Last Dance

by Lurlene McDaniel

Rachel Deering's dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer has to be put on hold when she finds out that she has diabetes, but the lessons she learns in managing her disease help her take control of her life.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Medical, Middle Grade

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Lurlene McDaniel (born c. 1948) is an author who has written over 50 young adult books. She is well known for writing about characters struggling with chronic and terminal illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, and organ failure.


Other places to find her are...
https://www.facebook.com/lurlenemcdan...
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/aut...
http://www.youtube.com/user/LurleneMc

Reviews

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

You are at the top of your game. Pretty. 8th Grader. Top of the School. Probably the best ballerina in Madame Pershoffs Balle Intitute. Then. It hits. Diabetes. Shots twice a day. Ballet has to stop for a while. Rachael Deering hates her diabetes but decides she has to control her diabetes, before her diabetes controls her.

[Tammi]

This was a reread.
I read this book in Jr High (30+ years ago). For some reason I kept thinking about it recently. I couldn't remember the title just the story apparently it had stuck with me. After a Google search, I found the title and got it from the library.
I can see why it stuck with me all these years later it was still a great story of overcoming.
I gobbled it up and recommend it to readers of all ages.

[Lindsey Eclebery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgic… I read these books when I was younger.

[Felicia Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story about ballet and diabetes.

[Doris Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

[Z · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know. Maybe this was good as a book about what happens when you're diagnosed with diabetes. As a ballet story, though, it was not good. Some of the ballet parts were spot-on, like the relationship with the teacher. Some of them, though, were completely wrong. (The dying swan solo from Swan Lake? ...Right.)

Also, the main character's resolve not to go back to ballet for a good while in the middle of the book really didn't make sense to me. She wasn't injured! She could dance! The "my life is ruined; no more dance!" thing seemed a little over-the-top.

What I will say for it, though, is that this was not your typical ballet plot of girl loves ballet, girl has problems in life, girl gives up ballet and takes up a new form of dance. That was nice to see.

[Abraham · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up because Lurlene McDaniel was mentioned in a teaching book as an author that some reluctant readers really liked. This was a very quick read.

To me, it reads like this author must pump these books out at a rate of one a month. It has the most minimal plot twists possible, and the characters are all basically static, except for the protagonist, who does change a bit over the course of the book.

Whatever. It was mildly entertaining, and I could see how this type of novel would be good to have in my classroom.

I think that if you like the Bluford series of books, you might like Lurlene McDaniel too, although her books seem distinctly suburban instead of urban. Many of them deal with coping with disease, loss of a loved one, or other teenage drama.

[Kara · Rating 1 out of 5]

physical illness/romance

This was a silly book. I know that Lurlene McDaniel was trying to make me feel the dramatic feelings of a young girl who just got diabetes, but it was just boring to me. Rachel is obsessed with Ballet, and she has big plans to do it for the rest of her life, when suddenly she gets diabetes and she has to decide if she can still have her dreams. But no worries, Shawn, a cute boy from another school who has diabetes saves the day and becomes her boyfriend at the same time. So predictable. I thought that the entire story was over-dramatized, and never really cared for any of the characters. Not a winner.

[Bri Hogue]

All of laurens books, are great they're non fiction but still true to the heart cause it can happen and it can happen to great people as well. Cancer isn't a fun thing from what i've read, and seen with my own eyes.
these books tell you that life is dangrous no matter how carful you are.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book, i got it a few hours ago, and i just finished it a half hour ago. it was THAT good. :)

[Lexi New · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the book LAST DANCE, by Lurlene McDaniel. The setting takes place in present day at Sussex at a dance studio. The main characters are Rachel Deering’s, Madame Pershoff, Miss Lucy, and Chris. Miss lucy is her dance teacher. Chris is her crush. And I found this book in the library.
The brief summary is that Rachel loved to dance, That’s all she did growing up. Then whenever she went to the doctor, they told her that she had diabetes. And it gets worse for her, And she can’t dance anymore.
It gets more Interesting at the end, Because she founds out if she can still dance or not.
Qoute, “Dance every performance as if it were your last.”
My personal opinion is that for a short book, it was really good, and i recommend it. I’ve never read a book similar to this one, but the author has alot of good books that i’ve read before.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a reread from by childhood from my bookshelf. I'm trying to decide if I should keep.or share with another generation.

