Anne balettikoulussa

Drina #2

by Jean Estoril, Ritva Toivola (Translator)

Nyt jo kaksitoista täyttänyt Anne on kotiutunut Lontooseen ja uuteen elämäänsä. Nyt hän myös tietää perineensä tanssijanlahjansa äidiltään, joka oli kuuluisa ballerina. Ja mikä parasta, isovanhemmat antavat hänelle vihdoin luvan pyrkiä maineikkaaseen Igor Dominickin balettikouluun! Anne hyväksytään oppilaaksi, mutta uusi koulu on vaativa. Tavalliset koulutunnitkin pidetään samassa oppilaitoksessa, sillä Dominickissa tärkeintä on tanssi.

Aluksi Annen on vaikea sopeutua ajatukseen, että hän ei olekaan yksi parhaista, kuten Selswickissä. Vähitellen hän kuitenkin kehittyy niin tanssijana kuin persoonallisuutena, ja lopussa tyttöä odottaa todellinen yllätysrooli!

Annen alkutaipaleesta baletin maailmassa kertoo sarjan ensimmäinen osa "Annen balettihaave".

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Contemporary, British Literature

185 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

A pseudonym of Mabel Esther Allan.

Reviews

[Sanalith · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the first book obviously hooked me on the series, I think this was the one that made me realize how much I was going to adore it. So often, authors write a brilliant first story but then lose the quality going forward. The fact that this was just as strong as the first really gave me hope.

Probably the best part of this book for me was that the characters were more relaxed and free to be themselves. Everyone was so tense and unhappy during the first story, and while there are definitely moments of conflict here, on the whole, the characters are able to develop without a lot of road blocks. The moments I loved best were between Drina and her grandmother. With Drina's dancing and the secret of her mother out in the open, neither have anything to hide from one another, and their relationship really blossoms without becoming cloying or over the top. Drina's friendships also develop nicely, with her best friend, Jenny, and her fellow ballerina-in-training, Rose, as well as adults like former dancer Adele. Honestly, looking back, I think this is part of what makes the series as a whole so interesting. Every single character we meet, even if only for a brief time, is given a strong and unique personality. No one is wasted. I found myself even bonding with the director and headmistress of her school, and they don't actually do much yet.

While some of this is no doubt still nostalgia kicking in - because it IS just a brief children's book - I'm still finding myself sucked back into a world I adored as a little girl, and I'm loving it.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the first book Ballet for Drina stands on its own as a complete story, its primary purpose is to provide the necessary background information to set up the rest of the series. Drina’s Dancing Year continues this format: it tells the story of Drina’s first year at the Dominick ballet school and of her determination to succeed on her own merit rather than revealing her secret, but it is also an important part in the overall arch of Drina’s journey towards becoming (as I assume she inevitably will, these being happy children’s books) a world class ballerina. This book covers Drina starting at school, making friends with the poor but sweet Rose and enemies with proud, odious Queenie, and also Drina’s inexplicable failure to get a part in the Christmas show, which turns out to be less disappointing than she fears.

I was surprised at how well this book stood up to being reread. Although some of the concerns and attitudes can seem a little old fashioned, Mrs Chester liking Rose in spite of her lower class stands out particularly) the story itself remains charming and engaging. I found myself getting wrapped up in the little dramas of Drina’s life in spite of the outcome being obvious even if I hadn’t read the book before.

I think that Drina ages convincingly; this book shows her character developing in a way that is in line with a little girl who is one year older and a little more experienced. She doesn’t change, but her traits become more subtle and I liked this. The supporting characters continue to be likeable and just different enough to give them some interest, even if this is only in relation to Drina. Estoril’s mean characters are all very similar, but they aren’t the focus of any of the books so far so this is less annoying than it could be.

The Drina books are a lovely series, and I continue to recommend them to anyone who enjoys old fashioned ballet stories.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the children's series about Drina, a young ballet dancer. I picked it up at the Thrift store recently; on reading, I realised that I had read the first book many years ago.

