Another Way to Dance

A parent might reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to reconcile a high-pressure passion with the shifting ground of a changing family dynamic. It is particularly resonant for young people of color who are beginning to notice systemic barriers within their chosen fields. The story follows fourteen-year-old Vicki as she attends a prestigious summer ballet intensive in New York City while processing her parents' recent divorce and her own place as a Black dancer in a historically white art form. It is a sophisticated, realistic look at the intersection of identity and ambition. Parents will appreciate how it validates the complex feelings of loneliness and determination that come with growing up, offering a roadmap for navigating disappointment with grace and self-discovery.