As a child, I loved Noel Streatfield’s books about children who were able to find passions and make a living for themselves in the world of theater and dance. I was fascinated by the world of books like Ballet Shoes, where preteens and young teenagers could train in stage schools and earn an income for themselves in an era when times were hard for many people. The other day while at the library I happened to find a copy of Ballet Shoes and decided to revisit this childhood favorite. It’s been a long time since I’d read it, and I was delightfully surprised by how enjoyably readable I found it, this time as an adult. Streatfield’s writing is lovely, her characters are well-developed and interesting—and very much like real children, with selfishness and selflessness existing side-by-side in their personalities—and all the details of their day-to-day life both at home and at school were fascinating to read. 

Although the pacing may seem a little slow to some younger readers (especially those accustomed to action-packed fiction), Ballet Shoes is highly recommended for both children and adults who enjoy history, the arts, and well-written, engaging children’s fiction.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: A reference is made to a shipwreck.

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

Orphans, financial difficulties

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None