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A review by demille
The Turning Pointe by Vanessa L. Torres
3.0
This is a story of a messy teen obsessed with Prince who finds her way while dealing with guilt, family expectations, neglect, and trauma. Rosa comes from ballet royalty but her father's a controlling drunk, her mother won't have much to do with her, her disabled sister Glo breathes through a ventilator and can't speak because an argument Rosa had with her got Glo run over by a truck.
It's jammed with 80s references (although a couple occurred in the later 80s), queer culture, and you could feel the grit, poverty and jive of her neighborhood, the scourge of AIDS, racism, and the fear of deportation a shadow on the streets. I'm not a fan of ballet but from the first brutal lesson with her Master (father), I was sucked in.
Rosa's impulsive, confident, and brash; knows her talent and power but makes a bunch of poor, selfish decisions that threaten her future. It's realistic. Loved the twist with her friend Kat and her new friend Stacy.
Nico was the jam. Nice to see a lad dressed in drag and make-up and talking about his gay dad. He rocked.
My favorite part was Rosa's interactions with her sister Glo. Glo communicates with "OKay, fine" and art, and she an unquenchable fire.
It's good to see Mexicans in ballet.
The ending was too neatly wrapped up. After all those years of abandonment, her mother got back with Geno, and everything's dandy between Rosa and her mother? Seriously?
Initially 4 stars- Glo and her disability was handled with sensitivity and respect, although the super talent in art skated close to ableism (disabled only have value if they can do things for others). The relationship of the sisters was the best aspect by far.
3 stars- the ending, and the book was a tad too long. I dunno if teens know who Prince is.
It's jammed with 80s references (although a couple occurred in the later 80s), queer culture, and you could feel the grit, poverty and jive of her neighborhood, the scourge of AIDS, racism, and the fear of deportation a shadow on the streets. I'm not a fan of ballet but from the first brutal lesson with her Master (father), I was sucked in.
Rosa's impulsive, confident, and brash; knows her talent and power but makes a bunch of poor, selfish decisions that threaten her future. It's realistic. Loved the twist with her friend Kat and her new friend Stacy.
Nico was the jam. Nice to see a lad dressed in drag and make-up and talking about his gay dad. He rocked.
My favorite part was Rosa's interactions with her sister Glo. Glo communicates with "OKay, fine" and art, and she an unquenchable fire.
It's good to see Mexicans in ballet.
The ending was too neatly wrapped up.
Initially 4 stars- Glo and her disability was handled with sensitivity and respect, although the super talent in art skated close to ableism (disabled only have value if they can do things for others). The relationship of the sisters was the best aspect by far.
3 stars- the ending, and the book was a tad too long. I dunno if teens know who Prince is.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism