Lauren in the Limelight

by Miriam Landis, Jill Cecil (Illustrator)

As she begins 6th grade, Lauren Lightfoot wants nothing more than to get her first pair of pointe shoes, enjoy her love for ballet, and spend time with her friends. Lauren and her friends Bryan and Serena are challenged to define themselves both on stage and in the world when they audition for the Pacific Northwest Ballet School and compete for roles in the spring recital. "This is the ballet book I wish I could have read as a young ballet student."
—Megan Fairchild, principal dancer with New York City Ballet and author of The Ballerina Mindset

“I so wish that Lauren in the Limelight had been in my local library when I was a tween-ager... I would have loved loved loved to imagine myself Lauren then and I know that tweens—ballet fans or not—are going to love it now.”
—Nancy Pearl, author of the Book Lust series and George & A Novel " Lauren in the Limelight promotes empathy and understanding, and deals with the crucial moments in life when we gain maturity, break from our parents’ version of us, and become ourselves.”
—Peter Boal, Artistic Director of Pacific Northwest Ballet and author of Illusions of Camelot “ Lauren in the Limelight centers around three young adolescents captivated by ballet's mysterious, magical lure, but this book is about so much more than dance. The characters' relationship and fascination with ballet is a prism through which we—and they—begin to discover and understand the complexities of self-identity, autonomy, and morality and that adults have just as many internal conflicts as kids.”
—Gavin Larsen, author of Being a Ballerina and former principal with Oregon Ballet Theatre “We love stories about dancers written by dancers! Lauren in the Limelight is a novel perfect for young dancers starting their journey into pointe work.”
—Kathryn Morgan, former soloist with New York City Ballet

“It has everything. Drama. Competition. Passion. If you love ballet, you will love Miriam Landis’s book.”
—Mary Helen Bowers, Founder and CEO of Ballet Beautiful

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary, Childrens

368 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2023

About the author

Miriam Landis is a faculty member at the Pacific Northwest Ballet. She was a LitCamp fellow, and an assistant editor at Simon & Schuster, Hyperion, and the Amazon Books team. A Stanford grad, she was also a student at the School of American Ballet and a professional ballerina with Miami City Ballet. When not writing, teaching, or dancing, she enjoys life on Lake Washington alongside her husband and four children. In addition to Lauren in the Limelight, she is the author of two young adult novels, Girl in Motion and Girl on Pointe (previously published as Breaking Pointe). Learn more at www.miriamlandis.com

Reviews

[Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow… this book was amazing! probably one of the best i have read. In this book there were parts where i wanted to jump for joy and others where i wanted to cry.As a young dancer myself this book inspired me to push through hard times and pursue your dreams no matter what others think. The characters in this book had such a strong connection to each other you felt like you could never separate them! I will defiantly be reading more of Miriam Landis’s books! Over all i would rate this book a 10/10, five stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren in the Limelight is such a wonderfully written middle grade book! Even though the target audience is tweens, I couldn’t put the book down myself. With all the scandalous ways ballet is represented in the media, it’s nice to have a positive ballet-focused story that emphasizes the friendship, perseverance, and hard work that is fostered by learning ballet. You’ll get the same comforting feelings as reading Babysitters’ Club or Boxcar Children but with a little added bonus of arts education! Highly recommend this book for any tweens or teens interested in the dance world.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from a giveaway with Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.

While this is a "middle grade" book, the writing felt a little more YA to me and I did not get through this as quickly as I had expected. After I finished, I saw that the author used to be a ballerina so I'm going to presume that all the terms were correct (my ballet days were 30+ years ago), but do know that a lot of the work that goes into ballet was portrayed right.

I love the movie Center Stage and could not help comparing the characters in this book to that movie even though there was an age difference between the movie & this book. In this Lauren reminded me of Jody--LOVED ballet and had to work harder than others because her form was not as good, but she had the heart for it. Serena reminded me (a LOT) of Maureen (especially because of her mom) who looked wonderful & had perfect technic, but simply didn't have the heart to keep on.

Bryan reminded me so much of Eric (not just because of the black, male, gay thing) because he wanted to be a ballet dancer no matter what and while he had doubts, he didn't give up. Caroline reminded me of Emily who did if for fun, but could take it or leave it in the end.

It's the adult characters that I had bigger issues with. I know there are these kinds of parents out there, but I think this would have been much better if she showed Dads actually being supportive of their kids instead of dismissive and even hostile about ballet. I could see what Serena's mom & the dancer/choreographer were doing from the start, so that really didn't surprise me. I also saw the change at the end coming (like Center Stage) so I expected that.

Overall it was a good book, but I think she could have done a better job with the parental characters. I will say the illustrations were a nice touch.

[Jenna N · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle school comes with its own set of problems, but when home life is difficult, too, it is hard to know where to turn. Friends Bryan, Caroline, and Lauren have grown up together on Mercer Island outside of Seattle, and when a new student comes to town, everything seems to change. The dynamics of their friendship are new with the start of sixth grade and the introduction of pointe shoes, and not everyone is happy about the changes that are happening. But each day brings new revelations, and slowly but surely, the youth discover similarities among one another that help them grow into the next best versions of themselves.

This middle grade novel focuses primarily on ballet and the myriad feelings the characters have about dance. Told from three perspectives—Bryan, Lauren, and Serena—the story permits readers to see inside the minds of each character from one chapter to the next. Unfortunately, the voices of the characters are disappointingly similar, which makes them difficult to distinguish, especially as they are all speaking in the first person. Despite this, the writing is compelling and helps readers even when the narrator is not as definite as they could otherwise be.

Ballet is the focal point of this novel, and readers walk through classes and more alongside the characters. However, challenges at home and at school are just as pervasive in the characters’ minds, and it is these that enhance the book’s feel as a middle grade novel. While ballet is the anchor that outwardly connects the protagonists, their life experiences outside of that are more similar than they initially recognize. Readers will empathize with the bullying and family drama the characters describe, and they will appreciate the positive outcomes that come from difficult situations. This is an enjoyable middle grade novel, especially for readers who are invested in the art of ballet.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren in the Limelight is a heart-warming middle-grade novel that revolves around three young dancers in a small-town ballet school in a small Seattle suburb as they navigate the challenges of ballet, including the significant milestone of going on pointe. It centers around three young dancers who live on Mercer Island. The book chronicles the year that they go on pointe, which, for ballet dancers, is a huge deal. During that year, all three auditioned for the Pacific Northwest Ballet School and prepared for their school's performance of Alice in Wonderland.

Lauren in the Limelight is inspiring, both in the story and lessons. Each of the three kids represents a big lesson they need to learn by the end of the book. Lauren grew up in Mercer Island, and everything has always come easy. Her dad doesn't want her to continue because he thinks it's a terrible career. Then, a new girl named Serena arrives from New Jersey and is the best. She's also the most traumatized of the kids because her brother passed away. Serena has the skills to dance, but maybe her heart isn't in it. Then the third character is a Black boy named Bryan who also wants to dance on pointe but needs to find the courage to do something other boys aren't doing. Even if they're not dancers, Lauren in the Limelight is a great coming-of-age story for younger readers.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book geared towards younger readers, but filled with life lessons that we can all appreciate and look back on no matter our age or experience, Lauren in the Limelight is one of those coming-of-age books that reminds you how difficult and challenging adolescence can be.

The characters are all in ballet school and have just reached sixth grade, wondering how they can be successful ballerinas and navigating their own personal struggles. A boy ballerina that wants nothing more than to be a wonderful dancer and rid himself of the bullies at school, Lauren who wants to be the best ballerina around, Caroline who isn't the greatest dancer but really enjoys ballet, and the new girl Serena who is already on the path of being one of the greatest dancers in their school. Each character brings their own personal challenges and reminds us how life is never the way it looks on the outside.

I loved this story because of its timeless application about young adulthood challenges, the setting being a ballet school made it even more interesting as that is not an easy industry to be successful in and takes a lot of hard work from people. But it was really the focus on these kids experiences and how it all changes them over time into who they are meant to be.

[Nancy Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

Having read Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield many years ago, this book sounded like it would be another I would love - and I did! I've always enjoyed reading about the world of ballet, and this book definitely included a great deal about that world. But beyond that, there was so much that was character-driven. The chapters shift among three narrators, tweens who are enrolled at the same ballet school. There was the mother who tried to live life through her daughter, the father who didn't see the point in spending money on something that held no real prospects for the future, and the father who was appalled at his son's interest in what he saw as a feminine pursuit and what that might mean. In each family, one parent supported the child's dreams, at least to some degree, which led to strained family relationships that the child had to navigate. Despite all the stress as well as the competition between some of these tweens, the four main characters created an amazing bond, supporting each other through setbacks, injuries, loss, and the complications of life. Highly recommended!!

[ella rintala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren in the Limelight is delightful and so important! This story is packed with diverse and powerful experiences and I feel passionate about its capability to connect, inspire, and grow an array of young dancers and readers. In moments like “Before her, my life was often as smooth as a waltz, moving more or less in one direction” (1), it is exhilarating to me how basic balletic ideas of movement are brought into the young character’s understanding of life, all in order to tell a story about how identity plays a role in ballet. Dance class is the medium with which Landis works through the struggles of modern young people, in their dreams and relationships. I fell in love with the characters and how they grow and find themselves together, navigating how race, gender, and class play into culture and experience. I imagine it would be really significant for my younger dancer reader self to have such lessons about identity discussed within ballet with the openness, critical thought, and simplicity that this story has. And it’s simply beautiful, the artwork and the writing.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars or higher. When I saw that this book was being promoted as similar to Ballet Shoes I had to read it, since Ballet Shoes is one of my favorite books. But these are very different books, taking place in completely different times and places. In addition Ballet Shoes covers a much longer time period than Lauren in the Limelight giving the reader more opportunity to really know the characters. Lauren in the Limelight covers less than an year in the lives of the three main characters: Lauren, herself, Bryan, and Serena. The story is told in the first person, alternating amongst these three. As they start sixth grade, everything changes, and they must learn to deal with these changes, and find what each of them truly wants out of life. I would find this more believable if these characters were a few years older, but the story was still interesting and enjoyable.

[Karen Johnsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this ballet themed book! Every character had such depth that young readers can relate to as the author developed their very personal, challenging stories. The thread the three main characters all shared was their love of ballet and the classes they experienced together. The ballet terms woven into the story line would be so welcoming to young dancers learning these vocabularies and their meanings in their lessons. I am not a dancer and was exposed to a wonderful introduction to the realm of ballet.
Jill Cecil has sketched delightful ballet poses and movements in many of her illustrations for the book. They enhanced each of the three main characters story lines immensely. What a gifted artist!
This is a worthwhile read for young teens, male or female, especially those involved in the love of ballet.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this for free to review as part of a tour with Blackberry Book Tours.

The characters in this book shared a love of dancing and ballet, and that was something that warmed my heart, because my grandma always talked about how she loved ballet as a young girl. The characters’ love for ballet was something that I felt aware of, and while I was reading, I started to think about how we may all have some kind of ambition, or a goal that we are working towards. Once we know what we want to be, we are often very driven by it, and this book spoke to me in that way. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and being part of their journey while I was reading, and I thought this story was quite charming.

Thank you to Blackberry Book Tours, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[T. Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

After laboring over a book about ballet moms for the last five years, it was such a delight to read a book about young dancers.

LAUREN IN THE LIMELIGHT follows three middle-school aged dancers navigating not only the ballet world but grief, identity struggles, and a variety of family issues. Because of this, I think this novel will appeal not only to young dancers but all young readers.

Each point of view character is given a distinct voice and a distinct journey. And while I loved all three arcs, I felt my heartstrings pulled the most deeply by Bryan, a young male dancer whose dream is to dance en pointe. His father's resistance and his bully's cruelty really made my heart ache.

The illustrations that accompany the story are wonderful as well.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read/ listened to by Miriam Landis. This is not my normal genre to read, but was thrilled to request something different. I was not disappointed. It is well written with a great storyline and excellent characters. Very thought provoking. Lauren, Serena, and Bryan each had a struggles to overcome at such a young age. There was a point that I wasn’t sure I liked one or another of kids, but each grew on me as the story unfolded. No words for most of the adults.

Jacclyn James, André Santana, and Jillian Yetter are excellent narrators. They brought the story to life with emotional performances. All were new to me narrators. I'd love to listen to them again.

#TheFlockonTour

[Olena · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved about this book on the first pass was how fun and entertaining it was. I loved getting invested in the ballet drama and the personal struggles of the three main characters: Lauren, Serena, and Bryan. Each point of view felt distinctive and colorful in its own way.

What I loved about this book on the second pass was how relatable each character's arc was. I would have connected so strongly with this book as a preteen doing ballet, but even as an adult, the messaging about persistence over talent and being true to yourself hit home.

As a bonus, the illustrations were super beautiful and elegant! Props to the illustrator for capturing the movements of ballet so realistically.

[Michelle Carle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging novel about the lives of teenagers and aspiring dancers in a smaller city. The woven narrative is balanced and suspenseful, and helps the reader see the many sides of teenage stressors and friendships and family tensions. As a non-dancer, it sheds a little light into the world of ballet training and finding one’s self through challenges… which could be easily appreciated by any aspiring athlete or artist. The novel dealt with the complexities of identity, gender, families, grief and loss, and self determination with poise nuance. A compelling read, which I highly recommend for preteens through adulthood - highly entertaining.

[Jennybeast · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. I love the pacific northwest setting. Love that it's written by a ballerina and has the authentic feeling of struggle and passion. I think it's just that I didn't like Lauren very much, so it was hard for me to really engage. That doesn't seem fair, really. She's a tween, she's got feels and a lot of hard things going on in the background and so do her friends. I suspect the intended audience will get a lot out of this.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I inhaled this book in 2 days, just like I did Miriam’s first 2 books (Girl in Motion and Breaking Pointe).
I am so thankful someone is finally writing ballet fiction from a point of view that is relatable and inclusive and NOT just capitalizing on the stereotypes! Highly recommend for all ages that love and are connected to the ballet world in some way.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

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For any ballet lovers, this is a must read.  The attention to detail and the use of ballet terms really brought the story to life.  

When I first started reading the book, I did think I would struggle as not coming from a ballet background, I thought it would be hard understanding all of the references but that is not the case at all. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book

[Susan Walt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Lauren in the Limelight by Miriam Landis tells the story of four twelve-year-olds and their journey to their pointe exam.

Read the complete review on https://readorrot.com/bookreview-laur...

[Carola Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren in the Limelight by Miriam Landis completely enchanted me! Totally inspiring; a delightful read from start to finish.

Lauren, the protagonist, is a character you can't help but cheer for. Her journey through the plot twists of young adulthood is written with such authenticity. Her struggles and triumphs resonated deeply with me, making her story incredibly moving. The writing style is fluid. The pacing is fast.

What I particularly loved about this book is how it explores the theme of self-discovery and personal growth. It's a book about belonging. Such a powerful message for readers of all ages.

[Trisha c · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant story about 3 friends, their trials and persistent training of ballet. Each one has their own story and struggles.
With ballet, they find their true self, confidence, what is most important in life. An excellent story for the young dancer.
Jacclyn James. Andre Santana and Jillian Yetter narratiin is very good. I enjoyed listening to this story.
# the flock on tour

[Jaymee Lundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful coming-of-age story about friendship, perseverance, grief and resilience, and all that is possible when friends believe in themselves and each other. I love this book! I will be gifting Lauren in the Limelight to all of my favorite middle-school-aged kiddos! Highly recommend.

[Maria Barra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this is a great story, you can learn a little something from these young teens. The struggle they all have gone through, but I love how even though they had their problems, they still taught us the true meaning of friendship and how to help one another out. Love this book.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book even though the main character is just turning 12. As a ballet mom, I found the insights to the ballet world/middle schoolers intriguing. I will be curious to see if my daughter decides to read it after my recommendation.

[Haim Wenger]

This is a great book for ballet families to read. As a ballet sibling, it is nice and useful to hear the perspective and ideas of the dancers! Enjoy this journey!

[CHenry Roi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just for budding young dancers but for anyone who appreciates a well-crafted coming-of-age story that transcends the boundaries of age and professionals.

[Cristo Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a good good good book, relatable easy going and a total resemblance of what to be a ballet student is .

[Christine Christinejoyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was cute. Very Center Stage-esque ending that I loved.

[Alex Surman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and a total inspiration for any aspiring dancer (young or old). A book to be cherished and read again and again.