The Balter of Ashton Harper

by Millie Florence

Balter (verb): “To dance artlessly, without particular grace or skill but usually with enjoyment.”

Ashton Harper has three problems and two of them are his sisters. First Drusilla, the oldest, who has decided that all she cares about is muslin and courtship. Second Zizi, the youngest, a stubborn optimist who is constantly pushing her brother outside his comfort zone, whether it’s in their dancing lessons or his disbelief in magic.

And third, their invitation to audition for a ballroom dancing scholarship at the prestigious Overmorrow Academy of Arts, which could be either a dream come true or a hope-crushing failure. As a proud, sarcastic realist, Ashton is betting on the latter.

The Harper siblings set out for Overmorrow, but their opportunity evaporates when mysterious magical ruins wreak havoc on the travelers. Ashton is separated from his sisters, trying to make sense of a power that he thought existed only in fairytales. Soon much more is at stake than attending the school of his dreams.

A story of family and ambition, The Balter of Ashton Harper is woven with whimsy, hope, and Millie Florence’s signature light-hearted depth.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Historical, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical Fantasy

368 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2023

About the author

Millie Florence’s earliest memories are of lying under the covers at night, whispering stories to herself long after her parents had told her to go to sleep. She published her first book, ‘Honey Butter’, at age 13 and hasn’t stopped since!

Millie lives in a picturesque blue house in the woods of southern Illinois. She loves adventure, good food, and just about all things yellow.

Reviews

[Millie Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Balter of Ashton Harper is a nominee in the Realm Awards! 😱

Reader votes determine the winner, so if you read Balter and loved it, I would so appreciate it if you took the time to vote. Voting is open until June 12th, and it takes less than two minutes.

Vote here: https://buff.ly/3KqFy89

I’ll be honest, when I got the email about being a nominee it was a complete and incredible surprise! I’ve been attending the Realm Makers conference for years, and it’s always been a dream of mine to have a book in consideration for the awards. A huge thank you to everyone whose votes have gotten me here!

Thank you to everyone who has voted for me so far!! This is already a dream come true.

[Olivia G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come! (Unless I forget)

[Haniah Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second time reading this book, and the second time I rated it five stars.

The first time I read it I loved the MC with anxiety (I have some anxieties of my own), but this time I noted the main theme more.

“Is a dream worth dreaming if it doesn’t come true?”

I’m an adult. I’m going to college and have a job. Im not the target audience for this book. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t learn something.

Needless to say, I loved and appreciated this book. All the characters were lovely and unique.

[Joscelynn Puckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely regency fantasy story filled with adventure, whimsy, sweet siblings moments, and beautiful reminders that dreams are valuable and worth working toward, even when unsure of the results. This story would make an excellent read-aloud for the whole family to enjoy!

[Ani Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as a gift for a 9 years old friend of mine and she absolutely loved it! She asked me to give it a 5 star rating on her behalf and asked me for more books just like this one. I think she will be reading more from Millie Florence soon!

[Loren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done, Millie! This fits middle grade storytelling beautifully. One thing that made this book was the reality of the sibling interactions. Young Ashton’s relationship with his sisters was totally believable and his fears and struggles were also—and it’s all wrapped in a historical fantasy setting.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Just because you don't know when your someday will be, doesn't mean it isn't out there."

Oh Millie, you just have a way of writing about children, that makes me want to weep buckets of tears because they always touch some part of my heart that needed to hear your stories.

Ashton Harper struggling with his fears about the future felt so exactly like how I myself, at nineteen have been feeling about my own future. Watching him struggle and learn to be courageous, and to forgive and to push himself, felt so real and it was exactly the kind of story I needed at this very moment in my life.

Reading middle grade as an adult is a funny thing, because on the one hand I don't always want to remember how it felt to be a kid. But Millie's stories aren't like that at all. They remind me of the most spectacular parts of being a child. And not only that, they remind me that magic and imagination, and adventure are not only for children. I loved Ashton, and understood his plight just perfectly, even though I am indeed almost eight years older than him.

Last thing, Millie has the most lovely writing style that just draws you right into the story and doesn't let you go until the final page has been consumed. It is delightful.

So any way, this book was practically perfect in every way, and I am just so excited to read Millie's next book when it comes out in October!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Balter of Ashton Harper instinctively understands what the storytellers of early Pixar movies once understood: a story can speak to kids and adults at the same time, but in different ways.

The Austenesque beginning is really fun for any fans of Pride and Prejudice but there's a whole lot more here than just an homage. Millie Florence's excellent novel is a plunge into a magic, mystery and adventure all its own!

[Maria ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This is the first book I read by Millie Florence. This book hooked me from the very beginning. I cannot believe this that this was written by a 19-year-old. I've read several other books by people around that age and this book surpasses them by a at least a mile. Like I never would have guessed she was that young if already known. I loved Aston and Zizi. Millie Did such a good job writing the sibling dynamic. I really enjoyed the magic of this story. The dancing, the adventures, the internal conflict, the back story all of it was just so well done. The characters grow so much. I read this book in the span of a couple days. I couldn't put it down. It was very captivating. This would be a perfect read aloud book. One of the comp titles for this book is Tuesdays at the castle which is a perfect comp title in my opinion. So if you read that book and loved it please pick up Balter as well. Highly recommend.

I have now read three of Millie's books and this is my favorite.

[Amelia E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book! The story is whimsical and exciting, the themes and messages are thought-provoking, and the characters are endearing.

Ashton is so relatable and the perfect MC for the book’s themes of fear, dreams, and hope. I’m technically not in the age range for this book but boy oh boy, it felt like it was speaking to me. We all need a reminder that it’s okay to dream, and it’s okay when our dreams don’t always come true. OH OH ALSO I love the sibling dynamic between the three Harpers, and their growth throughout the story. Zizi is a particularly fun character.

In summary: I loved it! Highly recommend :D

[Olivia Faye Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

review coming soon :)

[Faith Elizabeth Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a few words, The Balter of Ashton Harper is: delightful. Old-fashioned. Humorous. Poignant. Most surprisingly, though, for a book that is so light-hearted and funny throughout, it ends with a serious kick of absolute, profound, life-changing meaning. As it happens, I read Balter during one of those weeks where a few of the artists in my home (myself included) were feeling a little uncertain, and a lot discouraged, about the art we're trying to make. Maybe that's the reason I cried while I read the last three chapters. Or maybe it was just that good.
Honestly, I have so much to learn about life and about the craft of writing from this lovely book. I am excited to read it again very soon when I read it aloud to my kids—with so many of them hoping to pursue art as a vocation, The Balter of Ashton Harper is going right onto our homeschool required reading list.

[Elsa Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great middle grade read! Highly recommend to someone who likes reading themes like family or fantasy!

This has such great messages and themes! I wish I could read it for the first time again! I couldn't put it down towards the end and finished it from halfway in one night!

[Emily "The Bookworm" Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thoughts: I love Ashton's personality, and his goofy, teasing relationship with his siblings! He reminds me a lot of Janner Wingfeather: unsure about himself, awkwardly tall, peace-keeper.

Last thoughts: *cries* *screams* That was such an adventure!! I'll miss these characters and they're crazy, wonderful world; but I'm glad I was able to journey on this amazing adventure with them. <3

WOWWOWOWOW. This book was amazing! At first, I thought it wouldn't take a crazy twist like it did. But I'm so glad that it did. Taught me courage, hope, and that breaking yourself is okay---as long as you're brave enough to put yourself back together again.

That little thing with Ashton and Tabby at the end was so adorable of him. XD "If I start getting letters from a girl, I'll NEVER hear the end of it from Drusilla." And ahh I'm glad Oliver finally found the courage to talk to Miss Bolton! ;)

Thank you for writing this book, Millie; it was a blessing to be able to read it aloud to my family; laugh, cry, giggle, squirm awkwardly, and every emotion in between. I loved it so much <3

[Laura Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved waltzing into a ballroom scene that reminded me of Jane Austen, then embarking on an unexpected journey with the endearing and relatable Harper siblings. The Balter of Ashton Harper demonstrates that even an anxious soul can learn to dance freely, if not expertly, through life. Millie Florence nails the sibling dynamic and the world building in this charming middle grade novel.

I received an ARC from the publisher.

[tori mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

I could leave my review at that if I wanted, but I don't, so that's that. XD

This book was SO. FREAKING. GOOD.

It arrived in the mail, and I curled up on the couch with it and read it in one sitting. I swear, I did not stop.

Ashton's voice drew me in instantly. I am a h u g e fan of sarcasm (which is an art, for the record), and Millie nailed it perfectly with Ashton's character. He was hilarious and yet so lovable and relatable and just needed a hug, poor guy (like most of my favorite characters, hehe).

Also, the magic was like, not overdone? I don't know how to explain this, but though it was important to the story, it was a relatively small element compared to the overall regency era, Austenesque vibes. So I thought that was really cool and also sort of rare.

My second favorite element to the story (besides Ashton's sarcasm) was the sibing dynamics. As it so happens to be the case with most of Millie's books, it wasn't the main character but one of the side characters who was most relatable to me, and in Balter it was Zizi. Oh my stars! I love her so much! She's such a sweet, fun character, and was such a wonderful foil to Ashton. The banter between her and Ashton and their overall precious relationship was just so well written.

So, yeah. I won't say too much more.

*whispers* Except... if you haven't already... and you like Jane Austen and a little bit of magic...

Read this book.

It's so worth it.

[Flannery · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I expected to like this, but I didn't except to like this as much as I did. Definitely liked it better than Beyond Mulberry Glen and I think even more than Apprentice Alliance (though Apprentice Alliance has more mature and skillful prose, the story in this one spoke to me more. Probably because of how much I love my sisters.)
A couple people in the reviews talked about the magic tying up the story being a bit shallow, and I didn't really feel that way. The way they were talking about it sounded like it was going to be a massive Deus Ex Machina, but it was just the characters using the already established magic in a way it had already been established to work in order to accomplish something. It was a softer magic system, true, but it wasn't out of nowhere.
Also, I loved Ashton buttoning and rebuttoning his top button when he gets anxious because I do the same thing and have broken off the button of my uniform blazer so many times that we've given up on resewing it.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible accomplishment for a teen author! This sweet story explores what it means to have hope when hope feels unrealistic and risky. The plot did not take the turns I expected, and what started as historical middle-grade took a turn into fantasyland.

Ashton Harper loves to dance. He secretly harbors hopes of attending a prestigious school of dance. But there's no way he'll get in, so why try? Why care?

Ashton and his two sisters DO get a shot at auditioning for the school...will they take it? The story follows Ashton as he figures out what he really wants from life, what's truly important, and how to let go of his fears and insecurities.

This book is perfect for young readers who love the Regency era but want to read middle-grade (not adult romance, which tends to dominate).

[Katie Krombein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun adventure book. My daughter wanted me to read it and I finally caught up. Had themes of facing fears and potential failure, and sibling relationships.

P. 35: the children weren’t particularly marked with beauty, but their eyes flashed with something. Not with happiness – no, that was different. Their eyes shown with a deep light, something serious and true. You could see it if you looked carefully, in the midst of a twirl, at the end of a series of steps. A dependable joy. A confident triumph. A steady thrill. Like the sunset, slow and safe and brilliant. Exactly how it was meant to be. And in the light of that steady thrill, Zizi was radiant, and Ashton was radiant, and the dance held radiance in every step.

[D.T. Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely reminder that figuring out life can be hard, but we don't have to do it alone.

[Lily Bliss]

cws: loneliness, illness,

[Rachel L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, well-written, emotionally intelligent middle grade…will keep this in mind for the kids.

[Viola Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very sweet and a had great message for middle grade readers. I would have liked more magic and to have spent some time at the dance school. It felt like the book ended in the middle of the journey. And it even ends on a bit of a cliff hanger! I imagine that was intentional as a part of the message of the book, but also slightly unsatisfying.

See full review: https://literarycottage.org/2025/11/1...

[Emily Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been so excited to read this book ever since I discovered Millie Florence about a year ago and learned about her journey as a young author. I’m so impressed by Balter! The three siblings have a beautiful story arc together, and their banter is quite believable.

One thing that Millie does so well is description; the characters and scenery a lushly described, but in a way that won’t lose the attention of a middle grades reader (no Tolkien going on for pages about trees, though I do love him too!).

The story surprised me, but in the best way possible. The characters experience a level of personal difficulty and growth that will resonate with middle grades, YA, and adult readers alike.

Well done, Millie.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for Christmas at around 5 PM and read the entire thing that evening. I had high expectations, and I gotta say, I was not disappointed.
Characters: Millie Florence is always good at writing sibling relationships, and Ashton, Zizi, and Drusilla felt so incredibly realistic both by themselves and together. I feel like Zizi will be a crowd favorite (for good reason—she's so much fun), but I enjoyed Drusilla's arc a lot. She reminded me a little of Meg March (gloves, Mother!), and while I don't want to spoil anything, her character journey was extremely satisfying.
Oh, but Ashton. The social awkwardness. The anxiety. The dry sarcasm that wars with the desire to keep the peace. The ARTISTRY. He's just so incredibly realistic and relatable—which Millie Florence also has a history of doing very well.
Themes: What do you do with dreams? That question felt a bit personal for me, because the different "phases" that Ashton went through during the book corresponded pretty closely with the different perspectives I held about my writing. I'm scared of failing. I'd rather hide away and never risk letting the dream down. But if I'm putting myself out there, you *bet* I will go for it with every ounce of effort imaginable so that I have the best possible chance of success. All that considered, I'd like to get better at baltering.
There's more to say, but instead of reading everything I liked, just read the book! You will enjoy it. This is one I'll recommend for a long while.

[Kate M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashton Harper is a 12-year old boy in training to be a ballroom dancer. His sister, Zizi, is his dancing partner and best friend, and she has high hopes of getting into Overmorrow Academy, the most prestigious dancing school around. Ashton, however, doesn't dare hope about this or anything else - he finds dreams come with crippling anxiety and lots of broken pieces to pick up when they don't work out. He tells himself he doesn't really care. But he has a lot to learn. Maybe being stuck in a forest alongside terrifying ancient ruins, a stranger or two, and an unlucky (?) cat could teach him about dreaming and what real success looks like...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What a sensitive and timely book.
This story is a small-scale one, making it really appropriate for kids, i think. the stakes are low, but for the characters, they mean everything, and Millie Florence certainly knows how to make a simple story touching and real. I love the accurate sibling dynamics and the underlying message of the book, which was one I needed to hear. I'm trying to figure out my own future right now, and I'm worried about letting myself down by not achieving my own dreams. Does that mean I shouldn't hope at all? This book argues no...just balter! It matters more that you tried and dreamed than if you succeeded or failed :) If you don't know what "balter" means, I suggest you read this book!

[K. Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book, but I felt like some of the key themes fell a little flat. First of all, the magic in the book was hard to understand. *spoiler* The purple flames? What was that about? Even though it was an illusion, there wasn’t really an explanation as to why they appeared. Also, if the caravan knew they got separated from the group, why did they move on? They’re children, for goodness sake! Why would they dare to leave them behind. It’s not that hard to search the area surrounding the ruins. Also, the anger at Drusilla was kind of annoying to me. Growing up and making new friends is normal. I’m sorry to say this, but it makes no sense that Zizi and Ashton would hold such a grudge against her for so long. And also, Drusilla saying that she wasn’t sure why she hadn’t thought of Felix and wondering if she even cared about him, well my thing is that her sister went through a near-death experience! If anyone’s sister went through a near-death experience, of course you’re not going to remember your friends. It just makes no sense to blame her so much. *end of spoiler*
I did like how each character believed something different about dreams, and the ending proved that they learned how to truly dream. I did like that. But the other issues I had were more being discontent with the plot, and and that is why I gave this book 3 stars.

[Sarah Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story where the journey truly is the best part of the book and the ending only feels like the start of a next chapter (in the best way). It's written by someone who has a deep understanding of what sibling dynamic feels like especially when you are stuck in the middle. I wish I had read a story like this when I was a child and struggled to understand the hardships of being a middle-child and learning to love my siblings better. It's such a specially story filled with funny quips, regretted phrases, and heartwarming moments in-between. All while taking place in a world similar to Jane Austen and the delights that magic and dancing can induce. What a delightful Balter.

[Lucy Rosekay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard of Millie Florence quite a few years ago (she was a hero of mine, publishing a book at the age of 13), and I’ve been wanting to read one of her books!
So I finally got to reading this, and I can’t decide if I’m strangely disappointed or strangely in amazement. 🤔
I would definitely say this book is for a younger audience; middle grade. There are also very magical elements, which I guess I wasn’t expecting.
But I really appreciated the sibling relationship building and I would recommend this book, especially as a family read-aloud! 🙃

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read! Still feeling like I need to keep in mind the age of the author, as I felt the tying up of the story - and the magic - to be a bit shallow otherwise. Even so, I enjoyed the characters and the relationships. Sometimes relationships are difficult, but it’s not always just because of the other person - sometimes it’s your perception causing the difficulty, or ballooning it.