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WiHi #1
Dancergirl
Ever feel like someone's watching you? Me, too. But lately it's been happening in my room. When I'm alone.
A friend posted a video of me dancing online, and now I'm no longer Alicia Ruffino. I'm dancergirl. And suddenly it's like me against the world.— everyone's got opinions.
My admirers want more, the haters hate, my best friend Jacy,— even he's acting weird. And some stalker isn't content to just watch anymore.
Ali. Dancergirl. Whatever you know me as, however you've seen me online, I've trained my whole life to be the best dancer I can be. But if someone watching has their way, I could lose way more than just my love of dancing. I could lose my life.
A friend posted a video of me dancing online, and now I'm no longer Alicia Ruffino. I'm dancergirl. And suddenly it's like me against the world.— everyone's got opinions.
My admirers want more, the haters hate, my best friend Jacy,— even he's acting weird. And some stalker isn't content to just watch anymore.
Ali. Dancergirl. Whatever you know me as, however you've seen me online, I've trained my whole life to be the best dancer I can be. But if someone watching has their way, I could lose way more than just my love of dancing. I could lose my life.
248 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2011
About the author
Carol M. Tanzman
3 books60 followersCarol Tanzman is the author of the contemporary YA novels DANCERGIRL and CIRCLE OF SILENCE, published by Harlequin Teen. Her first novel, THE SHADOW PLACE was an ALA Quick Pick book. She is an award-winning theatre director, a nationally recognized arts educator, and has been honored (twice) by the Bravo Awards. She also loves to swing dance!
DANCERGIRL and CIRCLE OF SILENCE are contemporary thrillers, part mystery and part romance. Although set in the same Brooklyn, NY high school, WiHi, the books are companion books with different main characters so that they stand-alone. They grab you from the first page and won’t let you go until their thrilling conclusions.
DANCERGIRL and CIRCLE OF SILENCE are contemporary thrillers, part mystery and part romance. Although set in the same Brooklyn, NY high school, WiHi, the books are companion books with different main characters so that they stand-alone. They grab you from the first page and won’t let you go until their thrilling conclusions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
July 21, 2012
Dancergirl was a realistic and suspenseful read. I couldn’t put it down once I started!
Ali has spent most of her life dancing. It’s her passion. She works at the local dance studio so she’s able to take all the free classes she wants. She never imagines the thing she loves most would end up turning her life upside down. While at a park concert with her best friend, Jacy, Ali’s filmed dancing. One of her film geek friends catches her, doing what she does best, and loads the video up on the internet. He edits it out as sort of a mini show with her as “dancergirl” and him as the quite crushing boy in the sidelines “shyboy.” It immediately goes viral and Ali is thrust into the spotlight with everyone at school and elsewhere, suddenly taking an interest in her. At first Ali is flattered by all the attention. Everyone has had the desire to feel special and wanted at some time in their life. But soon the initial excitement at the popularity wears off. What’s more disturbing is this video has brought Ali into the sights of a stalker, which becomes apparent when a video of her dancing in her underwear in her bedroom gets posted! As soon as Ali sees this, she is beyond freaked out and wants nothing to do with all this “dancergirl” business. Ali and Jacy try to figure out who could be behind the stalking. Ali becomes more and more paranoid, suspecting anyone and everyone around her. Add to this, Jacy has been acting strange and sullen. Ali thought he might have just been about to kiss her at the park concert which would be a very bad idea. They’ve been best friends forever and know way too much about each other to go down that road, right? Oh so wrong, Ali!!
I adored Jacy, he was such a lovely and protective best friend. My favorite type of love interest in books is the best-friends-that-turn-into-something-more kind. Even if Ali didn’t see it right away, they were a perfect match. You realize early on, even when Ali doesn’t, that Jacy has something major going on. I wanted Ali to figure it out sooner, and wanted to shake her a couple of times when the light-bulb didn’t go off! Jacy was in need of support just as much as she was.
This story is something that could easily happen, and probably has in some form already. With surveillance and camera phones everywhere, we’re often filmed without our knowledge. This story pointed out the many ways this can go terribly wrong. I was riveted by this tale and had to keep reading as the suspense level keep being ratcheted up, page by page. I could easily put myself in Ali’s shoes; I would’ve been as creeped out by all this as she was! Her level of anxiety kept rising with each new invasion. I was a little annoyed that she didn’t immediately confide in her mother but we don’t always think with a clear head in an emotional situation. There were several suspects and just when you think you know who’s responsible, you find out you’re wrong.
I really enjoyed this suspenseful mystery! Everyone who knows me, knows there must be romance in my reads. While this is a little light on romance, I still found it satisfying and sweet. The last few chapters were a definite thrill ride. I’m now off to read the companion in this series: Circle of Silence.
You can find this and more at The Readers Den
Ali has spent most of her life dancing. It’s her passion. She works at the local dance studio so she’s able to take all the free classes she wants. She never imagines the thing she loves most would end up turning her life upside down. While at a park concert with her best friend, Jacy, Ali’s filmed dancing. One of her film geek friends catches her, doing what she does best, and loads the video up on the internet. He edits it out as sort of a mini show with her as “dancergirl” and him as the quite crushing boy in the sidelines “shyboy.” It immediately goes viral and Ali is thrust into the spotlight with everyone at school and elsewhere, suddenly taking an interest in her. At first Ali is flattered by all the attention. Everyone has had the desire to feel special and wanted at some time in their life. But soon the initial excitement at the popularity wears off. What’s more disturbing is this video has brought Ali into the sights of a stalker, which becomes apparent when a video of her dancing in her underwear in her bedroom gets posted! As soon as Ali sees this, she is beyond freaked out and wants nothing to do with all this “dancergirl” business. Ali and Jacy try to figure out who could be behind the stalking. Ali becomes more and more paranoid, suspecting anyone and everyone around her. Add to this, Jacy has been acting strange and sullen. Ali thought he might have just been about to kiss her at the park concert which would be a very bad idea. They’ve been best friends forever and know way too much about each other to go down that road, right? Oh so wrong, Ali!!
I adored Jacy, he was such a lovely and protective best friend. My favorite type of love interest in books is the best-friends-that-turn-into-something-more kind. Even if Ali didn’t see it right away, they were a perfect match. You realize early on, even when Ali doesn’t, that Jacy has something major going on. I wanted Ali to figure it out sooner, and wanted to shake her a couple of times when the light-bulb didn’t go off! Jacy was in need of support just as much as she was.
This story is something that could easily happen, and probably has in some form already. With surveillance and camera phones everywhere, we’re often filmed without our knowledge. This story pointed out the many ways this can go terribly wrong. I was riveted by this tale and had to keep reading as the suspense level keep being ratcheted up, page by page. I could easily put myself in Ali’s shoes; I would’ve been as creeped out by all this as she was! Her level of anxiety kept rising with each new invasion. I was a little annoyed that she didn’t immediately confide in her mother but we don’t always think with a clear head in an emotional situation. There were several suspects and just when you think you know who’s responsible, you find out you’re wrong.
I really enjoyed this suspenseful mystery! Everyone who knows me, knows there must be romance in my reads. While this is a little light on romance, I still found it satisfying and sweet. The last few chapters were a definite thrill ride. I’m now off to read the companion in this series: Circle of Silence.
You can find this and more at The Readers Den
November 9, 2011
Oh wow! For a book that I had no expectations, I ended up really enjoying it! I love when that happens. The creepy premise is what made me want to read this. A girl being stalked because of an online video - count me in!
dancergirl (very hard to not put a capital D *twitch*) starts off smoothly and brings us into the life of Alicia - Ali - who is just a regular girl with a passion for dancing. Ali is your average high school girl who thrives on popularity. Which is why she's fine with the video that's been posted online by a classmate, of her dancing at a concert. What she doesn't expect, is when another video is uploaded of her dancing… in her room, alone. I really enjoyed Ali's personality. She wasn't perfect and she makes some bad decisions, but that's what makes her real. I did have a problem with her having no qualms about the first video getting online, though. Sure it was taken from a classmate she knows, but he never asked if it was ok to post it online, and she just shrugs it off, then agrees to do more! See what I mean about her bad decisions? Videos online = stalker magnet! Everyone knows this. This was, however, the only issue I had with her character.
As I'm sure you guessed, there is a lot of dancing in this story. Ali has a deep love for dance; her life revolves around it. I was never as much into it as Ali, but I love dance as well. I've taken classes for a few years and performed at a couple of shows. So I could really relate to the dancing and the rush of performing. I got stage fright right along with Ali - I could feel it! Those part were a lot of fun for me and added some lighthearted moments to the otherwise anxious mood of the book.
Now on to the best part - the stalker plot. All throughout the book I felt chills for Ali and feared for her. It's so incredibly easy to imagine all of this happening, that it got me very unsettled. Not knowing when someone's watching or what part of your privacy is being taken from you - that's incredibly discomforting. I didn't find it hard to guess who the stalker was. I do read and watch a lot of suspense stories like this though so it's hard to surprise me anymore. Regardless, I still thought it was a fantastic thriller with a realistic setting and gripping suspense. I'm curious what the rest of the series will entail since this one ends like a stand alone. But I'm sure I won't be disappointed. Carol is a great author and I absolutely recommend you give dancergirl *twitch* a try.
dancergirl (very hard to not put a capital D *twitch*) starts off smoothly and brings us into the life of Alicia - Ali - who is just a regular girl with a passion for dancing. Ali is your average high school girl who thrives on popularity. Which is why she's fine with the video that's been posted online by a classmate, of her dancing at a concert. What she doesn't expect, is when another video is uploaded of her dancing… in her room, alone. I really enjoyed Ali's personality. She wasn't perfect and she makes some bad decisions, but that's what makes her real. I did have a problem with her having no qualms about the first video getting online, though. Sure it was taken from a classmate she knows, but he never asked if it was ok to post it online, and she just shrugs it off, then agrees to do more! See what I mean about her bad decisions? Videos online = stalker magnet! Everyone knows this. This was, however, the only issue I had with her character.
As I'm sure you guessed, there is a lot of dancing in this story. Ali has a deep love for dance; her life revolves around it. I was never as much into it as Ali, but I love dance as well. I've taken classes for a few years and performed at a couple of shows. So I could really relate to the dancing and the rush of performing. I got stage fright right along with Ali - I could feel it! Those part were a lot of fun for me and added some lighthearted moments to the otherwise anxious mood of the book.
Now on to the best part - the stalker plot. All throughout the book I felt chills for Ali and feared for her. It's so incredibly easy to imagine all of this happening, that it got me very unsettled. Not knowing when someone's watching or what part of your privacy is being taken from you - that's incredibly discomforting. I didn't find it hard to guess who the stalker was. I do read and watch a lot of suspense stories like this though so it's hard to surprise me anymore. Regardless, I still thought it was a fantastic thriller with a realistic setting and gripping suspense. I'm curious what the rest of the series will entail since this one ends like a stand alone. But I'm sure I won't be disappointed. Carol is a great author and I absolutely recommend you give dancergirl *twitch* a try.
July 17, 2020
1.5 stars
Umm. Yeah this would have been fine for preteens.
I have nothing more to say. It was a bit too boring and too much 'young teen drama' for me.
It's going into my pile to be donated. So if anyone in Brisbane, Australia wants it, just ask.
Umm. Yeah this would have been fine for preteens.
I have nothing more to say. It was a bit too boring and too much 'young teen drama' for me.
It's going into my pile to be donated. So if anyone in Brisbane, Australia wants it, just ask.
November 15, 2011
As a huge fan of dance, I admit that there is nothing I've wished for more than even a smidgeon of rhythm in my step so I could glide across a glossy stage like I'm having the time of my life, but alas, all I'm good for is carrying in the watermelons. In fact, I'm such a bad dancer that I'm not even allowed to sit in the corner; I have to stand in the back to gawk. Still, I love being an observer of the sport because dancers are amazing! I could watch them bust a move for hours. That said, I've learned that visual dance performances work much better for me than printed ones.
In the competitive world of dance, Ali is still looking for her big break. When she finally gets it, it's nothing like she imagined it would be. After videos of Ali dancing gain popularity on the web, she becomes known as "dancergirl." But not everybody is happy about Ali's newly found fame...and someone is intent on ending it.
dancergirl was a quick read that I had high hopes for, but, unfortunately, I didn't quite connect with the story.
Maybe it was the uses of 'urban' lingo, but I was unable to warm up to the main character, Ali, or her sidekick of friends. All of them seemed kind of shallow, and never really conveyed any hard hitting emotions, even when situations that called for such arose.
The mechanical and abrupt story structure in which dancergirl was told, certainly set the stage for the 'thriller' side of things, but it also confused me, along with the missing transitions and the use of technical dance terms.
Sure, a dim curiosity formed within me as Ali tried to figure out who her stalker was, but she also had a lot of TSTL moments that baffled me; like when she first suspected that she had a stalker because she saw someone yanking a camera away from her bedroom window, but decided not to tell her mom about it. I guess, I could kind of understand why she reacted that way though, after all, she did think she'd get in trouble with her absentee mother. But then later, she seemed to be more concerned about rumors that people were calling her strippergirl than the fact that a video of her dancing in her undies appeared online.
After that, nothing really happened for a while, other than Ali accusing everyone (best friend, computer geek, some other girl's boyfriend) around her of being her stalker. Naturally, her guesses were completely wrong every single time, but as she crossed potential perpetrators off her list, she grew more paranoid and anxious.
The final element that had me at odds with the story appeared as dancergirl headed towards its climax. That's when things got a bit too fantastical to be believable. In a fantasy novel or even a romance, I could have bought the idea of everything coming together so blatantly perfect more, but not so much in a contemporary.
Overall, not for me, but I'm sure others will enjoy this thrill ride immensely.
In the competitive world of dance, Ali is still looking for her big break. When she finally gets it, it's nothing like she imagined it would be. After videos of Ali dancing gain popularity on the web, she becomes known as "dancergirl." But not everybody is happy about Ali's newly found fame...and someone is intent on ending it.
dancergirl was a quick read that I had high hopes for, but, unfortunately, I didn't quite connect with the story.
Maybe it was the uses of 'urban' lingo, but I was unable to warm up to the main character, Ali, or her sidekick of friends. All of them seemed kind of shallow, and never really conveyed any hard hitting emotions, even when situations that called for such arose.
The mechanical and abrupt story structure in which dancergirl was told, certainly set the stage for the 'thriller' side of things, but it also confused me, along with the missing transitions and the use of technical dance terms.
Sure, a dim curiosity formed within me as Ali tried to figure out who her stalker was, but she also had a lot of TSTL moments that baffled me; like when she first suspected that she had a stalker because she saw someone yanking a camera away from her bedroom window, but decided not to tell her mom about it. I guess, I could kind of understand why she reacted that way though, after all, she did think she'd get in trouble with her absentee mother. But then later, she seemed to be more concerned about rumors that people were calling her strippergirl than the fact that a video of her dancing in her undies appeared online.
After that, nothing really happened for a while, other than Ali accusing everyone (best friend, computer geek, some other girl's boyfriend) around her of being her stalker. Naturally, her guesses were completely wrong every single time, but as she crossed potential perpetrators off her list, she grew more paranoid and anxious.
The final element that had me at odds with the story appeared as dancergirl headed towards its climax. That's when things got a bit too fantastical to be believable. In a fantasy novel or even a romance, I could have bought the idea of everything coming together so blatantly perfect more, but not so much in a contemporary.
Overall, not for me, but I'm sure others will enjoy this thrill ride immensely.
October 6, 2011
There are so many ways for me to read this book: as a dancer, as a teacher, as a YA writer. As a dancer, I loved Ali's passion for the art form. Anyone who dances will understand and empathize with her need to express her creativity, her inner soul through movement, as well as the sheer joy she feels moving her body. As a teacher, I feel like I got an insight into the many pressures a young dancer has in her life, things I may have forgotten about. And as a YA writer, well, this was a page-turner from the opening chapter and I love reading thrillers.
Our culture's current fascination with YouTube, with getting our 15 minutes of fame, with quick sound bites that we use to define people, are dealt with head-on in "dancergirl." We see how Ali wants to have things both ways: popularity and fame as a dancer on the web, yet respectful privacy in her daily life. As she soon finds, it's nearly impossible to keep secrets once you are in the public eye, for whatever reason.
Ultimately, beneath the trappings of the dance world, this story is a thriller, and it definitely thrills. Tanzman keeps upping the stakes of the game for Ali, who indeed takes it as a game at first until things escalate beyond her control. I thought I knew who the bad guy was - and then Tanzman took it away - again and again and again! LOL - I discovered it the same moment as our heroes, and it wasn't a "butler did it" solution either.
You don't have to love dance to love "dancergirl" but if you do, I think you will find an extra layer of fun and self-discovery within its pages.
Our culture's current fascination with YouTube, with getting our 15 minutes of fame, with quick sound bites that we use to define people, are dealt with head-on in "dancergirl." We see how Ali wants to have things both ways: popularity and fame as a dancer on the web, yet respectful privacy in her daily life. As she soon finds, it's nearly impossible to keep secrets once you are in the public eye, for whatever reason.
Ultimately, beneath the trappings of the dance world, this story is a thriller, and it definitely thrills. Tanzman keeps upping the stakes of the game for Ali, who indeed takes it as a game at first until things escalate beyond her control. I thought I knew who the bad guy was - and then Tanzman took it away - again and again and again! LOL - I discovered it the same moment as our heroes, and it wasn't a "butler did it" solution either.
You don't have to love dance to love "dancergirl" but if you do, I think you will find an extra layer of fun and self-discovery within its pages.
October 23, 2011
As I prepare to wind down from the 24 Hr Readathon, I bring you Book #7 - a good number to finish on as it's my favourite number. Are you a fan of mystery and suspense ? Feeling in the mood for a bit of stalkerish fiction ? Meet Ali , all she has ever wanted to do was become a dancer and what started off as fun entertainment - a school friend Charlie filming her dancing and posting on Zubu which is like the equivalent of Youtube ended into a game much more dangerous as somebody else is filming Ali secretly as videos of her dancing in the privacy of her own bedroom start appearing on Zubu. When the videos get out , everyone at school starts to call her strippergirl instead of Ali or her nickname Dancergirl. When her friend Jacy starts keeping secrets , Ali starts to wonder if it is him whose filming her and what started off as a questionable whose doing what turns into a full blown panic attack as Ali discovers she is in fact being stalked. Will the stalker get the better of her as those around her start to believe she is paranoid or will Ali with the help of her friends discover the identity of the stalker ? But as the novel nears the end and the stalker hasn't been discovered and is now leaving personal gifts, we as the reader start to worry for poor Ali ? Writing this it kind of reminds me of the similar plot to Pretty Little Liars, mainly of the stalking and the fact that the lead character's nickname was Ali though not short for Alison but Alicia. What happens when Ali discovers the stalker in her very own house ? Will her friends come to the rescue in time or will Ali become another statistic ? Will we ever discover the identities of shyboy1 and kruzer99 - the two online identities that seem to follow dancergirl?
Find out in Dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman, a great read if you wanting a fast paced, suspensful dancing read that contains alot of twists and turns.
Find out in Dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman, a great read if you wanting a fast paced, suspensful dancing read that contains alot of twists and turns.
November 10, 2011
The beginning of dancergirl was a bit slow and confusing, especially with her best friend Jacy and the characters not being introduced clearly for us. However the story finally took off, with Ali's dancergirl videos and the emerging of a peeping tom/stalker.
Alicia, Ali, who is our female protagonist is a contemporary dancer. The dancergirl videos started because one of her classmates "Charlie" videotaped her while she danced. The videos went viral; enters the stalker. I wasn't that happy with Ali's personality. She was persuaded too easily and she never confronted Jacy about his withdrawn behavior towards her. Especially towards the end, some of her decisions got me screaming "NO!! DON'T DO IT!"
However I loved the unpredictable-ness of who the stalker might be. One time it was this person, the other it was that person. Each with their own motives and then a tight alibi that removes them from the suspect list. Ali and her friends had to turn on their investigative intuitions and start playing detective to figure out who is the stalker. The identity of the stalker was honestly a shock to me. I didn't, in the least bit, expect it and im so happy for that!
The writing was simple, easy, nothing too complicated that takes you outside of the story while you're trying to figure out what the author meant by it. yes the beginning was a bit confusing, but 50 pages in, and i was hooked. This is a great contemporary, light thriller book. It's a nice change from the usual contemporary romance novels. I would definitely recommend it to any reader looking for a bit of a thrill in their books.
Alicia, Ali, who is our female protagonist is a contemporary dancer. The dancergirl videos started because one of her classmates "Charlie" videotaped her while she danced. The videos went viral; enters the stalker. I wasn't that happy with Ali's personality. She was persuaded too easily and she never confronted Jacy about his withdrawn behavior towards her. Especially towards the end, some of her decisions got me screaming "NO!! DON'T DO IT!"
However I loved the unpredictable-ness of who the stalker might be. One time it was this person, the other it was that person. Each with their own motives and then a tight alibi that removes them from the suspect list. Ali and her friends had to turn on their investigative intuitions and start playing detective to figure out who is the stalker. The identity of the stalker was honestly a shock to me. I didn't, in the least bit, expect it and im so happy for that!
The writing was simple, easy, nothing too complicated that takes you outside of the story while you're trying to figure out what the author meant by it. yes the beginning was a bit confusing, but 50 pages in, and i was hooked. This is a great contemporary, light thriller book. It's a nice change from the usual contemporary romance novels. I would definitely recommend it to any reader looking for a bit of a thrill in their books.
September 20, 2013
Review also posted on my blog: The Book Barbies
My aunt said a very true thing once. She pointed out how when she watches CSI or any crime show/movie she knows who the bad guy is five minutes into the movie/show. But, the anime/cartoon Detective Conan (which is better known as Case Closed. It was dubbed in Arabic in Saudi Arabia- Detective Conan is the Arabic translation) is unlike the high end movies/TV Shows because Case Closed/Detective Conan keeps you guessing until the last 30 seconds of an episode on who he bad guy is. This is how Dancergirl is.
Dancergirl is about Alicia, or Ali who is on the road of becoming a professional dancer. What started out as Charlie, a peer from school videotaping her dancing (with her knowledge) so he can make story-like videos to put on the internet and get countless hits turns into something scary when Ali starts getting stalked.
I hate dramatic irony in books, it's nothing but annoying but Dancergirl is a real mysterious read that made my head spin in 6 different directions. Every time a new character was introduced I was like THAT'S THE STALKER! I changed my mind a hundred times, I suspected everyone BUT the actual stalker and I didn't find out who it is until it was revealed by the author. I loved that! Usually I can figure out who the bad guy is and predict the plot of books very early into the book but Carol M. Tanzman did a terrific job with making everything remain a true mystery.
I was just vacationing in New York a few weeks ago so I liked the portrayal of Brooklyn- where the book is set, it was done very nicely and it conveyed how the city and borough really is. I also liked the characters, sure some of them did stupid, selfish things but that's how real teenagers in the real world act! Their actions and experiences are similar to what people at my school do and I loved that!
Even though in the case of this book, since the mystery was so engrossing, I didn't care too much about it but I do believe the romance could have been slightly better. Also I loved Luke and I was not pleased with how he was handled at the end, I wanted much more of him! Another thing is after the action went down, things were wrapped up a bit too abruptly but I did enjoy the epilogue and overall the book was a fantastic read that I could not put down. I'm now eagerly awaiting for the companion novel, Circle of Silence, I hope it's just as thrilling as Dancergirl!
Rating: 4 hearts~ a mystery that was actually mysterious! Unputdownable!
-thank you&come again.
My aunt said a very true thing once. She pointed out how when she watches CSI or any crime show/movie she knows who the bad guy is five minutes into the movie/show. But, the anime/cartoon Detective Conan (which is better known as Case Closed. It was dubbed in Arabic in Saudi Arabia- Detective Conan is the Arabic translation) is unlike the high end movies/TV Shows because Case Closed/Detective Conan keeps you guessing until the last 30 seconds of an episode on who he bad guy is. This is how Dancergirl is.
Dancergirl is about Alicia, or Ali who is on the road of becoming a professional dancer. What started out as Charlie, a peer from school videotaping her dancing (with her knowledge) so he can make story-like videos to put on the internet and get countless hits turns into something scary when Ali starts getting stalked.
I hate dramatic irony in books, it's nothing but annoying but Dancergirl is a real mysterious read that made my head spin in 6 different directions. Every time a new character was introduced I was like THAT'S THE STALKER! I changed my mind a hundred times, I suspected everyone BUT the actual stalker and I didn't find out who it is until it was revealed by the author. I loved that! Usually I can figure out who the bad guy is and predict the plot of books very early into the book but Carol M. Tanzman did a terrific job with making everything remain a true mystery.
I was just vacationing in New York a few weeks ago so I liked the portrayal of Brooklyn- where the book is set, it was done very nicely and it conveyed how the city and borough really is. I also liked the characters, sure some of them did stupid, selfish things but that's how real teenagers in the real world act! Their actions and experiences are similar to what people at my school do and I loved that!
Even though in the case of this book, since the mystery was so engrossing, I didn't care too much about it but I do believe the romance could have been slightly better. Also I loved Luke and I was not pleased with how he was handled at the end, I wanted much more of him! Another thing is after the action went down, things were wrapped up a bit too abruptly but I did enjoy the epilogue and overall the book was a fantastic read that I could not put down. I'm now eagerly awaiting for the companion novel, Circle of Silence, I hope it's just as thrilling as Dancergirl!
Rating: 4 hearts~ a mystery that was actually mysterious! Unputdownable!
-thank you&come again.
November 29, 2011
"The sick feeling that someone's staring at me. Only I'm not on the subway. Or the bus. Or even a park bench. I'm in my bedroom. Alone."
A creepy beginning prologue. I was hooked from the very start. Ali Ruffino loves to dance and one day even dreams of Julliard or a career in dance. So when her film buff friend Charlie takes some footage of her dancing at a party and posts it onto Zube she decides to go with it. A little fame and recognition for her dancing can't be so bad, can it? Then after 50,000 hits Charlie still wants to keep up the internet sensation story line. He plays shyboy who is watching dancergirl from a far.
Fame has brought on more than Ali bargained for. Everyone is talking about her, whispering around school, recognizing her on the street and putting in their opinions. Even assuming the most horrible things about her. "My friends and I think you're a bitch. You should leave a message for shyboy, tell him you want to meet." She decides to put an end to the videos but when another video ends up on Zube, one where she is in her underwear, in her bedroom, where no one should have been filming her, Ali begins to realize someone must be stalking her. But who could it be? Charlie with a grudge since she told him no more videos? Her best friend Jacy developing deeper feelings for her? Pot head Luke Sorezzi who is trying to date her? The angry girls at her dance school or their creepy boyfriends?
A close, intriguing and real look at internet fame. How someone can deal with thousands of people talking about your looks, your personality, who you might be dating or blowing off, your every move without ever even meeting you. Ali has to deal with the crippling and creepy feeling of constantly being watched. She doesn't know if it is paranoia or her imagination but she can't escape the feeling. Her best friend Jacy has been distant. He won't tell her what is going on with him so she feels extremely alone. Jacy was a sweet and wonderful best friend character. Going through some extreme life difficulties he does end up being there for Ali. I love when a love interest is a real and sweet guy. No angsty bad boy here. I was rooting for him all along.
When Ali finally discovers a camera hidden in her alarm clock she knows someone is taking their dancergirl obsession to a scary and dangerous new level. On a hunt for the truth, Ali slowly starts crossing suspects off her list. I loved that everyone was a true suspect. It took me awhile to figure it out. I was as shocked and creeped out as Ali. I will definitely keep any personal videos of myself off youtube! This book definitely made me see the scary side of the internet. But sometimes danger is closer to home...
A creepy beginning prologue. I was hooked from the very start. Ali Ruffino loves to dance and one day even dreams of Julliard or a career in dance. So when her film buff friend Charlie takes some footage of her dancing at a party and posts it onto Zube she decides to go with it. A little fame and recognition for her dancing can't be so bad, can it? Then after 50,000 hits Charlie still wants to keep up the internet sensation story line. He plays shyboy who is watching dancergirl from a far.
Fame has brought on more than Ali bargained for. Everyone is talking about her, whispering around school, recognizing her on the street and putting in their opinions. Even assuming the most horrible things about her. "My friends and I think you're a bitch. You should leave a message for shyboy, tell him you want to meet." She decides to put an end to the videos but when another video ends up on Zube, one where she is in her underwear, in her bedroom, where no one should have been filming her, Ali begins to realize someone must be stalking her. But who could it be? Charlie with a grudge since she told him no more videos? Her best friend Jacy developing deeper feelings for her? Pot head Luke Sorezzi who is trying to date her? The angry girls at her dance school or their creepy boyfriends?
A close, intriguing and real look at internet fame. How someone can deal with thousands of people talking about your looks, your personality, who you might be dating or blowing off, your every move without ever even meeting you. Ali has to deal with the crippling and creepy feeling of constantly being watched. She doesn't know if it is paranoia or her imagination but she can't escape the feeling. Her best friend Jacy has been distant. He won't tell her what is going on with him so she feels extremely alone. Jacy was a sweet and wonderful best friend character. Going through some extreme life difficulties he does end up being there for Ali. I love when a love interest is a real and sweet guy. No angsty bad boy here. I was rooting for him all along.
When Ali finally discovers a camera hidden in her alarm clock she knows someone is taking their dancergirl obsession to a scary and dangerous new level. On a hunt for the truth, Ali slowly starts crossing suspects off her list. I loved that everyone was a true suspect. It took me awhile to figure it out. I was as shocked and creeped out as Ali. I will definitely keep any personal videos of myself off youtube! This book definitely made me see the scary side of the internet. But sometimes danger is closer to home...
April 24, 2012
Have you ever felt that feeling that someone is watching you like if they had ex ray vision when you're alone? Suddenly things turn out to go a bit too far and you find out that someone is behind your back.
Dance girl by; Carol M. Tanzman illustrates a teenage girl named Alicia Ruffino who loves to dance. She is into the flow of the music, the movement into her dance that she loses herself. Charlie a friend of her films her dancing alone for a video he’s filming. At this point the video just went viral and more videos of her are made at a party where she was drinking. One of the videos of her has been filmed where she’s dancing in her underwear at home. This video is soon posted online so she’s no longer Alicia Ruffino she’s dance girl an online character. She never thought this situation would drastically change her life. With all this she finds out that she has a stalker who has been watching her and secretly recorded her. She won’t tell her mom or the authorities about the videos. It’s up to her and Jacy her closest friend to find out who this mysterious person is before it’s too late.
Alicia likes to hang out with her best friends and likes to party as well. She is passionate about dance and hopes to study dance when she goes into college. Alicia works at a dance studio after school to take free classes. She is quit responsible and does told what to do later she finds out that fame comes with a price.
Carol M. Tanzman is the author of the contemporary YA novels such as Dance girl and Circle of silence. She is an award winning theater director and is well recognized for arts educator and has been honored by the Bravo Awards. She was in a production of the Wizard of Oz and she also directed Broadway production of new plays. She was then artistic director of children Theater Company and was honored by the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Dance girl was a good book because it makes you see the problems that can occur when you make bad decisions like putting serious information on the internet and when you don’t make the right choices then you have consequences coming right at you. The novel was entertaining because it turned the novel to both sides making it a mystery and romantic. However the story was catchy because the author made the characters believable and it made me feel that Alicia was actually talking to me throughout the story. The authors writing style made me follow the story because it made me want to find out who was the mysterious person.
Dance girl by; Carol M. Tanzman illustrates a teenage girl named Alicia Ruffino who loves to dance. She is into the flow of the music, the movement into her dance that she loses herself. Charlie a friend of her films her dancing alone for a video he’s filming. At this point the video just went viral and more videos of her are made at a party where she was drinking. One of the videos of her has been filmed where she’s dancing in her underwear at home. This video is soon posted online so she’s no longer Alicia Ruffino she’s dance girl an online character. She never thought this situation would drastically change her life. With all this she finds out that she has a stalker who has been watching her and secretly recorded her. She won’t tell her mom or the authorities about the videos. It’s up to her and Jacy her closest friend to find out who this mysterious person is before it’s too late.
Alicia likes to hang out with her best friends and likes to party as well. She is passionate about dance and hopes to study dance when she goes into college. Alicia works at a dance studio after school to take free classes. She is quit responsible and does told what to do later she finds out that fame comes with a price.
Carol M. Tanzman is the author of the contemporary YA novels such as Dance girl and Circle of silence. She is an award winning theater director and is well recognized for arts educator and has been honored by the Bravo Awards. She was in a production of the Wizard of Oz and she also directed Broadway production of new plays. She was then artistic director of children Theater Company and was honored by the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Dance girl was a good book because it makes you see the problems that can occur when you make bad decisions like putting serious information on the internet and when you don’t make the right choices then you have consequences coming right at you. The novel was entertaining because it turned the novel to both sides making it a mystery and romantic. However the story was catchy because the author made the characters believable and it made me feel that Alicia was actually talking to me throughout the story. The authors writing style made me follow the story because it made me want to find out who was the mysterious person.
December 23, 2011
I loved this book so much. On a personal level, I identified so much with the characters in this book. Alicia Ruffino, the main character, is a girl of mixed-heritage living in Brooklyn, NY. She spends her days as a regular high school student and her afternoons as a modern dance student. She lives with her single mother who works as a nurse and therefore works nights, so Ali (Alicia) spends a lot of time alone at home. This hit close to home. I lived between Dominican Republic/New York/Miami most of my life and I could totally relate to Ali's situation, that with my father being a doctor and spending so much time away from home. The author's description of life in New York as a teenager, the parks, the firescapes, the roofs. That, coupled with the fact that Ali's mother still used a beeper, made me feel like I was back in NY in the 1990's.
Things turn sour when Ali agrees to let a friend record her dancing, hidden camera style, giving viewers the illusion that Ali was unaware she was being recorded and that the person recording her was a secret admirer. To Ali's surprise, the videos go viral and she becomes a video sensation. Suddenly many in her school treat her like a celebrity, while some treat her like she's someone craving for attention. She has the same kind of reactions at the studio where she studies dance, where her popularity is used in order to sell more tickets to a show, to Ali's dismay.
Ali deals with it, and keeps on, until a new video hits the Internet of her dancing. The difference is that this time the video was shot with an actual hidden camera, one that she was unaware of. The story then focuses on finding out who the perpetrator is and suddenly everyone is a suspect. Some have something to hide while some have something to reveal.
I give this book 4 stars. It was extremely entertaining and will have you going all Nancy Drew trying to figure out who the guilty party is. I highly recommend this book. It is only 250 pages roughly so you will find yourself finishing it in no time and hoping for more. I for one, want to read more of this story (perhaps a Jacy spinoff?) and will definitely be looking out for more Carol M. Tanzman books to read.
(Originally reviewed at JJiReads.blogspot.com)
Things turn sour when Ali agrees to let a friend record her dancing, hidden camera style, giving viewers the illusion that Ali was unaware she was being recorded and that the person recording her was a secret admirer. To Ali's surprise, the videos go viral and she becomes a video sensation. Suddenly many in her school treat her like a celebrity, while some treat her like she's someone craving for attention. She has the same kind of reactions at the studio where she studies dance, where her popularity is used in order to sell more tickets to a show, to Ali's dismay.
Ali deals with it, and keeps on, until a new video hits the Internet of her dancing. The difference is that this time the video was shot with an actual hidden camera, one that she was unaware of. The story then focuses on finding out who the perpetrator is and suddenly everyone is a suspect. Some have something to hide while some have something to reveal.
I give this book 4 stars. It was extremely entertaining and will have you going all Nancy Drew trying to figure out who the guilty party is. I highly recommend this book. It is only 250 pages roughly so you will find yourself finishing it in no time and hoping for more. I for one, want to read more of this story (perhaps a Jacy spinoff?) and will definitely be looking out for more Carol M. Tanzman books to read.
(Originally reviewed at JJiReads.blogspot.com)
January 4, 2012
Stalkers happen to be one of the things that scare the bejeezus outta me. That, and the end of the world. And Ghosts. And The Dark. And a lot of other things.
No kidding. So when I saw that dancergirl was about a stalker I was like: YAY! lol, I Love a good scare :3 But dancergirl was just... Okay.
Don't get me wrong, dancergirl wasn't half bad, but I remember when I read Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolar, I would go to bed all freaked out!
With dancergirl I found it very predictable who the stalker was, maybe it's because I have experience with this genre or something but, when they finally revealed who the stalker was, I was just like: I knew it!
It was entertaining, I really liked Ali's passion for dance and in general it was a good read. I'd suggest you read it on your way to Palms Spring. or San Fransisco. or on a plain. I don't know why but I just think It would be something good to read on the road. Just my opinion :)
No kidding. So when I saw that dancergirl was about a stalker I was like: YAY! lol, I Love a good scare :3 But dancergirl was just... Okay.
Don't get me wrong, dancergirl wasn't half bad, but I remember when I read Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolar, I would go to bed all freaked out!
With dancergirl I found it very predictable who the stalker was, maybe it's because I have experience with this genre or something but, when they finally revealed who the stalker was, I was just like: I knew it!
It was entertaining, I really liked Ali's passion for dance and in general it was a good read. I'd suggest you read it on your way to Palms Spring. or San Fransisco. or on a plain. I don't know why but I just think It would be something good to read on the road. Just my opinion :)
December 29, 2011
I have seen Dancergirl on a few other blogs and was at first reluctant to request a copy. But after hearing a lot of positive things about it I went ahead and requested and got accepted.
From the moment I started Dancergirl I was hooked and even though it isn't my typical type of book to read I devoured it, I could not put it down. Dancergirl follows Ali who is caught in a film by a friend at a concert. The film is then posted online and Ali becomes a huge hit and gains the title Dancergirl. More videos are posted that have been put together and apart from being recognised all is going well for Ali until a video is posted of her dancing in her room and she finds someone taping her through her window.
Dancergirl is a great read that is not only full of twists and turns about who the culprit is, but also the ups and downs of every day life for Ali. I had my guesses about who the culprit was but I never guessed it right. I loved the different relationships she had with her friends, especially the antagonistic one with her neighbour, and friend forever, Jacy.
Although Dancergirl was a quick read for me it is jam packed full of storyline and different plots, that were easy to follow, I never wanted it to end and I am really looking forward to the release of book 2 this year.
From the moment I started Dancergirl I was hooked and even though it isn't my typical type of book to read I devoured it, I could not put it down. Dancergirl follows Ali who is caught in a film by a friend at a concert. The film is then posted online and Ali becomes a huge hit and gains the title Dancergirl. More videos are posted that have been put together and apart from being recognised all is going well for Ali until a video is posted of her dancing in her room and she finds someone taping her through her window.
Dancergirl is a great read that is not only full of twists and turns about who the culprit is, but also the ups and downs of every day life for Ali. I had my guesses about who the culprit was but I never guessed it right. I loved the different relationships she had with her friends, especially the antagonistic one with her neighbour, and friend forever, Jacy.
Although Dancergirl was a quick read for me it is jam packed full of storyline and different plots, that were easy to follow, I never wanted it to end and I am really looking forward to the release of book 2 this year.
May 23, 2015
“A friend posted a video of me dancing online and now I'm now longer Alicia Ruffino. I'm dancergirl—and suddenly it's like me against the world—everyone's got opinions.
My admirers want more, the haters hate, my best friend Jacy—even he's acting weird. And some stranger isn't content to just watch anymore…”
Ali agrees to let a friend post a video of her dancing online because it may help her get into a dance program at Juilliard someday. No big deal, right?
But within days the video has gone viral. After a second video Ali’s internet fame is assured, but she gets more than she bargained for as commentors troll and former friends turn jealous.
Then a third video is released – but this time the footage is of Ali alone, in her room.
Someone is taping her without her knowledge or permission and everyone is a suspect.
October 31, 2011
The Good:
-Realistic premise
-Dance
-Cultural references
-Jacy going commando (that made me smile [and relate])
-Imperfect hero
-Readable (in one sitting)
The Bad:
-Flashbacks to Center Stage, the ballet movie, esp Cisco as the womanizer.
-Dance terms that I didn't understand
-Undeveloped side characters which were too one-dimensional
-The mom's total uninvolvement in the daughter's life (which considering that the mom was an immigrant was truly hard to believe!)
The Ugly:
-The Stalking
-The typical, let's-follow-the-wrong-lead-to-the-max-right-before-the-ending
-The buildup to the finish, I hate it when there's a big scary scene at the end - it's so formulatic, it's not even funny (not that it's meant to be)
-Realistic premise
-Dance
-Cultural references
-Jacy going commando (that made me smile [and relate])
-Imperfect hero
-Readable (in one sitting)
The Bad:
-Flashbacks to Center Stage, the ballet movie, esp Cisco as the womanizer.
-Dance terms that I didn't understand
-Undeveloped side characters which were too one-dimensional
-The mom's total uninvolvement in the daughter's life (which considering that the mom was an immigrant was truly hard to believe!)
The Ugly:
-The Stalking
-The typical, let's-follow-the-wrong-lead-to-the-max-right-before-the-ending
-The buildup to the finish, I hate it when there's a big scary scene at the end - it's so formulatic, it's not even funny (not that it's meant to be)
September 25, 2012
Dancergirl, by Carol M. Tanzman, is a realistic fiction/mystery about a girl named Ali and the scare she goes through when realizing she can’t trust anyone. I think the author was trying to teach me that throughout life situations are going to come up and knowing who you can and can’t trust will be a challenge. I loved this book because the suspense that was portrayed was carried throughout the entire book until the very end when an unexpected event occurs. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery and unexpected twists and turns throughout the book. The author did a fantastic job on surprising the audience in good and bad ways. Overall, I give Dancergirl 5 stars because of the way it was written and the theme portrayed.
December 31, 2015
Dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman was an amazing book in my opinion. This book is about a teenage girl who loves to dance but soon enough videos of her dancing have gone viral and there is nothing she can do to stop them. As things go out of her control she learns many lessons of life. I really liked this book from beginning to end because it was fast paced and it was filled with action, love, adventure, and struggles. I also liked this book because it had a mysterious vibe to it that kept me interested. One thing I didn't like about Dancergirl was that at some parts of the story it wasn't very realistic and believable. Overall, I recommend this book to others because of the many good aspects of it.
March 20, 2012
It's strange to say I 'liked' this book because of the issue, but it's very realistic to what's happening with the younger generation. I could see this happening. In fact, I'm sure something similar to this has happened. It's a bit scary when you think about it, especially with the overwhelming amount of information we put out there on the internet, for anyone to track down. To track :us: down.
Wow.
Okay, now I'm scared and I'm deleting my Facebook page.
Wow.
Okay, now I'm scared and I'm deleting my Facebook page.
January 6, 2014
Если честно, книга на 3,5, но раз надо выбирать между 3 и 4, то 4.
Сюжет нетипичный, затягивает, хорошая загадка - кто же этот сталкер.
Плюс, довольно хорошая задумка, ведь сейчас каждый может попасть на знаменитый видео портал и стать его звездой или посмешищем.
Абсолютно не понравился конец, хоть именно такого я и ожидала.
Сюжет нетипичный, затягивает, хорошая загадка - кто же этот сталкер.
Плюс, довольно хорошая задумка, ведь сейчас каждый может попасть на знаменитый видео портал и стать его звездой или посмешищем.
Абсолютно не понравился конец, хоть именно такого я и ожидала.
January 14, 2016
Alicia Ruffino is a talented dancer who works at a dance studio where she gets free lessons from professionals. Invited to a concert by her best friend, Jacy, she is seduced by the rhythmic beat of reggae and loses her self dancing. Then, she feels it: "Back of the neck prickle, goose bumps on my arms." However, it's only her geeky, bespectacled friend Charlie videotaping her. With her permission he posts the video online under the pseudonym Shyboy101 and she was dancergirl, then it went viral.
At first it felt good to be noticed, but then things took a turn for the worst. Someone was watching her - in her room when she was alone. Feelings of paranoia and fear make Ali start suspecting the people closest to her. Charlie. Andrew. Luke. Cisco. Francis.
Jacy.
---
The plot is realistic enough - if not kind of cliche. Really contemporary or modern as Quentin, the dance instructor, would say.
A video is posted online. It goes viral. Now they have a stalker.
Lesson to Be Learned: Watch What You Post Online
While I really enjoyed the book (a quick read and a good mystery for teens), there were some aspects of it that I found lacking.
Ali, for one, is really shallow and self-absorbed. Her egocentric tendencies made her ignore Jacy's problem while she tries to make him view the video of her dancing. Even if she believed that Jacy's parents were having a fight, she shouldn't be so inconsiderate to brush it off. She grated on my nerves from the very beginning.
When she is ignored tears prick her eyes:
I feel like we are suppose to feel sorry for her (like, that's what the author wants us to feel) but it just annoys me. Her ignorance astounded me.
I like flawed characters, but Ali's flaw is simply off-putting.
Two, the author seemed to add 'mean girls' to make the readers see Ali in a positive light. One person will be considered the "lesser evil" (pretty much equivalent to good) when surrounded by people deemed worse than themselves. For example: If a robber is surrounded by killers, he isn't seen as much of a bad guy. Or a more relevant example: a metaphoric D.U.F.F. If a normal person surrounds themselves with people "less" than themselves, they are automatically seen as 'better' or more 'attractive'.
In this case it was Laura and Samantha. Laura, pretty much a love rival, was called "pushy" because she was interested in Jacy. Samantha played the skinny ("practically anorexic" p.13), rich girl stereotype whose parents probably bribed the dance studio's owner to be apart of the dance recital even though Sam is already a talented dancer.
Ali only makes herself look bad when she describe these two. She says Sam looks like "God was playing Mr. Potato Head when she was created, got distracted by an earthquake or something so He pulled eyepieces from different sets" just because the girl had heterochromia iridum (one ocean blue eye and the other dark brown) and her blue eye was double the size of the brown one.
Three, the lingo. I did not understand what any of the dance terms meant. It ruined part of the book for me. I would rather the book tell me how it is done than for me having to
and remember what each individual "move" was. I'm sure a dancer would find this book enjoyable as they'd be able to comprehend what they are reading.
Four, the side characters. I felt the author didn't divulge into the side characters as much as I had hoped. They only played a significant role much later on in the book. Another thing regarding side characters is the amount of guys interested in her. I don't think there was one heterosexual male in this whole book that ever interacted with Ali that wasn't interested in her sexually and/or found her attractive. Not one.
Possibly the most disconcerting side character of all is her mother. Throughout the whole book Ali is worried that her mom will catch her drinking and smoking from the video, but it never happens. She also lied to her mom about the recital being cancelled - her mom never finds out. Broke curfew - her mom doesn't find out. It's only when she is about to go to the cops (after talking to Mr. Ryan) does she finally think:
Then there were multiple mentions of the beeper codes and I was kind of hoping Ali would use the SOS code (505) at some point in the book since her mother was rarely involved. I felt like there was a bit of a loose end regarding their relationship since Ali believes that she ruined her mother's life, but perhaps that is what makes it more realistic.
~ b.c
At first it felt good to be noticed, but then things took a turn for the worst. Someone was watching her - in her room when she was alone. Feelings of paranoia and fear make Ali start suspecting the people closest to her. Charlie. Andrew. Luke. Cisco. Francis.
Jacy.
---
The plot is realistic enough - if not kind of cliche. Really contemporary or modern as Quentin, the dance instructor, would say.
A video is posted online. It goes viral. Now they have a stalker.
Lesson to Be Learned: Watch What You Post Online
While I really enjoyed the book (a quick read and a good mystery for teens), there were some aspects of it that I found lacking.
Ali, for one, is really shallow and self-absorbed. Her egocentric tendencies made her ignore Jacy's problem while she tries to make him view the video of her dancing. Even if she believed that Jacy's parents were having a fight, she shouldn't be so inconsiderate to brush it off. She grated on my nerves from the very beginning.
