.
This is a must read for everyone!
The story follows Aya on her new life in England with extracts written following her journey from Syria to England. The minute you start this book you have so much sympathy for Aya and want nothing but good things to happen to her but life isn’t that easy, which Aya soon realises.
This is a must read for everyone!
julie_responsibly's review
5.0
I feel like I'm slowly making my way through all the Syrian refugee in the UK MG/YA books - so far this one is my favo(u)rite, in part because it really draws a picture of what life was like for Aya in Syria. The mixing of present day with flashbacks was really well done. As the refugee crisis around the world grows, this is a must-read for kids.