Taking Flight—From War Orphan to Star Ballerina

Michaela DePrince’s story is inspiring. From war-torn Sierra Leone, Michaela faced incredible difficulties as a child, eventually becoming an orphan as a toddler. With a skin condition that creates irregular patches of skin, she faced even more difficulties. After seeing a photograph in a magazine of a ballerina, Michaela becomes determined to become a professional ballerina herself one day—a dream that she eventually achieves through hard work and the sacrifice and care of others. Please be aware that the difficulties Michaela describes having as a young child are very intense and scary, including a scene in which her teacher is killed in front of her and her unborn baby cut from her stomach. It is described very briefly, but it is a very brutal scene. I recommend this book for children ages 14+, but parents may want to review the book first.

(Reviewed by Jenny Phillips)