When she is ignored tears prick her eyes:
I feel like we are suppose to feel sorry for her (like, that's what the author wants us to feel) but it just annoys me. Her ignorance astounded me.I like flawed characters, but Ali's flaw is simply off-putting.
Two, the author seemed to add 'mean girls' to make the readers see Ali in a positive light. One person will be considered the "lesser evil" (pretty much equivalent to good) when surrounded by people deemed worse than themselves. For example: If a robber is surrounded by killers, he isn't seen as much of a bad guy. Or a more relevant example: a metaphoric D.U.F.F. If a normal person surrounds themselves with people "less" than themselves, they are automatically seen as 'better' or more 'attractive'.
In this case it was Laura and Samantha. Laura, pretty much a love rival, was called "pushy" because she was interested in Jacy. Samantha played the skinny ("practically anorexic" p.13), rich girl stereotype whose parents probably bribed the dance studio's owner to be apart of the dance recital even though Sam is already a talented dancer.
Ali only makes herself look bad when she describe these two. She says Sam looks like "God was playing Mr. Potato Head when she was created, got distracted by an earthquake or something so He pulled eyepieces from different sets" just because the girl had heterochromia iridum (one ocean blue eye and the other dark brown) and her blue eye was double the size of the brown one.
Three, the lingo. I did not understand what any of the dance terms meant. It ruined part of the book for me. I would rather the book tell me how it is done than for me having to
and remember what each individual "move" was. I'm sure a dancer would find this book enjoyable as they'd be able to comprehend what they are reading.Four, the side characters. I felt the author didn't divulge into the side characters as much as I had hoped. They only played a significant role much later on in the book. Another thing regarding side characters is the amount of guys interested in her. I don't think there was one heterosexual male in this whole book that ever interacted with Ali that wasn't interested in her sexually and/or found her attractive. Not one.
Possibly the most disconcerting side character of all is her mother. Throughout the whole book Ali is worried that her mom will catch her drinking and smoking from the video, but it never happens. She also lied to her mom about the recital being cancelled - her mom never finds out. Broke curfew - her mom doesn't find out. It's only when she is about to go to the cops (after talking to Mr. Ryan) does she finally think:
Then there were multiple mentions of the beeper codes and I was kind of hoping Ali would use the SOS code (505) at some point in the book since her mother was rarely involved. I felt like there was a bit of a loose end regarding their relationship since Ali believes that she ruined her mother's life, but perhaps that is what makes it more realistic.
~ b.c
August 30, 2021
very quick little read. fast-paced and deals with a topic that many young women fear everyday of their lives. twist wasn’t very surprising to me, but that was okay. as a former dancer, I enjoyed all the dance references and how they tied into the story. nice thriller overall, but probably wouldn’t pick it up again.
July 7, 2017
Oh my goodness, I loved this book. Read it in one day. Really suspenseful and intense, I could not put it down. Recommend 10/10
October 15, 2011
Lang und breit
Trotz des Coverfehltritts konnte dancergirl mich dank der Inhaltsangabe auf sich aufmerksam machen. Stalkergeschichten, vor allem in Verbindung mit den Gefahren des Internets finde ich von vorne herein interessant. Übrigens ist die Gestaltung im Buch gelungener als außen: jedes Kapitel beginnt nämlich mit einem filmtypischen Countdown (ihr wisst schon, dieses Runterzählen vor alten Schwarz-Weißfilmen), der bei ansteigender Kapitelzahl zunimmt.
In Carol M. Tanzmans Roman bekommt man aber nicht nur Internet geboten, es geht auch viel ums Tanzen. Das ist nämlich die Leidenschaft der Protagonistin Alicia (kurz Ali). Dementsprechend wird auch viel mit Fachbergriffen aus dem Ballett und modernen Tanz um sich geworfen. Ich konnte mir unter diesen Begriffen oft nichts Konkretes vorstellen, beim Lesen hat mich das aber nicht gestört.
Die Geschichte lebt von ihren Geheimnissen. Allem voran möchte der Leser natürlich herausfinden wer Alis Stalker ist. Es gibt genügend potenzielle Kandidaten und dem Leser wird durch zahlreiche Hinweise und falsche Fährten die Möglichkeit geboten selbst mitzurätseln. Es werden aber auch andere Fragen aufgeworfen, beispielsweise warum Alis bester Freund Jacy sich ihr gegenüber plötzlich so komisch verhält. Dank der Hinweise bin ich darauf übrigens sehr schnell selbst gekommen.
Die Identität des Stalkers (oder der Stalkerin?) wird am Schluss befriedigend enthüllt. Die Auflösung kam mir logisch vor und im Rückblick gab es genügend Hinweise, um selbst die Spur aufnehmen zu können.
Im Zusammenhang mit der Geschichte erwähnt die Autorin auch eine ominöse Website, auf der man nach Postleitzahlen geordnet einsehen kann, wer in seiner Nachbarschaft wegen eines Sexualverbrechens vorbestraft ist. Viele von euch werden es wissen, so eine Website gibt es wirklich. Gut fand ich hier, dass die Autorin diese Liste nicht glorifiziert hat, sondern auch kritisch damit umgegangen ist. Es stehen da nämlich auch Leute drauf, die zum Beispiel mit 19 Jahren mit einer 17jährigen Person geschlafen hat, im Einverständnis beider, aber die 17jährige Person hat im Anschluss (möglicherweise nach einer schmerzhaften Trennung) den 19jährigen Menschen verklagt.
Mit ihren Charakteren konnte die Autorin mich nicht recht überzeugen. Außer Alicia blieben mir alle ziemlich fremd. Ihre ganzen Freunde konnte ich nur schwer auseinander halten. Niemand wird lange genug erwähnt, um eine eigene Persönlichkeit zu entwickeln.
Von Alicia bekommt man mehr mit, aber ich hatte Schwierigkeiten mich mit ihr anzufreunden. Es fing schon nicht gut an mit uns, weil ich nicht viel vom Kiffen und Trinken halte. Aber auch später regt sie sich zum Beispiel Jacy gegenüber viel zu wenig auf. Ihr eigentlich bester Freund beginnt plötzlich sie zu ignorieren und zurückzuweisen, ohne ihr eine Erklärung zu liefern und das lässt sie auf sich sitzen. Sie flippt nicht aus, sie hakt kaum nach.
Teilweise kam sie mir auch dümmlich vor. Sie tanzt schon ihr ganzes Leben lang, aber als ihre Tanzlehrerin ihr eines Tages erklärt, dass es beim Tanzen darum geht, etwas auszudrücken und nicht einfach eine Schrittfolge nachzumachen, ist sie total überrascht. Ich meine, das wusste ja sogar ich als Nichttänzerin. Das lernt man doch in jedem einzelnen Tanzfilm!
Unverschämt fand ich wie schnell sie später über eine ihrer Kolleginnen in der Tanzschule urteilt. Sie wirft dieser vor ein Verhältnis mit einem vergebenen Mann zu haben und putzt sie so richtig runter ohne ihr überhaupt die Chance zu geben sich zu verteidigen. Ist ja nicht so, dass ich fürs Fremdgehen plädiere, aber in dieser Situation geht Ali das Ganze einfach mal überhaupt nichts an.
Dass man im Internet nicht mit privaten Informationen um sich werfen soll, wissen wir hoffentlich inzwischen alle. Natürlich steht dieser warnende Gedanke auch hinter Tanzmans Roman, aber an einer Stelle hat sie mir doch ein bisschen zu sehr den erhobenen Zeigefinger herausstehen lassen. Solche Warnungen sollten unterschwellig vermittelt werden, vor allem weil Ali nicht wirklich etwas für ihren Stalker kann. Ja, sie hat ein Tanzvideo von sich ins Internet stellen lassen und wenn man so etwas macht, muss man damit rechnen, dass Leute darauf reagieren, ob nun bewundernd, neidend oder anzüglich. Aber man kann es nicht Ali in die Schuhe schieben, dass plötzlich jemand so am Rad dreht und beginnt sie zu verfolgen. Im Buch hat Ali an einer Stelle einen Moment, in dem sie darüber nachdenkt und das alles bereut. Unpassend.
Insgesamt fand ich die Enthüllungen, die die Autorin dem Leser unterbreitet zu übertrieben. Da ist wirklich alles vertreten. Von Krankheiten bis zu Lehrerbeziehungen und Homosexualität. Doch ein paar viele Schocker für so wenig Seiten.
Kurz und knapp
Das Buch liest sich schnell und lädt zum Miträtseln ein. Die Story ist unterhaltsam, man bekommt auch einiges aus dem Tanzbereich geboten, aber mit der Protagonistin möchte ich nicht befreundet sein.
Trotz des Coverfehltritts konnte dancergirl mich dank der Inhaltsangabe auf sich aufmerksam machen. Stalkergeschichten, vor allem in Verbindung mit den Gefahren des Internets finde ich von vorne herein interessant. Übrigens ist die Gestaltung im Buch gelungener als außen: jedes Kapitel beginnt nämlich mit einem filmtypischen Countdown (ihr wisst schon, dieses Runterzählen vor alten Schwarz-Weißfilmen), der bei ansteigender Kapitelzahl zunimmt.
In Carol M. Tanzmans Roman bekommt man aber nicht nur Internet geboten, es geht auch viel ums Tanzen. Das ist nämlich die Leidenschaft der Protagonistin Alicia (kurz Ali). Dementsprechend wird auch viel mit Fachbergriffen aus dem Ballett und modernen Tanz um sich geworfen. Ich konnte mir unter diesen Begriffen oft nichts Konkretes vorstellen, beim Lesen hat mich das aber nicht gestört.
Die Geschichte lebt von ihren Geheimnissen. Allem voran möchte der Leser natürlich herausfinden wer Alis Stalker ist. Es gibt genügend potenzielle Kandidaten und dem Leser wird durch zahlreiche Hinweise und falsche Fährten die Möglichkeit geboten selbst mitzurätseln. Es werden aber auch andere Fragen aufgeworfen, beispielsweise warum Alis bester Freund Jacy sich ihr gegenüber plötzlich so komisch verhält. Dank der Hinweise bin ich darauf übrigens sehr schnell selbst gekommen.
Die Identität des Stalkers (oder der Stalkerin?) wird am Schluss befriedigend enthüllt. Die Auflösung kam mir logisch vor und im Rückblick gab es genügend Hinweise, um selbst die Spur aufnehmen zu können.
Im Zusammenhang mit der Geschichte erwähnt die Autorin auch eine ominöse Website, auf der man nach Postleitzahlen geordnet einsehen kann, wer in seiner Nachbarschaft wegen eines Sexualverbrechens vorbestraft ist. Viele von euch werden es wissen, so eine Website gibt es wirklich. Gut fand ich hier, dass die Autorin diese Liste nicht glorifiziert hat, sondern auch kritisch damit umgegangen ist. Es stehen da nämlich auch Leute drauf, die zum Beispiel mit 19 Jahren mit einer 17jährigen Person geschlafen hat, im Einverständnis beider, aber die 17jährige Person hat im Anschluss (möglicherweise nach einer schmerzhaften Trennung) den 19jährigen Menschen verklagt.
Mit ihren Charakteren konnte die Autorin mich nicht recht überzeugen. Außer Alicia blieben mir alle ziemlich fremd. Ihre ganzen Freunde konnte ich nur schwer auseinander halten. Niemand wird lange genug erwähnt, um eine eigene Persönlichkeit zu entwickeln.
Von Alicia bekommt man mehr mit, aber ich hatte Schwierigkeiten mich mit ihr anzufreunden. Es fing schon nicht gut an mit uns, weil ich nicht viel vom Kiffen und Trinken halte. Aber auch später regt sie sich zum Beispiel Jacy gegenüber viel zu wenig auf. Ihr eigentlich bester Freund beginnt plötzlich sie zu ignorieren und zurückzuweisen, ohne ihr eine Erklärung zu liefern und das lässt sie auf sich sitzen. Sie flippt nicht aus, sie hakt kaum nach.
