Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Copyright Date: 2022

Edition Date: 2022 Release Date: 09/20/22

Pages: 301, 11 pages

ISBN: 1-9902596-9-3

ISBN 13: 978-1-9902596-9-2

Dewey: Fic

Dimensions: 22 cm

Subject Heading:
Ballet dancers. Fiction.
African Americans. Fiction.
Grief. Fiction.
Artists. Fiction.
Self-realization. Fiction.

Language: English

Reading Level: 6.0

Interest Level: 9-12

Dance like everyone's watching. Because they are.

As the only Black student at her ballet academy, Naomi Morgan knows her feelings of isolation and artistic sacrifice are the price she has to pay in order to win the Youth American Grand Prix, the countrys most prestigious dance competition. Winning means access to a spot in a top ballet school and, ultimately, a place with The New York City Ballet. Nothing else matters.

But when Naomis dance instructor assigns her Odettes variation from Swan Lake, Naomis world begins to fall apart. She doesnt think she can dance the partand her doubts become the loudest voice in her head. Her best friend, Jessica, used to be her sounding board, her support, her co-starand even though Jessica died in a freak car accident, Naomi still sees and hears her everywhere.

Shes been burying her grief by focusing on her dancing. But when an injury steals that refuge, Naomis mental health deteriorates and she starts to seek answers outside of her carefully constructed reality. Then one night, she meets Saint, a street artist, and he opens up an entirely new world for her. A world thats not connected to dance.

Saint spends his nights creating brilliant and beautiful messages of social change that the world needs to hear. In their sleepy California town, he wants to mix it upto force the world to see him as he ishes got a voice and isnt afraid to use it. Even if his family life is tough. Even if the same avenues that are open to Naomi are not open to him.

Together they both learn that theres no one right way to be in the world. For Naomi, this means that maybe dance isnt the only choice for her. Maybe her voice can be louder off stage, and she can shine in a different kind of spotlight. Maybe she and Saint will shine together and everything will be different in the best possible way.