Noel Streatfeild

Adopted as babies by Great Uncle Matthew, Pauline, Petrova and Posy lead a sheltered life until the money runs out, and then everybody has to do something to make some more. But what can three small schoolgirls do to help?

Ballet Shoes

Determined to make a name for themselves, three adopted sisters living in London train for the ballet and the stage and in the process discover that each has a special talent.

Ballet shoes

𝚕𝚒𝚕𝚢

4.5 ★ - (loved it, favorite)

THIS BOOK 🥺

All of the loveliest girly feels. 

Full RTC

CWs, or things that caught my attention: mentions of a graveyard and the potential of bringing back deceased people in a play, etc.

In the tradition of Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Little Princess come Noel Streatfeild's classic Shoes books. In this story, three orphan girls vow to make a name for themselves and find their own special talents. With hard work, fame just may be in the stars! Pauline, Petrova, and Posy are love their quiet life together. The girls are orphans who have been raised as sisters and when their new family needs money, the girls want to help. They decide to join the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training to earn their keep. Each girl works hard following her dream. Pauline is destined for the movies. Posy is a born dancer. And Petrova? She finds she'd rather be a pilot than perform a pirouette. This beautiful children's classic is perfect for girls who love to dream about ballet, friendship, and finding their own special talents. Adult readers may remember them as the "Shoes" books from You've Got Mail!

A delightful and heartwarming read that effortlessly captures the simple joys of childhood ambition and family bonds. The book’s gentle pace, a bit slower than my usual reads, allowed me to fully immerse myself in its richly detailed world, which made it all the more enjoyable. I found myself reflecting on the small things in life, which I hadn’t considered in a while, evoking a sense of nostalgia that made the story all the more meaningful. How timeless the book feels, able to resonate with readers of all ages; the novel’s warmth and charm make it a standout choice for anyone seeking a story filled with heart and soul.

🏹

Pauline longs to be an actress. Petrova is happiest playing with cars and engines. And if she could . . . Posy would dance all day! But when their benefactor Great-Uncle Matthew disappears, the girls share a future of a dazzling life on stage, where their dreams and fears will soon come true . . . This beautiful edition of Ballet Shoes is published to celebrate its 75th anniversary.

A Story of Three Children on the Stage

Jennifer

Aww this is a pretty cozy story! I have read Noel Streatfeild's Skating Shoes a long time ago but I only got around reading her most iconic book - Ballet Shoes, recently. I finally understood why Ballet Shoes is a timeless children's classic!

Set in 20th century London, Ballet Shoes is a story of three orphans following their career aspirations in dancing and acting. The main characters are the Fossil sisters: Pauline, Petrova, and posy - each has their own ambitions and I found their characterisation quite distinctive! With the story spanned over several years, Ballet Shoes illustrated the character development of each Fossil sister beautifully. In particular, I found Pauline's character very likeable and organic as she becomes more mature and independent as she goes through her career ups and downs in the novel. So I found myself rooting her while reading the book! 

In terms of the plot, Ballet Shoes is considerably slow paced but luckily the slower pacing is offset by a solid characterisation and memorable stories. I found that narrated stories are quite cozy and heartwarming. While the main focus of Ballet Shoes is revolved around dancing, each Fossil sister's talent, and them following their dreams, this is also a story about family. And adding to that I found the Christmas scenes really cozy (so that's a perfect palette cleanser after reading a row of pretty heavy books)!

I also found the messaging of Ballet Shoes quite impactful. The settings and the description of the life at the Dancing Academy highlights the importance of hardwork and diligence - important attributes in the learning processes, and also the qualities we tend to overlook these days. Additionally, from the Fossil sisters' growth through the novel Noel Streatfeild also reiterates the danger of losing one's self & character from ambition & power. 

To sum it up, Ballet Shoes is a heartwarming and character-driven tale about dancing, family, and also following your dreams. 

N.B. Some of the vocabulary usage in Ballet Shoes are outdated (as this book is written in the 1930s) so this is something to be aware of.

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Ballet Shoes

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