Teilweise kam sie mir auch dümmlich vor. Sie tanzt schon ihr ganzes Leben lang, aber als ihre Tanzlehrerin ihr eines Tages erklärt, dass es beim Tanzen darum geht, etwas auszudrücken und nicht einfach eine Schrittfolge nachzumachen, ist sie total überrascht. Ich meine, das wusste ja sogar ich als Nichttänzerin. Das lernt man doch in jedem einzelnen Tanzfilm!
Unverschämt fand ich wie schnell sie später über eine ihrer Kolleginnen in der Tanzschule urteilt. Sie wirft dieser vor ein Verhältnis mit einem vergebenen Mann zu haben und putzt sie so richtig runter ohne ihr überhaupt die Chance zu geben sich zu verteidigen. Ist ja nicht so, dass ich fürs Fremdgehen plädiere, aber in dieser Situation geht Ali das Ganze einfach mal überhaupt nichts an.
Dass man im Internet nicht mit privaten Informationen um sich werfen soll, wissen wir hoffentlich inzwischen alle. Natürlich steht dieser warnende Gedanke auch hinter Tanzmans Roman, aber an einer Stelle hat sie mir doch ein bisschen zu sehr den erhobenen Zeigefinger herausstehen lassen. Solche Warnungen sollten unterschwellig vermittelt werden, vor allem weil Ali nicht wirklich etwas für ihren Stalker kann. Ja, sie hat ein Tanzvideo von sich ins Internet stellen lassen und wenn man so etwas macht, muss man damit rechnen, dass Leute darauf reagieren, ob nun bewundernd, neidend oder anzüglich. Aber man kann es nicht Ali in die Schuhe schieben, dass plötzlich jemand so am Rad dreht und beginnt sie zu verfolgen. Im Buch hat Ali an einer Stelle einen Moment, in dem sie darüber nachdenkt und das alles bereut. Unpassend.
Insgesamt fand ich die Enthüllungen, die die Autorin dem Leser unterbreitet zu übertrieben. Da ist wirklich alles vertreten. Von Krankheiten bis zu Lehrerbeziehungen und Homosexualität. Doch ein paar viele Schocker für so wenig Seiten.
Kurz und knapp
Das Buch liest sich schnell und lädt zum Miträtseln ein. Die Story ist unterhaltsam, man bekommt auch einiges aus dem Tanzbereich geboten, aber mit der Protagonistin möchte ich nicht befreundet sein.
September 11, 2012
***FINAL RATING: 3.45 STARS***
CATCHALL
So, I went into dancergirl (You have no freaking clue how hard it is for me not to capitalize that. It is just wrong on SO many levels.) not having any idea what to expect. I'm a dancer, so that's really the thing that drew me to this book so much. I never expected to find it so thrilling!
THE HEROINE
ALI
I had a difficult time with Ali sometimes, but for the most part I could relate to he. She's every teen, really. Not invisible, but definitely nit one of the best-known girls in the school. And like many teens, she has a passion for something. For her, like me, it's dancing. Ali loves dancing more than anything. So when there's something that threatens that, she stands up and tries to solve the mystery. She's really strong heroine.
THE LOVE INTERESTS
JACY
So. Jacy. For a long time, we don't really know what's going on with Jacy. There's obviously something going on, but we don't know what it is. But even so, we know that he's not his usual self. When we finally find out what is wrong, I was completely shocked and surprised. That was one twist that I never saw coming, and I loved the twist of tragedy and everything it added.
LUKE
Honestly, I'm not sure I get the point of Luke. It's like authors have to throw in a second pointless love interest in every book to show that the heroine is really desirable or something. I don't get it. What is interesting, though, is that Carol gives Luke a backstory with not everything filled in.
THE FRIEND
CHARLIE
Charlie is actually a pretty central character. He's the one who starts the whole dancergirl (ahhhhhh!) thing, and really rockets Ali to her overnight fame, the fame that attracts her stalker's attention. And he really tries very hard to help Ali—or at least he seems to.
THE PLOT
So, the plot! It was marvelous!
I'm totally gushing, but it really was. I don't really read mysteries very often, so of course this one was a really great one to read. Every aspect of it is done so beautifully! I was always on the edge of my seat.
Because goodness, was this book suspenseful! Even though I was fairly certain Carol wouldn't kill anyone, I didn't know for sure! And I think a lot of that is what really helped to keep me going.
What I didn't like: the pacing was awkward. Some things went by really quickly, and others dragged. I really think this unfortunately made this book significantly less enjoyable for me than it would have been otherwise.
Also, I had a few problems with some random side plots that kind of showed up and then fizzled and went nowhere. That was weird.
But overall, I absolutely adored the plot of this book. It was definitely glittering, and absolutely worth reading.
THE ROMANCE
Ah, the romance. To be honest, not a whole lot of romantic development, but it somehow still works. Jacy and Ali have great chemistry and an awesome dynamic form the very first page and that definitely reflects in the novel. I don't know what Ali was doing with Luke, but I guess it kind of somehow did work in the story. Still, I was glad when that was over, and I loved the romance at the end.
THE WRITING
Carol's writing is actually something really unique, but still totally awesome. Ali's voice is very mature but not overly so, and the description is absolutely marvelous. It's always a good thing when I can really picture a character and the world they live in. Carol did that for me. I fell in love with Ali' entire universe and was totally sucked into her story, courtesy of my being happily trapped in her mind.
THE ENDING
dancergirl (Oh. My. GOD. Going crazy, I swear.) was an absolutely thrilling read, and I loved the ending. Everything was very climactic and I never even vaguely guessed the attention of the stalker, even though of course there were clues when I went back and looked. I also loved the happy ending aspect. I did think it was a bit rushed, but that's forgivable.
WRAPUP
I adored dancergirl (Last time I am typing that word. EVER.) and I've already read Circle of Silence (Which, thank God, is properly capitalized.). After reading these two books, I'mm willing to follow Carol Tanzman wherever she takes me. Her romantic young adult thrillers are unbelievably suspenseful and extremely fun. This book was excellent, and I definitely recommend it.
FINE.
Read more of my reviews on Sparkles and Lightning!
CATCHALL
So, I went into dancergirl (You have no freaking clue how hard it is for me not to capitalize that. It is just wrong on SO many levels.) not having any idea what to expect. I'm a dancer, so that's really the thing that drew me to this book so much. I never expected to find it so thrilling!
THE HEROINE
ALI
I had a difficult time with Ali sometimes, but for the most part I could relate to he. She's every teen, really. Not invisible, but definitely nit one of the best-known girls in the school. And like many teens, she has a passion for something. For her, like me, it's dancing. Ali loves dancing more than anything. So when there's something that threatens that, she stands up and tries to solve the mystery. She's really strong heroine.
THE LOVE INTERESTS
JACY
So. Jacy. For a long time, we don't really know what's going on with Jacy. There's obviously something going on, but we don't know what it is. But even so, we know that he's not his usual self. When we finally find out what is wrong, I was completely shocked and surprised. That was one twist that I never saw coming, and I loved the twist of tragedy and everything it added.
LUKE
Honestly, I'm not sure I get the point of Luke. It's like authors have to throw in a second pointless love interest in every book to show that the heroine is really desirable or something. I don't get it. What is interesting, though, is that Carol gives Luke a backstory with not everything filled in.
THE FRIEND
CHARLIE
Charlie is actually a pretty central character. He's the one who starts the whole dancergirl (ahhhhhh!) thing, and really rockets Ali to her overnight fame, the fame that attracts her stalker's attention. And he really tries very hard to help Ali—or at least he seems to.
THE PLOT
So, the plot! It was marvelous!
I'm totally gushing, but it really was. I don't really read mysteries very often, so of course this one was a really great one to read. Every aspect of it is done so beautifully! I was always on the edge of my seat.
Because goodness, was this book suspenseful! Even though I was fairly certain Carol wouldn't kill anyone, I didn't know for sure! And I think a lot of that is what really helped to keep me going.
What I didn't like: the pacing was awkward. Some things went by really quickly, and others dragged. I really think this unfortunately made this book significantly less enjoyable for me than it would have been otherwise.
Also, I had a few problems with some random side plots that kind of showed up and then fizzled and went nowhere. That was weird.
But overall, I absolutely adored the plot of this book. It was definitely glittering, and absolutely worth reading.
THE ROMANCE
Ah, the romance. To be honest, not a whole lot of romantic development, but it somehow still works. Jacy and Ali have great chemistry and an awesome dynamic form the very first page and that definitely reflects in the novel. I don't know what Ali was doing with Luke, but I guess it kind of somehow did work in the story. Still, I was glad when that was over, and I loved the romance at the end.
THE WRITING
Carol's writing is actually something really unique, but still totally awesome. Ali's voice is very mature but not overly so, and the description is absolutely marvelous. It's always a good thing when I can really picture a character and the world they live in. Carol did that for me. I fell in love with Ali' entire universe and was totally sucked into her story, courtesy of my being happily trapped in her mind.
THE ENDING
dancergirl (Oh. My. GOD. Going crazy, I swear.) was an absolutely thrilling read, and I loved the ending. Everything was very climactic and I never even vaguely guessed the attention of the stalker, even though of course there were clues when I went back and looked. I also loved the happy ending aspect. I did think it was a bit rushed, but that's forgivable.
WRAPUP
I adored dancergirl (Last time I am typing that word. EVER.) and I've already read Circle of Silence (Which, thank God, is properly capitalized.). After reading these two books, I'mm willing to follow Carol Tanzman wherever she takes me. Her romantic young adult thrillers are unbelievably suspenseful and extremely fun. This book was excellent, and I definitely recommend it.
FINE.
Read more of my reviews on Sparkles and Lightning!
March 14, 2017
So, in the entertainment's side, this book is perfect: good view about music and enthusiasm. But it's lack of clarity about the other characters and some more description about Ali's fear; therefore, it makes readers confused and have to read it again to understand.
October 21, 2011
From Books and Threads
I really enjoyed this book! While the synopsis focuses solely on the dancergirl online sensation, the plot transitions into a stalker story and how Ali reacts to suspected invasions of her privacy. And that is really well done. The tension in the writing is amazing. I read the entire book in one sitting because I really didn’t want to put it down.
As a main character, Ali’s a fairly normal teenage girl. She dedicated to dance, working at her dance studio to earn free classes and dreaming of Julliard. She struggles with her classes but gets by with the help of her friends - especially the good-looking boy in the apartment below who’s suddenly started to pull away. I have to say that I really appreciate that the author made her main character a person of character (even if the apparent cover decided to erase that). YA books are so often so very, very white.
Dance is the most important part of Ali’s life which makes the entire situation that much more horrifying. As a sort of joke and sort of a way to help out but mostly just a chance to dance, she agrees to shoot a few videos with Charlie, a friend from school. The videos nearly immediately go viral, leaving Ali uncertain what to do in the face of this new internet fame. Charlie wants to shoot more installments, her friends think the whole situation is awesome, and Ali’s just trying to finish her choreography solo and get ready for auditions at the dance studio. It was a really neat look at the power of the internet. Something so little can so easily come to mean so much to thousands of people, each with their own opinions about a girl they’ve never met. It’s a familiar story - especially for people like us who use the internet so much in our daily lives.
The suspense in the book is quickly increased through as Ali begins to wonder if she’s being stalked by one of her ‘fans.’ The ins and outs of the situation as her friends work together to try to figure out who’s behind it are fully explored, This part becomes the weakest of the book as the pacing falters while the students suspect one person than another, but the highlight of this section is Ali questioning everything. Did she bring this on herself? Is she responsible for the invasions of privacy? What does she need to do to protect herself?
It feels difficult to say that I ‘loved’ this part because it’s such a horrible topic, and I’d never want to see anyone go through such a situation, but I felt the way the author handled the entire question was really, really well done. I don’t want to get into any type of spoilers, but I will say that I thought both the final culprit - and the reasoning behind it - relieved me. I was a little worried at times that the book was going to veer into some victim blaming of Ali, and it was really excellent to see it go in a completely different direction.
The friendship of Jacy, the boy downstairs (and yes, I called him Jace for ¾ of the book) and Ali is another strong point of this book. The two really feel like best friends since forever, and when Jacy starts to pull away from the friendship, Ali’s left unmoored and unsettled in the midst of this entire ordeal. Jacy’s story is just as compelling as Ali’s and once some of his personal situation is revealed, we get two strong characters at the center of this tension-filled book.
