Book Review
Wish by Grier Cooper
Book 1: Indigo Dreams Series
Publisher: Dancing Poodle Press
Publication Date: November 12, 2014 (PB) / December 2, 2014 (eBook)
Format: Paperback - 274 pages
Kindle - 1146 KB
Nook - 401 KB
ISBN: 978-0990773504
ASIN: B00ODETMP8
BNID: 2940046226096
Genre: YA / Contemporary Romance
BUY THE BOOK: Wish
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book blast event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.
Book Description:
For Indigo Stevens, ballet classes at Miss Roberta’s ballet studio offer the stability and structure that are missing from her crazy home life. At almost 16, she hopes this is the year she will be accepted into the New York School of Ballet. First she must prove she’s ready, and that means ignoring Jesse Sanders – the cute boy with dimples who is definitely at the top of Miss Roberta’s List of Forbidden Things for Dancers.
But Jesse is the least of Indigo’s concerns. When she discovers her mom is an alcoholic, it simultaneously explains everything and heaps more worry on Indigo’s shoulders. As her mom’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic, Indigo fights to maintain balance, protect her younger brothers from abuse, and keep her mother from going over the edge. When the violence at home escalates, Indigo realizes she can no longer dance around the issue. At the risk of losing everything, she must take matters into her own hands before it’s too late.
Book Excerpt:
I hold the barre lightly with my left hand and begin moving when the music starts. It’s the same music I’ve heard in every ballet class I’ve taken for the past ten years. We always start with pliés.
My knees bend in time to the music: demi plié, demi plié, grand plié. My body moves through the positions while my mind replays the scene in the car. The image of my mother’s uvula is stuck in my brain.
“Indigo, where is your focus this morning?” Miss Roberta’s voice pulls me back into the present moment. I glance in front of me at Marlene’s feet and realize I’m in the wrong position. I shake my head to clear it. Go away, Mom. This is the one place where I get away from you – even if it’s only for an hour and a half.
Compared to the rest of my life, ballet classes are refreshingly orderly and predictable. Barre exercises always follow the same routine. Do everything that works the right leg, then turn and repeat everything with the left.
We move through the barre exercises. Every beat of the music dictates what comes next. The rhythm makes demands and the body answers with precision. Already my muscles are beginning to feel warm and stretchy.
“Monique, your leg does not end at your ankle. Point those toes! Jeanine, you’re sagging. Stand up straight!” Miss Roberta’s voice carries through the room. Today she’s all in pinks with a floral chiffon headscarf. She’s the classic tiny dancer: dark-haired with pert features. Her eyes flicker across the class, constantly appraising technique and posture. Even though she’s tiny, she commands the room. If she sees imperfections or lack of good effort, she will call you out.
My knees bend in time to the music: demi plié, demi plié, grand plié. My body moves through the positions while my mind replays the scene in the car. The image of my mother’s uvula is stuck in my brain.
“Indigo, where is your focus this morning?” Miss Roberta’s voice pulls me back into the present moment. I glance in front of me at Marlene’s feet and realize I’m in the wrong position. I shake my head to clear it. Go away, Mom. This is the one place where I get away from you – even if it’s only for an hour and a half.
Compared to the rest of my life, ballet classes are refreshingly orderly and predictable. Barre exercises always follow the same routine. Do everything that works the right leg, then turn and repeat everything with the left.
We move through the barre exercises. Every beat of the music dictates what comes next. The rhythm makes demands and the body answers with precision. Already my muscles are beginning to feel warm and stretchy.
“Monique, your leg does not end at your ankle. Point those toes! Jeanine, you’re sagging. Stand up straight!” Miss Roberta’s voice carries through the room. Today she’s all in pinks with a floral chiffon headscarf. She’s the classic tiny dancer: dark-haired with pert features. Her eyes flicker across the class, constantly appraising technique and posture. Even though she’s tiny, she commands the room. If she sees imperfections or lack of good effort, she will call you out.
My Book Review:
Wish is a wonderful YA novel that follows sixteen year old Indigo Roberts' journey to balance her dream of pursuing a ballet career with a dysfunctional family dynamic surrounding her mother's spiraling descent into alcoholism.
Author Grier Cooper calls upon her personal experience as a ballerina to weave a beautiful story set in Darien, Connecticut, and told in the first person narrative by Indigo Roberts, as she struggles to pursue her life long dream of studying ballet with the New York School of Ballet while desperately trying to keep her family from falling apart due to her mother's alcoholism.
Wish is an intriguing story that has a mixture of emotion, inspiration, family drama, teenage romance, and richly descriptive ballet scenes that will captivate the reader and engage them to follow Indigo's story. You can't help but feel compassion and empathy for Indigo, her determination to pursue her ballet dreams while taking it upon herself to deal with a loved one's substance abuse is simply stunning. The author thoughtfully deals with the difficult subject matter of alcoholism in a realistic way that anyone can relate to. It is a heart wrenching but inspirational story of love, strength, passion, and perseverance.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the amazing ballet scenes interwoven within the story. The author did a wonderful job of describing the world of ballet into the story in a way that everyone (ballet fans and non-dancers) could understand. As a person with two left feet, I have always been fascinated by the beauty and mystique surrounding ballet, and as I read Wish, I found myself closing my eyes and picturing Indigo practicing at the ballet studio, and dreaming of dancing with an elite professional ballet corp. Simply amazing, kudos on a wonderful debut novel Ms. Cooper!
Wish is the first book in the Indigo Dreams Series. It is a wonderful coming of age story about a young woman's personal journey of following her dreams of becoming a professional ballerina.
RATING: 4 STARS
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I have always enjoyed ballerina stories.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for hosting and reviewing WISH!
ReplyDeleteHi Grier! Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtual book tour event. I loved reading Wish, and can't wait to read the next book in the series. :)
DeleteAwesome, Kathleen! Hoping to have it ready for release at the end of summer 2015. Thanks again for everything.
DeleteI have enjoyed learning about the book. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDelete