To Russia, With Love

Studio Dance - Dance Class/Academy #5

by Crip (Illustrations), BéKa

After learning ballet, hip-hop, and African Folk, the Dance Class crew isn't slowing down for a second! When Julie, Lucy, and Alia sign up for rock the new style brings a lot of new lessons, not the least of which is that cute boys don't necessarily make good dance partners. And the girls can't forget their ballet skills, not when Miss Anne has the whole troupe performing The Nutcracker in Russia! Carla, jealous as always, is intent on ruining the show; the girls may need some help from an unexpected place to pull it off this time!

Genres: Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Comics, Childrens, Humor, Sports

48 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[Nichole · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok. I am done with this series. They are coming off of my shelves. I am done with the subtle and no so subtle shaming of eating/ enjoying food. The dance teacher literally faints when she thinks one of her star students gained weight! The dialogue is so stilted and unrealistic. One of the ballerinas worries about "reacting like a boy" when she chooses to kick a soccer ball. Just no. Done.

Does anyone have an alternative to recommend? A graphic novel series to appeal to girly-girls that doesn't have negative messages?

[Alicia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do you like stupid sexist cliches about girls and women? Then this book is for you. And it's too bad, because the illustration is very good and about half of the vignettes are written well without references to shoes or staying slim/ being fat or incessant clothes shopping or how kicking a soccer ball is acting like a boy. 1.5 stars, rounded down.

[Nicola · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not in love with the books but Miss 7 is enjoying them. We read Books 4, 5, 6 as part of a combined volume. The girls dance in Paris, Russia, and England. Mostly things are light hearted and revolve around dance (and fashion). Carla, as ever, remains a one-dimensional villain. I talk with Miss while reading them about why it's not okay (or funny) for the book to repeatedly show girls slapping boys in the faces when they get annoyed. We also discuss some of the more sexist messages in the book (like soccer is for boys, or that girls can't be book-smart as well as pursue a creative calling).

Miss 7 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with some of the other books in the series, this one had more of a collection of comics feel to it and very little cohesiveness. The result is that I enjoyed it less, except for the trip to Russia.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Road trip for the girls! This time to Russia

[Rose]

I really love it it's very cute I love everything with their Russian way and I love how that they don't really meet each other but it's really cute Arabic I love the series keep what's going

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The girls head to Russia to put on the Nutcracker.

[Fromeggtodragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute and funny series as well as a very quick read.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

What did I like...? It was multicultural, the colors and illustrations were AWESOME! But I was expecting a bit more than I got. It jumped around in storyline and plot...never really landing anywhere. Perhaps I need to read the others to get a broader perspective. I like the idea of exploring dance in a graphic novel, though, so I am willing to check out the rest of the series. Not sure if I can take the boy-crazy parts, though...LOL!

[Sienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weer een geweldig stripboek over de Dance Academy! Ik ga ze zeker echt allemaal kopen (ik leen ze nu van de bibliotheek), want wat zijn deze boekjes leuk! :)