I requested this book from NetGalley because of the dancing aspect, and while that part was definitely enjoyable, the realistic tension and questions about privacy and stalking, both on the internet and in person, were very well done. Plus there’s a good story of boy/girl friendship that might just veer into more. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a tense contemporary read.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarlequinTeen for the opportunity to read and review dancergirl.
I really enjoyed this book! While the synopsis focuses solely on the dancergirl online sensation, the plot transitions into a stalker story and how Ali reacts to suspected invasions of her privacy. And that is really well done. The tension in the writing is amazing. I read the entire book in one sitting because I really didn’t want to put it down.
As a main character, Ali’s a fairly normal teenage girl. She dedicated to dance, working at her dance studio to earn free classes and dreaming of Julliard. She struggles with her classes but gets by with the help of her friends - especially the good-looking boy in the apartment below who’s suddenly started to pull away. I have to say that I really appreciate that the author made her main character a person of character (even if the apparent cover decided to erase that). YA books are so often so very, very white.
Dance is the most important part of Ali’s life which makes the entire situation that much more horrifying. As a sort of joke and sort of a way to help out but mostly just a chance to dance, she agrees to shoot a few videos with Charlie, a friend from school. The videos nearly immediately go viral, leaving Ali uncertain what to do in the face of this new internet fame. Charlie wants to shoot more installments, her friends think the whole situation is awesome, and Ali’s just trying to finish her choreography solo and get ready for auditions at the dance studio. It was a really neat look at the power of the internet. Something so little can so easily come to mean so much to thousands of people, each with their own opinions about a girl they’ve never met. It’s a familiar story - especially for people like us who use the internet so much in our daily lives.
The suspense in the book is quickly increased through as Ali begins to wonder if she’s being stalked by one of her ‘fans.’ The ins and outs of the situation as her friends work together to try to figure out who’s behind it are fully explored, This part becomes the weakest of the book as the pacing falters while the students suspect one person than another, but the highlight of this section is Ali questioning everything. Did she bring this on herself? Is she responsible for the invasions of privacy? What does she need to do to protect herself?
It feels difficult to say that I ‘loved’ this part because it’s such a horrible topic, and I’d never want to see anyone go through such a situation, but I felt the way the author handled the entire question was really, really well done. I don’t want to get into any type of spoilers, but I will say that I thought both the final culprit - and the reasoning behind it - relieved me. I was a little worried at times that the book was going to veer into some victim blaming of Ali, and it was really excellent to see it go in a completely different direction.
The friendship of Jacy, the boy downstairs (and yes, I called him Jace for ¾ of the book) and Ali is another strong point of this book. The two really feel like best friends since forever, and when Jacy starts to pull away from the friendship, Ali’s left unmoored and unsettled in the midst of this entire ordeal. Jacy’s story is just as compelling as Ali’s and once some of his personal situation is revealed, we get two strong characters at the center of this tension-filled book.
I requested this book from NetGalley because of the dancing aspect, and while that part was definitely enjoyable, the realistic tension and questions about privacy and stalking, both on the internet and in person, were very well done. Plus there’s a good story of boy/girl friendship that might just veer into more. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a tense contemporary read.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarlequinTeen for the opportunity to read and review dancergirl.
March 30, 2017
3.5/5
Tanzman deeply explores the scary truths that accompany newfound fame in this gritty contemporary/thriller novel. DANCERGIRL follows Ali, an aspiring dancer, who swiftly becomes "Dancergirl" following a video shoot. They were only having fun, but what starts as an innocent video morphs into something creepy, deadly and something that is so very probable, but isn't thought of often. Dancergirl is being stalked, and everyone's a suspect.
If you read/watch lots of these kinds of books, you'll probably be expecting who the stalker is. For me, however, I was just constantly left in the dark. When a new idea was thrown by the gang, I would think to myself That seems reasonable. Yes, it could be that guy! Book him, take him away! I was certainly not expecting the perp to be who he was until the gang started to suspect him.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REALITY
What is so great about this novel is not just the surface story, but also what lies underneath. Ali could be anyone in the world, it really doesn't matter. One really good quote from the book that suits my thoughts exactly: "It's about them. It's the internet, for goodness' sake. Once you put it out there, you can't control it. Even if it's innocent." Teenagers even to this day allow so much of their personal lives to be exposed to the public. That's just one of many problems of the internet - it's so public, the average person won't have the means to monitor who is checking up on them.
I never once thought that this book was over-the-top with that underlying message, because it's so important. These things can happen - being completely ignorant to that fact is completely idiotic. Being too paranoid will strip you of your ability to live. These stories allow teenagers and readers to think of their awareness and what's around them. What's left to the public.
CHARACTERS AND PLOT
Each character of the gang have their own personalities, but it's tough in such a short novel to really let them shine. I really liked Jacy who, in my opinion, felt the most fleshed out. The friendship that Jacy and Ali share is such a sweet one, and there's that whole boy/girl-next-door feel to it that I just love so much.
I was hoping that the next WiHi books would continue these characters' stories, but it seems like Tanzman is going to be introducing new characters. It's such a shame, because I really wanted to know them better. The length of the book and the major focus of the book did not let me do just that.
DANCERGIRL is so simple in its plot, and like I said before, big readers/fans of these kinds of books will know exactly where the end is going to go. But I enjoyed it. There's a fair amount of dancing, as is imperative in the title. It's not nearly as detailed as other dancing books I've read before, which will not discourage people who are not interested in dance to pick this book up.
WRITING
Nothing too fancy. I don't have any complaints - it matched the book quite nicely. Non-readers won't have any trouble reading through this book. It's short, and the sentences and chapters aren't daunting. There is a small amount of scenery and environment description, though I usually like just a bit more. That amount of detail is just not necessary in this book.
Ending: Definitely the most satisfying section of the book, as is usually the case for me. I could not stop reading!
Cover: Meh. The image of the girl does hint that this involves a viral video, which complements the tagline well. It could have included a video of dancergirl dancing though.
So there. :P
This review will be posted on the blog in future.
Tanzman deeply explores the scary truths that accompany newfound fame in this gritty contemporary/thriller novel. DANCERGIRL follows Ali, an aspiring dancer, who swiftly becomes "Dancergirl" following a video shoot. They were only having fun, but what starts as an innocent video morphs into something creepy, deadly and something that is so very probable, but isn't thought of often. Dancergirl is being stalked, and everyone's a suspect.
If you read/watch lots of these kinds of books, you'll probably be expecting who the stalker is. For me, however, I was just constantly left in the dark. When a new idea was thrown by the gang, I would think to myself That seems reasonable. Yes, it could be that guy! Book him, take him away! I was certainly not expecting the perp to be who he was until the gang started to suspect him.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REALITY
What is so great about this novel is not just the surface story, but also what lies underneath. Ali could be anyone in the world, it really doesn't matter. One really good quote from the book that suits my thoughts exactly: "It's about them. It's the internet, for goodness' sake. Once you put it out there, you can't control it. Even if it's innocent." Teenagers even to this day allow so much of their personal lives to be exposed to the public. That's just one of many problems of the internet - it's so public, the average person won't have the means to monitor who is checking up on them.
I never once thought that this book was over-the-top with that underlying message, because it's so important. These things can happen - being completely ignorant to that fact is completely idiotic. Being too paranoid will strip you of your ability to live. These stories allow teenagers and readers to think of their awareness and what's around them. What's left to the public.
CHARACTERS AND PLOT
Each character of the gang have their own personalities, but it's tough in such a short novel to really let them shine. I really liked Jacy who, in my opinion, felt the most fleshed out. The friendship that Jacy and Ali share is such a sweet one, and there's that whole boy/girl-next-door feel to it that I just love so much.
I was hoping that the next WiHi books would continue these characters' stories, but it seems like Tanzman is going to be introducing new characters. It's such a shame, because I really wanted to know them better. The length of the book and the major focus of the book did not let me do just that.
DANCERGIRL is so simple in its plot, and like I said before, big readers/fans of these kinds of books will know exactly where the end is going to go. But I enjoyed it. There's a fair amount of dancing, as is imperative in the title. It's not nearly as detailed as other dancing books I've read before, which will not discourage people who are not interested in dance to pick this book up.
WRITING
Nothing too fancy. I don't have any complaints - it matched the book quite nicely. Non-readers won't have any trouble reading through this book. It's short, and the sentences and chapters aren't daunting. There is a small amount of scenery and environment description, though I usually like just a bit more. That amount of detail is just not necessary in this book.
Ending: Definitely the most satisfying section of the book, as is usually the case for me. I could not stop reading!
Cover: Meh. The image of the girl does hint that this involves a viral video, which complements the tagline well. It could have included a video of dancergirl dancing though.
So there. :P
This review will be posted on the blog in future.
October 9, 2011
Seriously, is this going to be a series?
Why? Is there really a need to drag this on further into other installments? I don’t possibly see the potential at all. Just because series are quite a bit popular nowadays with the crowd, it doesn’t mean that a stand-alone can be equally as powerful and enjoyable. Sometimes a line just needs to be drawn. You can only take material to a certain extent before it becomes unnecessary and boring, or overdone. And being completely honest here, I have a sinking feeling that if Dancergirl were continued as a series, that’s exactly where it would go.
What did I like about Dancergirl? There was a nice mix of characters that were seemingly well-crafted. Unfortunately, I felt like I didn’t know them as well as I would have liked in the end. The mystery was realistic. Yes, the author makes a valid point and strong message, which I found refreshing and modern for the YA genre. The writing was stylish and engaging. At the very least, it held my attention throughout the book, and the ending wrapped up nicely.
Perhaps it’s just me, but I really saw that ending coming the entire time, too. I’m not saying there’s any foreshadowing, because I don’t think I really noticed any, I just sort-of guessed very early on what the deal was and it turned out I was right. I’ve always been rather good at solving mysteries, I guess. I should really go get that Mystery Machine bus that’s for sale down the road. But then I’d have to get a Scooby Dog to match, and my cat wouldn’t be too thrilled with that idea.
What I didn’t like too much was the underlying message believe it or not. Yes, I know…That’s the whole point of the book. But the author missed a major mark, in my opinion on that one. We take risks when we put ourselves up on the internet for anything, I get it. But I hate scare tactics wannabe approaches like this. Oh, if you do this, something like ‘x’ is going to happen. No.
Okay, it’s a possibility. And maybe the point of this from the author was to simply get the reader to think first. But my biggest problem was that there was a larger picture here, one that many people may have missed- and I feel the author didn’t directly address as an issue for the character despite her struggles. Cyber-bullying.
She was getting stalked. During this course, however, she gets online to find awful messages from strangers and peers calling her names, etc. I felt there wasn’t enough attention drawn to this issue! Cyber-bullying is a real problem, too!
And another thing, about the stalking, I was so fumed at the end because throughout the entire book, I’m thinking of a message. She took a risk, she was dealing with some bad consequences… Except, after looking more closely at the picture and thinking things through, I just felt things didn’t get justified to match. You want to get a motivational message out there, match it up is the least you can do. I can’t go into further detail on this because it would create a big spoiler and I never put spoilers in my reviews. Sorry.
I know, it sounds like all I’m doing is ranting and raving. In a way I am. Dancergirl made me think about some things, not just the book, but others in general as well. I didn’t hate it. It entertained me. I wish I had known the characters a bit better. I liked the writing style. Jacy was the brave one throughout it all, no matter how you look at it. It was realistic and could happen to anyone.
3 stars!
<3
Pixie
Why? Is there really a need to drag this on further into other installments? I don’t possibly see the potential at all. Just because series are quite a bit popular nowadays with the crowd, it doesn’t mean that a stand-alone can be equally as powerful and enjoyable. Sometimes a line just needs to be drawn. You can only take material to a certain extent before it becomes unnecessary and boring, or overdone. And being completely honest here, I have a sinking feeling that if Dancergirl were continued as a series, that’s exactly where it would go.