This book is definitely an emotional book. It really pulls at the heartstrings. I do adore the books Lurlene McDaniel writes because they are so real. They are what people feel an understand.

This book is good for a tween/teen that may be struggling with health or that is interested in the medical field. I would love to know the rest of this characters story.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story and writing were both good and worth a higher score.

I've been through so much medically that her immaturity annoyed me so much. I understand she's thirteen and acted completely appropriately. It's my own stuff that makes me judgmental and that stuff was enough to impact the rating.

[Book Magic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book!

Life isn't always fair, sometimes you get dealt hands that you don't want, but it's how you deal with those hands that make the story and your life. This book is a great example of that.

[*Weebles* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story but too short lol

[Traceylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why

I don't think I have ever given anything but 5stars for this author. This is about a girl with diabetic she find out and wants to be a dancer .

[Michelle | A Geek Girl's Guide · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books from my childhood. As a ballet dancer myself and have family with diabetes it hit home in a lot of ways. This is a good book for middle grade kids.

[Iskra Profil nije aktivan u ovo vreme.]

Neću oceniti zbog toga što nemam sopstvenog iskustva s temom,ali fantastična je.

[Mary Bronson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea this was When Dreams Shatter under a different title. Thought this was an interesting book about childhood diabetes and how it could affect their lives.

[Sharelle Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was really good but it bothered me how she was being so stubborn when people were trying to help her but I understand she was in alot of pressure. But all in all it was 10/10.

[Renee Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Mackenzie Vanden Heuvel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want your soul absolutely ripped out of your chest Lurlene McDaniel is the one to do it😭😭

[Kelly Muscat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Deering has a dearing compassion for dancing. At only age 16, Rachel is already a very dedicated ballerina. She never gives up and when she begins to get lucky because she obtains the chance to audition at New York City Ballet company, her life changes. Rachel is from a small town in the suburbs so a cosmopolitan place like New York City seems interesting. Her illness is affecting her dancing and Rachel is struggling to keep up with all the stress. In the end she has to realize things happen for a reason and life isn’t always fair. Her audition is challenging only because of this other girl who also wants the spot. Rachel has to decide if she wants to let the girl win for her health to be better or if she wants to go ahead and obtain the spot. She has to choose the best option and its not easy.
from reading this book i learned that you shouldn't give up because you can still succeed. the more you work hard in something the better you get. this book has strong feelings with the character and it makes you gain strength in you brain that makes you at least try. the message of the book is even if things get tough, don't give up and don't let anyone beat you.
i liked this book a lot because i feel the message is powerful and meaningful. the book also keeps you reading and you would want to re-read it again. i could relate to the main character by liking a sport because I'm on the softball team. I'm not as passionate about softball as she is about being a ballerina but i still love it and i have fun playing it too.

[Libbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book alot because it is about ballet...and i am in that. I also like the book because it is very realsitic.. unlike the other books I have read. Ive learned from this book is that no matter what you can achive your dreams. Like she did in this book. She had diabetes. She was depressed all the time and at first she didnt want anything to do with ballet, then she met a guy and he also had diabetes. He showed her that even though he has diabetes, he also can play just fine with his soccer in his life... I have rated this book a 5 star because i feel as though this book is real and very discriptive... i guess that is why i like this. I guess the only characters i didnt like were her parents, because they didnt want her do do any thing with ballet becuase of her illness... and then she started to believe them.. and give up... but then she said no, im going to do this will all my will power and no one or anything will tell me what to do. That is why she is my favorite character because she odesnt give up, and i guess that is why i gave it 5 stars again.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last Dance by Lurlene McDaniel is a short, sweet and to the point kind of story. It tells the tale of Rachel, a 14 year old ballerina and her learning to live with diabetes while still achieving her dream of becoming a professional dancer. I found many aspects of this story to be true which made it more enjoyable to read. Madame Pershoff, Rachel’s ballet instructor came across so real to me, and at times even reminded me of my own ballet teacher. Shawn McLaughlin was by far one of my favorite characters in this entire story. He’s your average sweet, kind, and goofy kind of guy. He too has diabetes and becomes a major part of Rachel’s life. At first Rachel is reluctant to befriend Shawn and tries to pretend that she is diabetes free. She wonders why life is so unfair and if she’s ever going to become a ballerina. But as time goes on, will Rachel’s perspective change?