In this book, Drina finally gets her dream, when she is accepted into a full-time ballet school in London. There she makes some good friends and also attracts some negative attention from people who are envious of her talent. Her mother was a famous ballerina, but Drina is determined not to let anyone know because she wants to know if she can succeed on her own.

There are some fairly typical school story anecdotes, some proud achievements, and warnings from Drina's grandparents who would really prefer her not to be a dancer. The book feels rather dated, which is not surprising as it was first published in 1958. I don't know if today's children would find this interesting - the content is appropriate for girls of about 8-11, so perhaps it would find favour with those who are keen on ballet.

Not a bad book, but nothing special. I don't think it's as good as the ballet stories by Noel Streatfeild; more on a par with the later ones by Lorna Hill.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follows on in the same vein as the first Drina book.

The thing that struck me most was that the second half of this book complemented Ballet Shoes very well -- the life of a young child in the theater world, having to get a license, having a tutor to continue schoolwork, etc.

[Yavanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich hatte als Kind auch eine Ballettphase, wenn auch nur über Bücher ;) die Cindy-Bücher fand ich damals alle super und hab mir eines nach dem anderen von der Omi schenken lassen oder selbst vom Taschengeld gekauft. Ich fand auch alle Cover so toll, ich hab die immer bewundert.

Gerade habe ich gesehen, dass sie im Englischen "Drina" heisst ... wer kommt bitteschön auf die Idee, jemand von Drina nach Cindy zu übersetzen für den deutschen Buchmarkt? Wieso nicht gleich Steffi oder Lisa? ^^

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I also had the first one in this series, but I don't know where that might be. This is a good chapter book for little girls who like ballet.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drina and Rose's first year at the Dominick. Absolutely lovely, one of my favourites of the whole series :)

[Carolynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drina is admitted to the prestigious Dominick school for Ballet, in Red Lion Square, London, and even wins a small part in a Broadway play that calls for a talented, petite dancer.

[Sunne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this series when I was younger, and when I had the chance to get some of these books through bookcrossing, I couldn't resist.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

see review of book #1

[LOL_BOOKS]

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR COMFORT BOOKS?

IL THOSE BOOKS SO MUCH, MEMER. SO MUCH. I AM COMPLETELY SHAMELESS ABOUT MY LOVE FOR THEM.

[Kate H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not read the Drina books since I was a child and I recently re-read them all. I read the first 5 as a child and then as a teen I hunted down the final 6 once I realized they existed. I am happy to say that for the most part they hold up to the test of time. They are very much in the style of British school stories but I quite like those. I think the whole series is definitely worth the effort it takes to hunt them down.

[Rhona Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second book Drina attends a audition for the Dominick school and passes but as she has found nit everyone is friendly. A girl from her previous ballet school also attends the audition. The book is very easy to read and it's very easy to get into the story and not put it down. This book can be read by children on their own but perhaps also read to at night by parents. Highly recommended for book of this genre.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drina's wish is about to come true — the chance to attend the Dominick School, if only she can pass the audition. Which, of course, she does. But she still faces challenges, but with her own dancing, and with her classmates. How she faces up to these challenges and perseveres makes a delightful story.

[Tassiemouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Drina books growing up, and upon reading the first two as an adult, I still love them!

[Rachel Abercrombie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eye operation comfort reread #2

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Drina series and I recently re-read the whole series to cheer myself up during this pandemic!

In this instalment, Drina has finally convinced her grandmother to allow her to audition for the Dominick school. She then has to adjust to stresses of dance training, meeting new people including Rose who she strikes up a friendship with and she has the chance to travel as well as act.

I enjoyed this book as you see Drina develop as a dancer and a person as her horizons broaden. But it isn't my favourite of the series.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

hachja, kindheits-nostagie

[Tessa]

i love this book!

[Colette Denali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drina begins studying at the Dominick School and also has a part in a small play.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this series in JR High and simply LOVED them! I need to track these down.....

[Eve Lumerto · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3

[Katie]

Another old friend. :)

[Hertta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hyvä kirja lukujumituksen poistamiseen. Hupaisa ja höpö, mutta viihdyttävä.