What did I like about Dancergirl? There was a nice mix of characters that were seemingly well-crafted. Unfortunately, I felt like I didn’t know them as well as I would have liked in the end. The mystery was realistic. Yes, the author makes a valid point and strong message, which I found refreshing and modern for the YA genre. The writing was stylish and engaging. At the very least, it held my attention throughout the book, and the ending wrapped up nicely.
Perhaps it’s just me, but I really saw that ending coming the entire time, too. I’m not saying there’s any foreshadowing, because I don’t think I really noticed any, I just sort-of guessed very early on what the deal was and it turned out I was right. I’ve always been rather good at solving mysteries, I guess. I should really go get that Mystery Machine bus that’s for sale down the road. But then I’d have to get a Scooby Dog to match, and my cat wouldn’t be too thrilled with that idea.
What I didn’t like too much was the underlying message believe it or not. Yes, I know…That’s the whole point of the book. But the author missed a major mark, in my opinion on that one. We take risks when we put ourselves up on the internet for anything, I get it. But I hate scare tactics wannabe approaches like this. Oh, if you do this, something like ‘x’ is going to happen. No.
Okay, it’s a possibility. And maybe the point of this from the author was to simply get the reader to think first. But my biggest problem was that there was a larger picture here, one that many people may have missed- and I feel the author didn’t directly address as an issue for the character despite her struggles. Cyber-bullying.
She was getting stalked. During this course, however, she gets online to find awful messages from strangers and peers calling her names, etc. I felt there wasn’t enough attention drawn to this issue! Cyber-bullying is a real problem, too!
And another thing, about the stalking, I was so fumed at the end because throughout the entire book, I’m thinking of a message. She took a risk, she was dealing with some bad consequences… Except, after looking more closely at the picture and thinking things through, I just felt things didn’t get justified to match. You want to get a motivational message out there, match it up is the least you can do. I can’t go into further detail on this because it would create a big spoiler and I never put spoilers in my reviews. Sorry.
I know, it sounds like all I’m doing is ranting and raving. In a way I am. Dancergirl made me think about some things, not just the book, but others in general as well. I didn’t hate it. It entertained me. I wish I had known the characters a bit better. I liked the writing style. Jacy was the brave one throughout it all, no matter how you look at it. It was realistic and could happen to anyone.
3 stars!
<3
Pixie
July 30, 2012
My Thoughts:
I have to admit that I was a little hesitant in going into this one, I am a big baby and I am freaked out by scary realistic things like a stalker, but I wanted to give this one a try and read something a little bit out of my comfort zone and try something new. I am really glad that I did because although the idea of a stalker scares me to death, I didn't have as hard of a time reading this book as I thought that I would and I enjoyed most of it a lot.
We first meet our main character Alicia Ruffino or Ali as everyone calls her and her best friend Jacy, Ali is a dancer, and I a good one at that (or at least that was the feeling that I got) She is just a normal teenager, going to school and dance classes and living her life. One of her friends Charlie takes a video of a concert that they all had went to and see's Ali dancing with her friends and comes up with an idea. He wants to make videos of Ali dancing but, he wants it to seem like he is doing it secretly and that she doesn't know she is being videotaped. Ali agrees thinking it might just be some fun little thing to do. Charlie posts the video on "Zube" and comes up with a screen name for himself Shyboy and calling Ali Dancergirl. The idea is that he is Shyboy and has a crush on Dancergirl who doesn't even know he exists. The video's become super popular and even go viral on the site with Charlie convincing Ali to do a few more. As more videos are done Ali becomes somewhat of a star and famous. Nobody else but Ali and her close friends know that the videos aren't real. Everywhere she goes people are talking about her, looking at her like they know her secrets. It was all just a fun idea until Ali finds out she has a stalker and the posting videos on the internet takes a dark turn.
I really loved Ali's character, her love for dance is portrayed beautifully by Tanzman throughout the book. I could really feel what Ali felt when she dances and I could picture in my head what she looked like while she was doing it. Tanzman weaves words together so beautifully to give the reader a beautiful picture in their mind of Ali. I enjoyed learning about all of Ali's friends who were interesting and going thorough different things in their own rights and I liked that we learned a little about each of them, something you wouldn't know by just looking at a person. The idea of a stalker because of these video's was such an interesting idea for me, I like that it was something that I could understand actually happening and not a far fetch not possible idea. This really could happen to anyone who did something similar. The only disappoints for me was the ending. I don't know what I was expecting at the end, it was predictable but, I don't know how else it could have been done. I liked that the whole entire book was not completely focused on the idea that she had a stalker, there was other events going on that kept your interest and kept the book from feeling like it was dragging the idea of a stalker out for too long.
If you enjoy a contemporary book with a bit of thrills and suspense, then this one is for you. Not overly scary this book does remind me of why sometimes having everything out on the internet for the world to see might not always be such a good thing.
Happy Reading!
Kristin
I have to admit that I was a little hesitant in going into this one, I am a big baby and I am freaked out by scary realistic things like a stalker, but I wanted to give this one a try and read something a little bit out of my comfort zone and try something new. I am really glad that I did because although the idea of a stalker scares me to death, I didn't have as hard of a time reading this book as I thought that I would and I enjoyed most of it a lot.
We first meet our main character Alicia Ruffino or Ali as everyone calls her and her best friend Jacy, Ali is a dancer, and I a good one at that (or at least that was the feeling that I got) She is just a normal teenager, going to school and dance classes and living her life. One of her friends Charlie takes a video of a concert that they all had went to and see's Ali dancing with her friends and comes up with an idea. He wants to make videos of Ali dancing but, he wants it to seem like he is doing it secretly and that she doesn't know she is being videotaped. Ali agrees thinking it might just be some fun little thing to do. Charlie posts the video on "Zube" and comes up with a screen name for himself Shyboy and calling Ali Dancergirl. The idea is that he is Shyboy and has a crush on Dancergirl who doesn't even know he exists. The video's become super popular and even go viral on the site with Charlie convincing Ali to do a few more. As more videos are done Ali becomes somewhat of a star and famous. Nobody else but Ali and her close friends know that the videos aren't real. Everywhere she goes people are talking about her, looking at her like they know her secrets. It was all just a fun idea until Ali finds out she has a stalker and the posting videos on the internet takes a dark turn.
I really loved Ali's character, her love for dance is portrayed beautifully by Tanzman throughout the book. I could really feel what Ali felt when she dances and I could picture in my head what she looked like while she was doing it. Tanzman weaves words together so beautifully to give the reader a beautiful picture in their mind of Ali. I enjoyed learning about all of Ali's friends who were interesting and going thorough different things in their own rights and I liked that we learned a little about each of them, something you wouldn't know by just looking at a person. The idea of a stalker because of these video's was such an interesting idea for me, I like that it was something that I could understand actually happening and not a far fetch not possible idea. This really could happen to anyone who did something similar. The only disappoints for me was the ending. I don't know what I was expecting at the end, it was predictable but, I don't know how else it could have been done. I liked that the whole entire book was not completely focused on the idea that she had a stalker, there was other events going on that kept your interest and kept the book from feeling like it was dragging the idea of a stalker out for too long.
If you enjoy a contemporary book with a bit of thrills and suspense, then this one is for you. Not overly scary this book does remind me of why sometimes having everything out on the internet for the world to see might not always be such a good thing.
Happy Reading!
Kristin
October 26, 2014
Carol M. Tanzman brings modern issues to life with Dancergirl. How much of what you see on the Internet can you believe? If 'shyboy' is taking a video of 'dancergirl' without her knowledge, is that OK? Should people object on behalf of dancergirl’s privacy, or is shyboy really a romantic dude who should be encouraged? What if shyboy and dancergirl are carefully posing the videos – dancer Ali knows her friend Charlie is videoing and posting the clips? Does that make it OK, or are thy scamming the viewers? And when people at school are divided between being a) amazed at Ali’s, er, dancergirl’s dance skills or b) scorning her for being an attention hound (OK, they use a nastier word), who’s right?
Then there’s the place where the videos are taken – a teen party with booze and weed. If Ali (dancergirl) tells her mom that the video of her dancing on the rooftop has gone viral, she’ll have to admit to being at the party instead of safely home. Ali’s mom works the evening shift, and Ali is supposed to text her as soon as she comes home. Do teenagers lie to their parents about where they are? Some do, some don’t. Ali’s been the ‘good girl’ for years, and she feels weird about lying to her mom.
Kudos to Tanzman for creating this situation. Ali doesn't like lying to her mother – she acknowledges that her mom loves her, wants what’s best for her, and is fairly tech-savvy. Too many books take the easy way out by casting adults as indifferent, useless, or downright harmful to their teens. And kudos for acknowledging that working a job might interfere with staying home with your kid. No bad parents here, but the facts are life are what they are.
Then there’s Ali’s best friend Jacy, who lives two floors up in Ali’s apartment building. Why is he so down when she runs to his place to tell him about the video going viral. His parents are arguing – his mother’s makeup is all streaked – but they’re not divorcing, so what’s going on? And why did Jacy have to give up his job as intern reporter, and change schools?
Dancing is expensive, and some young women who want to dance will have to take a job to pay for the clothes, the competition costumes, the transportation to practice and to competitions. Ali is lucky, she can get a job at the dance studio – but how secure is the building? Is there anyone Ali can call if someone makes noise when she’s cleaning up late at night? Then there’s the best dancer in Ali’s class, who can afford extra practice time and looks down on Ali as ‘the help’ who is, incidentally, serious competition. Will her attempts to sabotage Ali result in more damage than either of them want to deal with?
The videos of dancergirl are a cooperative effort – but the video of Ali dancing in her bedroom in her t-shirt and Hello Kitty panties was not something she agreed to. Now people in school are calling her strippergirl. Who posted that video? Means, Opportunity, Motive: who has all three? Charlie the vid guy is being secretive. Jacy the best friend has been acting weird for months. X is cranky about Ali getting a good role in the dance production. The teacher’s friend has been hanging around the dance studio, and knows where Ali lives.
Ali examines each friend’s motive, and casts her net wider, but doesn't realize the true culprit until she is physically attacked.
Then there’s the place where the videos are taken – a teen party with booze and weed. If Ali (dancergirl) tells her mom that the video of her dancing on the rooftop has gone viral, she’ll have to admit to being at the party instead of safely home. Ali’s mom works the evening shift, and Ali is supposed to text her as soon as she comes home. Do teenagers lie to their parents about where they are? Some do, some don’t. Ali’s been the ‘good girl’ for years, and she feels weird about lying to her mom.
Kudos to Tanzman for creating this situation. Ali doesn't like lying to her mother – she acknowledges that her mom loves her, wants what’s best for her, and is fairly tech-savvy. Too many books take the easy way out by casting adults as indifferent, useless, or downright harmful to their teens. And kudos for acknowledging that working a job might interfere with staying home with your kid. No bad parents here, but the facts are life are what they are.
Then there’s Ali’s best friend Jacy, who lives two floors up in Ali’s apartment building. Why is he so down when she runs to his place to tell him about the video going viral. His parents are arguing – his mother’s makeup is all streaked – but they’re not divorcing, so what’s going on? And why did Jacy have to give up his job as intern reporter, and change schools?
Dancing is expensive, and some young women who want to dance will have to take a job to pay for the clothes, the competition costumes, the transportation to practice and to competitions. Ali is lucky, she can get a job at the dance studio – but how secure is the building? Is there anyone Ali can call if someone makes noise when she’s cleaning up late at night? Then there’s the best dancer in Ali’s class, who can afford extra practice time and looks down on Ali as ‘the help’ who is, incidentally, serious competition. Will her attempts to sabotage Ali result in more damage than either of them want to deal with?
The videos of dancergirl are a cooperative effort – but the video of Ali dancing in her bedroom in her t-shirt and Hello Kitty panties was not something she agreed to. Now people in school are calling her strippergirl. Who posted that video? Means, Opportunity, Motive: who has all three? Charlie the vid guy is being secretive. Jacy the best friend has been acting weird for months. X is cranky about Ali getting a good role in the dance production. The teacher’s friend has been hanging around the dance studio, and knows where Ali lives.
Ali examines each friend’s motive, and casts her net wider, but doesn't realize the true culprit until she is physically attacked.
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