But wait. . . that's not all. Read the rest of my review:
http://www.readergirlsblog.com/2012/0...

[Megan S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it 4 stars because I thought it could explain more in the book. It is about Rachel Deering has her eyes on her toes, in becoming a world-class ballerina. As a 14-year-old, she is already one of the best dancers in the country. Just as she prepares for an audition for an opening with a prestigious dance troupe, Rachel starts having some very disturbing symptoms. After collapsing at school, she has many tests and her doctor tells her the news: She has diabetes. Now her world consists of blood tests, insulin shots, a controlled diet, and constant fear that she will have a reaction and end up unable to dance, or worse. I liked it because I also love to dance so i can kinda compare to what she is tring to do. She loves to dance and she doesn't want to ruin that chance it there was another serous I would probably want to read that book just because i enjoyed it and what they were tring to say.

[Ally P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book "Last Dance" is a wonderful, as well as very short read. The book about an aspiring dancer who is diagnosed with diabetics and believes she can no longer dance. The author uses a lot of dialogue in her writing to show us the feeling in the characters. Although I personally loved the book, it might be limited to those people who have knowledge about dance. The girl in the book has to overcome her fear of a low blood sugar and get back out there and dance. She then is cast for the main dance role and makes it. The author has a special way of writing that can’t really be explained but really captures the reader and in a way makes them addicted. I know from experience that I could not but down the book. Although it’s not action packed and it won’t make you cry, it is a wonderful story and very well written. I was also surprised at the ending, when the dancer gets all she had wished for. I would defiantly recommend this book to people, especially dancers.

[Westcoast_girl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about a young dancer diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes.

It teaches the reader a lot about what diabetes is and the struggles that diabetics face. However, I found the book could be a bit too whiny at times. It could of been more bearable had the book made Rachel, the main character, more likeable. However, she isn't given much back story and for most of the book is just a complaining newly diagnosed diabetic.

In typical Lurlene McDaniel fashion, the book quickly diagnoses the main character with a terminal illness leaving little room for any other story. The book then follows the main character's struggles while her friends abandon her or remain clueless. The book ends when she triumphs (one of two endings for Lurlene McDaniel endings: either the main character triumphs or dies.)

[Jadyn Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Last Dance. This book was a short book and it was fiction. I really liked this book because i like reading books about dancing and I like reading short books, so it was perfect for me. In this book there is this girl named Rachel, she is obviously a dancer and she has been working really hard to be ready for the try outs to get a scholorship to the New York School of Dance. Lately though she has been really tired and thirsty so her mom makes her go to the doctor. After a while they find out she has something wrong with her(i'm not going to say what though)and she has to start making changes in her life that make it harder for her to dance. Will she keep dancing, fight through the pain, and try out for the scholorship or will she just give up??

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course, Rachel was a total brat in the beginning, but she really grew throughout the book. And I really enjoyed learning about diabetes and it made me think how much I do not want to get it. I already have the genes for it, now it's up to me to eat healthy (although I still might get it).

Very good, but not my favorite:)

Needed more background diversity and details/descriptions. I had no idea what these people looked like and that didn't help connectivity to the story.

Peeve: That you have to be a specific body type and have a specific body shape to be a professional dancer. I'm so glad that now, it is a little more different. You don't have to be stick skinny, tall, and light to be a graceful dancer. There is a lot more diversity now (or there should be).